SENSE
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Intervenor
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Team Manager with professional accountability to
Sense Community Services Manager
LOCATION:
Across Hertfordshire and North London –
Hatfield / Watford / Rickmansworth / Harrow /
Royston / Ealing
HOURS:
Various part-time hours available (typically 2-4
hours per week at each location dependent on
service user requirement) Hours can be combined
to create whole days
PAY SCALE:
Sense Pay Points 20 – 25
HOLIDAYS:
24 rising to 28 days’ annual leave plus bank
holidays (pro rata for part time)
PENSION:
Group Personal Pension Plan (matched by 5%
employer contribution if joined in the first year of
service)
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will work as a member of the Sense Community Services team
taking a key role in the provision of community based intervenor services. The
main aim of the post will be to support deafblind people and their families in their
development and learning as well as accessing appropriate play and/or
community activities.
The post holder will work with children and/or adults who have congenital
deafblindness / multi sensory impairment and their families.
This is a new role within the team as this service is being established. It is
expected that working patterns may change over time as the needs of the
deafblind people and their families change. The job description will be reviewed
annually.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES
1. To act as the eyes and ears of the person with deafblindness / multi-sensory
impairment when working with them, relaying what is seen and heard
including spoken and non verbal contributions, body language and
environmental information.
2. To work with the deafblind person, the family and other professionals to
develop an appropriate support plan that ensures the individual reaches their
maximum potential in the development of:
a. communication skills: developing all means of communication appropriate
for the child and ensure that these are encouraged and used consistently
at all times, at a level and pace to suit the needs of the child.
b. accessing the environment: to enable the development of cognitive skills
c. sensory skills: developing residual vision and hearing and compensatory
strategies using other senses
d. independence: working towards an independent level of functioning with
an appropriate level of support
e. mobility: acting as a sighted guide and working to support the
development of movement and independent mobility skills.
3. To support the individual, whilst ensuring their right to privacy, dignity, choice
and respect.
4. To understand and recognise that a person with deafblindness / multi-sensory
impairment may communicate through his or her behaviour and that this is
important to them. Sometimes this can be difficult or challenging, and when it
is challenging, follow guidance that is issued to offer an appropriate response.
5. To provide positive liaison and clear communication between home, Sense
and other agencies (where appropriate) ensuring that parents and
stakeholders are kept informed of all developments and vice versa.
6. To maintain accurate, up to date and comprehensive records regarding the
child’s development and well-being, so that colleagues are fully informed, and
the planning process is relevant and responsive to changing needs.
7. To implement the individual’s support plan, in a manner that is consistent with
their culture, gender and age.
8. To be willing to communicate on behalf of and accompany the person on
leisure and community activities.
9. To work alone on own initiative and be able to take reasonable action to
provide support in emergency situations (for example following medication
protocols during seizures).
10. To provide personal care to those who require that support.
General and Health & Safety Responsibilities
1. To comply with Domiciliary Care standards and procedures as set out by the
Care Quality Commission (CQC) where appropriate.
2. To be able to work within a flexible rota system, which is likely to include
some evenings, weekends and occasionally bank holidays.
3. To be prepared to be involved in and contribute to: supervisions, team
building days, staff meetings and own development and training needs.
4. To use the regular monitoring processes to contribute to data that shows the
impact of the team’s work with deafblind people, families and professionals
(this includes completing monthly activity returns).
5. To be conversant with the mission and values of Sense and understand and
perform all duties in accordance with statutory requirements and the policies
and procedures of Sense.
6. To follow current legislation and practice guidelines relating to health and
safety and to the safeguarding of children and adults.
7. To be pro-active in identifying your own training and development needs,
following Sense staff development procedures to ensure that these needs are
addressed. This includes the undertaking of mandatory health and safety
training as appropriate.
8. To maintain records of any expenditure / petty cash in line with Sense’s
finance policies.
9. To ensure the equal opportunities policy of Sense is understood and
permeates all aspects of practice.
10. To report all accidents and potentially dangerous occurrences to the line
manager, in accordance with Sense policy.
11. To report child/ adult protection / safeguarding concerns immediately to the
line manager, in accordance with Sense policy.
12. To report all complaints to the line manager, in accordance with Sense policy.
13. To undertake any duties requested appropriate to the grade and nature of the
post.
Person Specification
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
ESSENTIAL
Willingness and ability to undertake
accredited Intervenor training and NVQ
Level 2 qualification
A willingness to gain CACDP
qualifications in communicating with deaf
people.
Basic Literacy & Numeracy Skills
Knowledge and understanding of
communication methods with children
DESIRABLE
Accredited Intervenor Training or NVQ
Care Level 2 or equivalent
CACDP BSL Level 1 qualification (or
higher).
Experience of writing basic reports and
maintaining records
Knowledge and understanding of
communication methods with Deafblind /
MSI children and adults.
WORK RELATED EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Experience of working with people with
visual, hearing and/or physical
disabilities. Either as paid employment or
volunteer work
Willingness to provide practical support
(including personal care).
Experience of working in an education or
care setting with children with a variety of
disabilities including sensory impairments:
deaf, blind or Deafblind.
Experience of supporting people to
develop their independence
Demonstrable experience of supporting
families in the home/school/social care
setting.
Able to organise learning and leisure
activities to meet the needs of the
individuals
Knowledge of child and adult protection
processes and the ability to identify and
act appropriately to safeguarding
concerns
Experience of working in an outreach
capacity relating to disabled children.
Experience of supporting service users
with mobility problems
An understanding of the statutory
framework for protecting and promoting
the well-being of children.
SKILLS & INSIGHT
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Ability to work with others in Sense and
external local authority partners.
Ability to work with families and develop
creative activities to support skill
development.
Ability to deliver fun and accessible
activities for Deafblind people.
Skills and qualifications in swimming and
life saving.
Evidence of a commitment to equal
opportunities for staff and people who use
our services and external persons.
IT literacy with experience of using
Microsoft Office packages.
OTHER
ESSENTIAL
Willingness to travel across the South
East (and occasionally beyond) by car or
public transport.
A good team worker.
A valid driving licence. Access to a
vehicle for use at work.
An ability to work flexibly sometimes to
include evenings, weekends and
occasional bank holidays
February 2010
DESIRABLE