Purpose of the Job Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment
To provide Rehabilitation Assessment and Mobility Training to Adults who are blind, Deafblind and partially sighted, who are residents of; or are the responsibility of the London Borough of Lambeth, are in their own homes or at other suitable locations as appropriate. At all times give due regard to Council Departments and Service Units policies and practices when carrying out his/her responsibilities. To monitor, update and add to the Lambeth Council Registration Certificate of Visual Impairment following Certification by a Consultant Ophthalmologist.


Duties & Responsibilities Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment


1. Assess the rehabilitation and mobility needs of visually impaired people for training to enable them to maintain or improve their independence, confidence and abilities.
2. Through risk assessment and provision of resources and or equipment, equipment which will help reduces risk of accidents to the person [i.e. walking in to road, burns from cooking etc].


3. To assess the needs of people newly registered as blind or partially sighted for services provided by the Team or for referral to other agencies, liaising with carers and others where appropriate.


4. Provide or assist with rehabilitation and mobility training for visually impaired people on an individual or group basis.


5. Train service users for independent living with skills to maintain their independence, including daily living, mobility and orientation, personal hygiene, use of special equipment, communication aids etc.


6. Following a VRS assessment to advise on the provision of equipment required; demonstrate and train in its use in accordance with National and Local guidelines.
7. To ensure that work is regularly reviewed, monitored, recorded and evaluated in order to maintain high quality services.
8. To maintain a range of costed resource information that is accessible to users, carers and other colleagues.
9. Provide Mobility and Life Skill training to children under 18 years old, through risk assessment and age appropriate training [i.e. management of personal care, to remain safe inside and outside their home].
10. To provide training in road awareness, transport mobility, joint working with Transport for London [on the tubes, trains, and buses etc].
11. Provide Mobility training in all weather conditions as required by the Service User [including snow and rain].
12. Assess Service Users with Dual Sensory Loss - Deafblind - and with Multiple Disabilities; Adults with a Learning Disability and Adults over 65 years of age.


Job Activities Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment
1. To respond professionally to requests for assistance, taking sufficient basic information about the needs in question so as to be able to determine the level and type of assessment required.
2. To maintain up to date case records in line with national and local policies, practices and procedures and to write reports to a professional standard that informs Management.
3. To inform the Line Manager of specific needs that cannot be met due to unavailability of resources or because of inadequate financial provision.
4.Liaise regularly with Voluntary Agencies [Royal National Institute for the Blind, Action for the Blind, SENSE etc]. To keep abreast and up to date with new developments, in technology, equipment and methodologies, relating to visual impairment. Make appropriate recommendation for change with regard to Best Value.
5. Establish and deliver Visual Impairment Awareness training to care staff in care homes or service users own home. Provide awareness training to train the trainers, social workers and other staff within care management.
6. Joint working with Health professionals in Low Vision Clinics in Hospitals, screen and fast track the process for assessment and or equipment.
7. To work with complex and contentious issues relating to sight loss, Dual Sensory Loss, Deafblind and Partially Sighted.
8.Manage workload demands and conflicting priorities, prioritise work load delivery.


9. Adhere to the Council and Departmental Policies and Procedures, including Confidentiality, Access to client records, Complaints procedure, Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities and Adult Protection.
Good understanding of adult community care activity in relation to statutory, voluntary or private social care sector.


Knowledge of causes and effects of common disabling medical conditions.


Relevant Experience Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment


Considerable experience of working within a social care setting where you are/were working with people with disabilities or older people.


Considerable experience of working with people who have limited or no verbal communication including understanding of how to work with people who have a cognitive impairment.


Considerable experience of working with vulnerable adults in the community with experience of assessing need via assessment or review or using assessment skills to meet current need.


Able to manage a work load to agreed targets and able to use initiative and work without direct supervision.
Qualification Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment
A foundation degree level qualification in Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment) or an equivalent qualification.