Civic Offices, Portsmouth (On-Site)
Permanent, Part time
M6 to Upper 3 - £43,607 to £49,084 per annum, pro rata
20.0 hours per week
As a Specialist Teacher Adviser, you would be part of the Vision and Hearing Team, which is based in the Civic Offices in the city centre and is a successful Team within the Inclusion Service.
We invite applications for Qualified Specialist Teacher Advisers, Visual Impairment (QTVI).
We also invite applicants who are Qualified Teachers and who are willing to train as a QTVI funded by Portsmouth from September 2025.Successful candidates will be required to sign a formal training contract to confirm their acceptance of the conditions.
The Service
The Vision and Hearing Team is a highly regarded needs led Team within the Inclusion Service which is an integral part of the Education Department.The team comprises of Specialist Teacher Advisers (vision and hearing), Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Digital Accessibility, a Habilitation Specialist for visually impaired pupils, and Communication Support Workers for deaf pupils. We are a supportive, enthusiastic, and experienced team who are looking forward to welcoming a new member of staff to our team to fulfil an additional Specialist Teacher Adviser post for Visual Impairment.
The Role
The Specialist Teacher Adviser.Visual impairment provides crucial support and expertise to visually impaired children and young people, families, other professionals and educational settings across Portsmouth.Ultimately, they work to promote inclusion and ensure visually impaired students have equitable access to learning and development.This includes the development of specialist skills in areas like sensory development, communication, literacy (including Braille), accessing information, and technology.
The post will include:
- Identifying and assessing the needs of children and young people (0-25) who have a visual impairment, in conjunction with other professionals, teachers and parents and in line with the SEND Code of Practice. To undertake the assessment of children's vision using a range of specialist testing materials.
- Providing advice and support to teachers and teaching assistants of pre-school, school settings and college/post 16 children and young people with a visual impairment. To provide direct intervention/specialist teaching as required.
- Monitoring the progress of children who have a significant visual impairment.
- Liaising with colleagues from health, social services and voluntary bodies over the needs of children who have visual impairment.
- Liaising with parents over the educational needs and progress of pupils with a visual impairment, including those visually impaired children under statutory school age.
Please see the Job profile for the full details of this role
The ideal candidate
You will need to have/be
- Be a qualified teacher with the Mandatory Qualification in Visual Impairment or studying for it
- Have knowledge of Braille
- Have good ICT skills including up to date knowledge of technology, resources and issues relevant to VI
- Possess a sound base of current research and practice relating to visual impairment
- Have an understanding of developments within Education especially with regard to the National Curriculum and Early Years.
- Be someone who understands family engagement and is committed to working in partnership
- Be able to work as part of a co-operative team based on a flexible approach to support but also have the ability to work individually.
- Have effective interpersonal & communication skills. Excellent personal organisation and time management skills
- A commitment to achieving the best outcomes for young people with Visual Impairment.
Trainee Specialist Teacher Adviser Visual Impairment Trainee (QTVI)
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): You must hold a recognised teaching qualification.
- You will need demonstrable successful experience of working with children or young people in an educational setting, including CYP with special educational needs .
- Working with families and experience of multi-agency working.
- Commitment to further study: A willingness to undertake and successfully complete the Mandatory Qualification (MQ) in Visual Impairment is essential.
- Understanding of SEND: A good understanding of the principles and practices of Special Educational Needs and Disability is crucial.
Contact details if you want an informal discussion or have any questions:
Please call Marie Lloyd 07734 828 415 or email marie.lloyd@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Interview date: 21st May 2025
Application process
We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.We advise that you read the full Job Profile before completing your application
As part of your application we ask that you complete apersonal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council iscommittedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers tosharethiscommitment.
DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.
Should you require anysupportin completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800