Habilitation Specialist

Essex County Council has embarked upon a programme of change for provision and services with the ambition to profoundly improve the outcomes and life experience of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our vision is for a SEND system which identifies and assesses need at an earlier stage and which provides appropriate and impactful support without such high dependence on Essex County Council’s statutory services.

As a Qualified Habilitation Specialist, you will work within the Vision Impairment Specialist Teaching Service to support the habilitation needs of children and young people with visual impairment. This role supports habilitation and mobility within an education service and will promote equitable access to the curriculum and learning opportunities. You will develop individually tailored programmes and training based on the identified needs of children and young people with vision impairment (CYPVI) aged 0 - 25 years. You will ensure positive transitions from home into all settings including into adult services as appropriate.

The Specialist Teaching Service for Vision Impairment sits within the Physical and Sensory Impairment Specialist Teaching Service at Essex County Council. The team is comprised of Qualified Teachers for Vision Impairment (QTVIs), Multi-sensory Impairment Specialist Teachers, a Braille Instructor, an IT Specialist, a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant, Sensory Support Specialists and Habilitation Specialists. This is a large and welcoming team supporting a high number of CYPVI across a large and diverse county. We are recruiting two Habilitation Specialists. The posts will be based from County Hall, Chelmsford. This is a county-wide role.

Accountabilities

• Undertake Habilitation assessments and deliver a mobility programme as appropriate, including assessment of very young CYPVI.
• Deliver training for CYPVI and those around them in habilitation skills including the use of the long cane, orientation and mobility, independent living skills, and the use of technology.
• Teach approved sighted guide techniques to families, team members, school and setting staff as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including parents, school staff, specialist teaching team colleagues, and other agencies; including health, social services, adult services and voluntary agencies.
• Develop the skills of parents and professionals involved to enable them to be effective partners in the delivery of the habilitation skills programme.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate pupil progress and achievements in line with statutory framework and the Curriculum Framework for Vision Impairment (CFVI).
• Undertake appropriate access audits and risk assessments; identifying and deploying risk management strategies in a systematic way, taking account of the different settings in which the habilitation skills programme is to be delivered.
• Use an understanding of typical child development to inform the observation, identification and recording of the habilitation skill needs of the CYPVI, taking account of any additional sensory, physical or learning needs.
• Provide support at times of transition within and between education settings.
• Deliver training as required as part of the VI team delivery to settings and schools.

About You

• Educated to RQF Level 3 (A level) with an appropriate (re)habilitation qualification or be willing to undertake the training; training involves a two year postgraduate diploma, funded by Essex County Council; to undertake training, the applicant must already hold a first or second class bachelors degree in an appropriate subject.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders, external agencies and voluntary services to enhance service delivery to client groups.
• Experience of disseminating relevant information relating to a child’s vision impairment (medical/functional/social) to ensure good understanding of a child’s needs/situation.
• Experience of working in an enabling capacity with people who have visual impairment.
• Detailed understanding of professional standards on conduct and practice and familiarity with current key legislative issues.
• Experience of undertaking supervision of students.
• Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.