Description
To provide guidance Rehabilitation and reablement to students (age 16-25) with a visual impairment and a range of disabilities, including wheelchair users, multi-sensory impairments, cognitive impairments, mental health, Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning and physical disabilities.
As a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired, you will deliver and manage comprehensive rehabilitation services, promote the College's values, and ensure learners achieve independence through tailored programs and support.
Working Hours - The working hours are 37 hours per week over 5 days, between 08.00 – 16.00
Working 43 weeks per year + 6.9 weeks holiday
Salary: £23,910.50 to 26,580.53
Contract Type: Permanent
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Key Responsibilities
Promote Independence and Competence:
* Utilise technology to support learning activities, enhancing competence and independence in both educational and community settings.
* Encourage the functional use of vision aids, including magnifiers, lighting, and other low vision tools.
Assessment and Program Development:
* Conduct comprehensive assessments independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team for students with visual/sensory impairments.
* Work collaboratively with the VI Training Officer to continuously assess learner needs and working environments.
* Develop and implement individualised habilitation programs based on identified needs and EHCP recommendations, involving learners, parents/guardians, and key staff.
* Produce person-centred training programs and recommendations tailored to promote independent living.
Mobility and Rehabilitation Training: Deliver and Manage Rehabilitation Services:
* Provide and deliver orientation and mobility training, including guiding skills, pre-cane techniques, long cane usage, orientation, specialised equipment, wheelchair mobility, and off-campus route planning to QAC staff.
* Activities of daily living ADL, utilising all specialist equipment and safe methods for individuals with a visual impairment.
* Develop and implement individualised lesson plans and schemes of work.
* Enable learners to achieve independent travel within agreed timescales.
* Apply appropriate learning strategies for individuals with a visual impairment on the Autistic Spectrum and/or with other disabilities.
Assessment and Documentation:
* Conduct comprehensive assessments independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Record learner achievements against targets and funding criteria (EHCP).
* Conduct risk assessments and route planning.
* Maintain accurate records of activities and learner progress using Databridge.
* Complete correspondence and reports for parents, guardians, and Local Authorities within agreed timescales.
Support and Engagement:
* Act as a point of contact for parents, carers, and guardians regarding travel training progress.
* Attend parents evenings sore parents and guardians
* Attend initial referral and monitoring meetings with learners and their families.
* Provide information, support, and training to QAC learners.
* Support learners' pastoral welfare, ensuring their health and safety.
* Engage in individual or collaborative research and consultative work as relevant.
Collaboration and Teamwork:
* Work collaboratively within the Rehabilitation and Travel Training Team (RATTs) in both college and residential settings.
* Develop and maintain links with other professionals involved in student support.
* Attend Sight Village and help deliver training and support to the Sighted Guides
* Participate in external corporate event such as ‘Dinner in the Dark’
* Contribute to and follow behaviour support strategies, liaising with student support colleagues.
Specialised Training and delivery:
* Deliver wheelchair training to QAC staff and perform basic wheelchair maintenance.
* Provide and deliver training in Activities of Daily Living ADL, sighted guide, long cane awareness, and off-campus travel to key staff and external organisations and stakeholders
Quality Assurance and Compliance:
* Evaluate the quality and success of the Rehabilitation and Travel Training provision.
* Adhere to professional standards and quality assurance frameworks (e.g., OFSTED).
* Ensure compliance with the College’s Health and Safety Policy, Staff Code of Conduct, and all other policies and procedures.
* Be a member of the Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPW) and stay updated with policies, legislation, professional standards, Code of Ethics, and CPD requirements.
Professional Development:
* Participate in regular supervision and performance reviews to improve practice.
* Commit to continuous professional development (CPD) and undertake further training as required.
* Promote and demonstrate College Values with a positive attitude toward equality, diversity, and inclusion.
General Duties:
* Attend team and service meetings as required.
* Undertake any other duties as commensurate with the role and as agreed with the RATT Support Area Manager.
Additional Responsibilities:
* Utilise technology to support learning activities and develop learner independence.
* Produce person-centred training programs and recommendations.
* Encourage the functional use of vision aids and other low vision tools.
* Provide psychological and emotional support to learners and their families.
* Maintain records and gather data to monitor and evaluate service provision.
* Plan and deliver rehabilitation training to various stakeholders.
* Promote inclusive learning environments and raise awareness of different communication forms.
How to apply
We look forward to receiving your application and knowing more about your qualifications, skills, personal qualities and experience that you would bring to the role and to QAC. Please take time to review the job description above.
You are required to upload a CV with details of your full employment history (since leaving school, including education, employment, and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in employment. Your CV/Resume* will be re-produced in a standard format by the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.
Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are available here
As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application, we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.
QAC complies with Safeguarding guidelines and all appointees are required to have DBS Check and two reference.
Why work at Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham
Join our team at Queen Alexandra College!
Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has just gone through an exciting rebrand, dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.
The newly structured Queen Alexandra Charity Birmingham offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.
Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:
· Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals
· Make a difference to the educational experience of young people
· Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education
· Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence
· Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.
Our benefits include;
* Access to on site car parking
* Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
* Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
* 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
* Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
* Mental Health First Aiders
* BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
* Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
* Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
* Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off
* 5% discount on National Express West Midlands bus passes at
* Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
* Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
* Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
* Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
* Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
* Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.
Queen Alexandra Charity (QAC) provides education, residential support, community services and enterprises in support of young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Education is provided through a national residential College that supports a diverse range of student/client abilities and needs. Our College provides education, training, routes to independent living and employment through an innovative, holistic approach to learning and support. It offers a vibrant, varied and fun educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are small and support levels high.
We have educational and learning sites based in Birmingham, one of Europe’s most welcoming and vibrant cities, with a rich and diverse culture. Our main site is based in Harborne, a pleasant leafy Birmingham suburb, on a friendly and green 8-acre campus with excellent facilities and resources. In addition we also have Pinewood Campus which is located on a business park and is designated to employment progression.
Clients within our Residential Services programme still require support and the aim is to deliver a service that provides them with the means to live independently/semi independently into the future. Many clients are either in education, voluntary work or paid employment not linked to QAC directly.
Our Community Services based at our Umberslade Campus in Stirchley include a supporter worker service, women's group, men's group, LGBTQ plus group, Saturday Socials, The Night Owl Experience (disability friendly night club visit in Birmingham City Centre).
All students, clients and staff are supported within safe and well-resourced environments.
QAC makes a positive difference to the lives and learning of people with disabilities and learning difficulties. We have high expectations of staff, students and clients whilst being responsive, innovative and collaborative. Our Charity values drive how we work with students, clients, stakeholders and as a team.
We continue to attract and retain staff of the highest calibre, who are proud of QAC’s achievements and who wish to be an integral part of ongoing and future successes.
As Leaders in Diversity which drives the culture at QAC and we warmly welcome applications from individuals who share our values, from all backgrounds, to add to our committed and diverse team.