Habilitation Specialist (CYPVI)

Job Title: Habilitation Specialist (CYPVI) - Vision Impairment Team
Starting Salary: £38,220 progressing to £41,771 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 22.5 per week, term time only (39 weeks per year)
Location: Hemel Hempstead - covering County Wide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

The Vision Impairment Team provides specialist support to Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CYPVI), promoting access to education, supporting the development of essential skills for independence and as part of preparation for adulthood.

The Vision Impairment Team work closely with families, educators, and other professionals to ensure consistent, person-centred support that enables each CYPVI to thrive both educationally and socially.

About the role

The role of the Qualified Habilitation Specialist is to provide expert habilitation work of an excellent standard. This includes delivering tailored habilitation training - orientation, mobility, and independent living skills - across home, school, and settings.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision and line management of a Lead Teacher for Vision Impairment, you will:

• Coordinate all aspects of habilitation training (orientation, mobility, daily living skills) for CYPVI.
• Assess, plan, deliver, and monitor individual habilitation needs in collaboration with CYPVI, parents/carers, and others.
• Conduct environmental audits in schools/settings as needed.
• Complete risk assessments and advise on risk management strategies (e.g. trips/activities).
• Provide one-to-one habilitation training across various settings (home, school, public spaces).
• Make home visits and offer evening sessions based on CYPVI needs.
• Support parents/carers and professionals to ensure consistent habilitation across home and school.
• Assist CYPVI during transitions between educational settings.
• Liaise with families, educators, and professionals regarding CYPVI habilitation needs.
• Maintain detailed records and produce reports as required.
• Contribute to EHC Plan assessments and reviews.
• Help plan and deliver countywide training for staff and peer groups.
• Promote multi-agency collaboration with professionals supporting CYPVI.
• Work with SEND SAS and local partnerships to support early intervention.
• Participate in or organise extracurricular habilitation activities.
• Review training aims/objectives in line with national Quality Standards (2022).
• Stay updated on research and developments to enhance service delivery.

About you

Essential:

• You will hold either a BSc (Hons) Habilitation Work (with CYP) or Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (with CYP):

Qualified Habilitation Specialist CYP - BSc (Hons)

Specialist Qualification in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight CYP - Grad Dip

• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD) relevant to vision impairment and habilitation.
• You will hold and maintain registration with Habilitation VI UK and/or RWPN.
• Experience in delivering habilitation training to CYPVI.
• Experience of delivering training to adults.
• Skilled in assessing needs, planning, and delivering mobility and Independent Living Skills programmes.
• Confident conducting environmental audits and risk assessments.
• Strong communication skills with children, families and professionals.
• Knowledge of SEND legislation and Education Health Care Plans.
• Competent in record-keeping and report writing.
• Flexible with working hours within the working week.
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion, and professional development.
• Driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes or ability to travel independently.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC10 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Rebecca.Payne@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 28 November

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Secondment
This position is open to secondments. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and would like to be considered as a Secondment contract, please ensure you complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.