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• Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Visual Impairment tags

Closing date: Tuesday 27 May 2025
Location: Gateshead
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £30,000 to £32,000 per annum depending on experience
Contract: Permanent

About Us

 Our Vision

A disabled and sensory loss community that is informed, empowered and resilient.

Our Mission 

Empower our community by giving them the tools they need to live independently and make positive decisions.

Help our community overcome adversity by increasing resilience and wellbeing.

Ensure our community are informed by providing first class information, advice and guidance.

Influence positive change locally, regionally and nationally for our community through strong stakeholder and relationship management.

Our Values

 Supportive

We respond and adapt to the needs of the disabled and sensory loss community. We respect and value all our community equally. We are committed to working together to achieve shared goals.

Trustworthy

We are accountable. We are open and honest in our approach. We are reliable, act with integrity and do what it takes to support those in need.

Caring

We are friendly and warm. We take time to listen and promote inclusivity. We treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Professional

We are passionate and strive to be the best. We actively seek new ideas and innovation to bring about positive change. We rely on evidence to make our decisions. We challenge ourselves to be bold and resourceful. We are determined in the face of adversity.

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist – Visual Impairment

Sense Ability Matters deliver a range of activities and services to support those who have a sensory impairment, disabled, or live with a long-term health condition in Gateshead and South Tyneside.

It is an exciting time to be joining Sense Ability Matters as the organisation evolves to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of the blind and partially sighted people of Gateshead and South Tyneside.

As Rehabilitation Officer you will be joining our established rehabilitation service, which forms a vital part of our dynamic multi-disciplinary team whose focus is on enabling individuals with visual impairments to achieve optimum control of their lives through the process of rehabilitation. Holding a qualification in Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment), you will be an enthusiastic, proactive individual who can build professional trusting relationships with service users, their carers and other organisations.

You will be responsible for assessing service users who are visually impaired and will provide Rehabilitation input by using an outcome focused approach including provision of low vision aids, rehabilitation training in mobility, orientation and daily living skills.

The role will also involve working closely with our team of community optometrists who support our low vision work and our enablement team, to ensure that specialist rehabilitation support is embedded across our provision.

 How to apply

If you are interested in this role please Email your CV and a supporting statement, of no more than 500 words, that highlights why you have the skills, knowledge and experience to be successful in this post.

 Email: carol.mcallister@wearesam.org.uk

(Please ensure you include the Job title within the subject heading)

Closing date for applications:  27/05/2024 at 9am

 JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:                      Vision Rehabilitation Specialist – Visual Impairment

Responsible to:          Operations Manager

Responsible for:         Supporting Apprentices through coaching and shadowing opportunities

Location:                     Gateshead/South Tyneside

Salary:                          £30,000 – £32,000 pa depending on experience

To provide a wide range of structured and holistic rehabilitation and low vision therapy support to visually impaired people to enable them to maintain, as much as possible, and increase their independence. To ensure interventions and rehab resources are directed to the most complex cases.

Main Tasks

• To provide a wide range of structured rehabilitation training and support programmes to visually impaired people to enable them to maintain or enhance their independence and confidence. This will include independent living skills training, orientation and mobility skills, communication skills and general safety awareness.
• To provide a wide range of structured low vision therapy training programmes to enhance the visual efficiency of people with low vision. This will include eccentric viewing techniques steady eye and other viewing strategies, magnifier use and maintenance, lighting, contrast, posture and electronic magnification.
• To offer specialist advice, information and support to service users, carers and associated professionals.
• To liaise with and refer service users, as appropriate, to all relevant internal and external services and agencies.
• To participate in the ongoing delivery of the Living Well with Sight Loss programme.
• To deliver visual impairment awareness training and sighted guiding training to staff, carers and wider stakeholders and organisations.
• To maintain accurate monitoring records so that reports can be produced on individual service user progress for general recording purposes, presentation to service users, relevant professionals and /or other agencies.
• To develop client lesson and support plans and regularly review progress and adapt and amend programmes to meet individual needs.
• To accurately input relevant service user data into our management and monitoring systems e.g. Charity Log. To assist and participate in the evaluation and monitoring of the effectiveness of service provision.
• To keep up to date with developments in the field of vision rehabilitation and low vision and to undertake such training and attend professional events as deemed appropriate.
• To carry out other tasks that may be required from time to time as appropriate to grade and experience.

General

• Provide expert service user specific Visual Impairment advice to the rehabilitation team and the wider organisation.
• To represent the organisation effectively to external organisations and to participate as required in local, regional and national events.
• To work as an effective member of the Sense Ability Matters team, contributing to all aspects of development, innovation and engagement, as may reasonably be required taking account of the nature and scope of the duties of this position. The staff team is structured to enable team members to work cross functionally depending on experience and skillset even if their primary assignment is not to that area.
• To work cooperatively in conjunction with other Sense Ability Matters staff/departments to implement the organisation’s business plan.
• It is a requirement of all staff that they:
• Work to support of the values of the charity. These promote respect of service users recognising their skills and entitlement to choice, dignity and independence.
• Work positively in support of the principles outlined in the organisation’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Assist in maintaining a safe working environment by attending training in basic and specialist health and safety as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and the law require and to follow the requirements of the Sense Ability Matters Health and Safety at Work policy and any local codes of safe working practices.
• Comply with the requirement of the charity’s human resource policies and procedures.

Special Requirements

The post will involve often working without direct supervision, occasional lone working and some working out of normal office hours.

A willingness to work in an environment with Guide Dogs is essential.

Rehabilitation work will be delivered in a variety of locations, including service users homes, places of work, local community etc, therefore a driving licence, access to a vehicle for work purposes and willingness to travel is required.

To register with and maintain membership of the Rehab Workers Professional Network (RWPN).

An enhanced DBS Disclosure is required for this post which SAM will pay for.           

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 EDUCATION

 Dip HE (visual impairment rehabilitation or Cert in Rehabilitation – Essential

• Proficient use of the Microsoft Office suite of programmes – Essential
• Knowledge of any database or CRM systems (eg Charitylog, Sales Force or others) – Desirable

 SKILLS

•  Must demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of all aspects of vision rehabilitation including orientation and mobility, independent living skills, low vision therapies, lighting and communication – Essential
• A good understanding of the emotional issues individuals may be facing and the ability to provide or refer to appropriate support – Essential
• Must demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of assistive and access technology and a willingness to keep up to date with developments in these areas – Essential
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills – Essential
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload, work independently, organise multiple tasks and achieve results without close supervision – Essential
• Willingness to learn new software packages – Essential
• Creativity and resourcefulness to help identify solutions to problems – Essential

 EXPERIENCE

•  Developing individual rehab programmes – Essential
• Report writing and record keeping – Essential
• Monitoring and reviewing individual progress – Essential

ATTRIBUTES

•  Develop relationships with internal and external contacts – Essential
• Must possess a high standard of integrity – Essential
• A commitment to work in accordance with the principles of equality and diversity – Essential
• A flexible approach and willingness to learn and develop – Essential