Community Resource Worker
NCBI seeks to recruit a full time Community Resource Worker (covering maternity leave) to work with blind and vision impaired people in the Midwestern region, with an office base in Limerick City.
Third level qualification in social work, community work, or other relevant discipline essential.
Experience of working with people with a disability an advantage.
The successful applicant must have access to a car, as s/he will be expected to travel in the course of carrying out daily duties.
Salary Scale: €35,945 – €56,889 per annum depending on experience.
(35 Hour week)
Email cv and cover letter by Friday 16th July 2010 to recruitment@ncbi.ie or post to: Senior HR Officer, NCBI Limerick, Midwestern Regional Office, Units 2 and 3, Parkview Court, Lord Edward Street, Limerick. Tel. 061 209415. www.ncbi.ie
JOB DESCRIPTION
Accountable To: Regional Manager
Purpose of the job
To manage a caseload by assessing the needs of individuals with impaired vision, referred to NCBI and to deliver a range of services appropriate to the needs identified. These services may include the provision of advice and information, emotional and practical support to people with a vision impairment, the thrust of which is to promote independence in accordance with the individual’s requirements.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONDIBILITIES
Direct services
- Receive and process all referrals made to you as an NCBI employee in accordance with NCBI policies and procedures.
- Carry out assessments of need
- Determine with the individual the suitability of NCBI’s services and those of other relevant agencies.
- Liaise effectively with other NCBI staff, service providers, statutory and voluntary bodies to provide support as required.
- Work in partnership with service users, their families and other agencies to formulate, deliver and regularly review individually tailored programmes of assistance.
- Provide information & support around the issue of vision loss
- Where required, ensure individuals have access to emotional/psychological support and if necessary refer to specialist therapy or counselling services.
- Provide or ensure access to a range of services and training in regard to:
1. development/enhancement of independent living skills,
2. maximising residual vision
3. communication skills e.g. Braille,
4. use of assistive technology (large print/speech)
5. mobility and sighted guide techniques
6. technical and low vision aids
7. improvement/adaptation of the home environment to enhance safety and quality of life.
- Provide advice and information, and support access to the following - benefits & entitlements; support services; aids & equipment; education, training and employment and housing.
Plan and co-ordinate when required, respite breaks and holidays, peer support events and leisure pursuits for adults, young people and carers. Facilitate the support of volunteers in such activities. All such activities should be informed and underpinned by a philosophy of social inclusion.
(These activities may necessitate stays away from home.)
Enabling services
- Actively raise awareness of issues related to sight loss and promote positive images of vision impaired people through training, liaison with other agencies and the provision of talks and information sessions.
- Provide advice and support on educational and employment options for people with vision impairment and promote social inclusion in educational / employment establishments through close liaison with all relevant personnel.
- Recruit, train and support volunteers and oversee volunteer programmes in accordance with NCBI policy.
- Liaise with planners, designers, housing authorities, and statutory and voluntary bodies regarding the needs of people with vision impairment and their families.
- Identify and attend training necessary for continued professional development.
- Comply fully with all aspects of NCBI policy in relation to electronic record keeping, file maintenance, information sharing, confidentiality, health and safety etc.