Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Impairment)

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Manchester is seeking a Rehabilitation Officer focusing on visually impaired individuals. The role involves providing direct support and assessment for service users, collaborating with various agencies to develop tailored rehabilitation plans, and managing safeguarding risks. Candidates must have a DipHE in Rehabilitative Studies or equivalent. Key benefits include generous leave, a robust pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Participation in a strong pension scheme

Enhanced parental and carer's leave

Access to discounts through MCR+

Opportunities for professional development

Up to 3 days volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Essential qualifications required for the role include a DipHE in Rehabilitative Studies.
• Experience with complex cases is desirable.
• Must possess a valid driving license and provide own car for work.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support for service users and their families.
• Manage a relationship to support service users in line with statutory obligations.
• Conduct needs-led assessments to identify rehabilitation needs.

Skills

Assessment Skills

Communication

Decision Making

Relationship Management

Education

DipHE in Rehabilitative Studies or equivalent

Apprenticeship in Vision Rehabilitation Specialist

Job description

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance

Closing Date: 28 January 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

This Role is Subject to:

Legal right to Work – In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Qualification – Apprenticeship in Vision Rehabilitation Specialist & Degree in Vision Rehab and registration with Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network.

Medical Clearance – Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA).

Essential Car Documentation – This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work. You will receive the Essential Car User Allowance.

DBS clearance – this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. For more information, refer to the DBS Code of Practice.

Evidence of conduct in previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to Health or social care or Children or vulnerable adults.

Proof of identity including a recent photograph.

Full Employment history.

The Sensory Team is based at the Hulme District Office and is part of the Manchester Local Care Organisation. The team operates city‑wide to provide assessment, training, and support for citizens who have vision, hearing or dual sensory loss.

The role holder will provide direct support for service users and their families in accordance with statutory responsibilities and local and national policies and procedures to secure positive outcomes for the customer. The role holder will work with City Council colleagues, partner agencies and stakeholders to effectively manage and plan for present and future risk situations of service users. The role holder will assess and plan person‑centred packages to meet the individual needs of service users to promote their independence. The role holder will supervise and develop students and trainees and actively contribute to the development of other staff.

Key Role Accountabilities

• Develop and manage a relationship to support service users and their families in line with statutory obligations through complex decision making to allow service users to access improved future opportunities.
• In conjunction with partner agencies and stakeholders, effectively assess and plan service users individual needs to ensure positive outcomes for Manchester residents.
• Develop positive and effective solutions in all aspects of service delivery and engagement, focusing on the quality of outcomes for service users.
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders to actively contribute to the development and delivery of the service within Manchester City Council and partner organisations.
• Engage with stakeholders in the private and public sectors and across local communities to encourage a collaborative and transparent approach that promotes service users' needs across a range of existing and new initiatives.
• Efficiently maintain accurate and appropriate records in accordance with statutory achievement of service targets and improvements in delivery.
• Roles at this level may be required to manage a range of assigned resources, which may be human, financial, or other, to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery. Staff management duties may be either through direct line management of a team (including appraisals, performance management and other duties) or through matrix management of a virtual team of officers.
• Personal commitment to continuous self‑development and service improvement.
• Through personal example, open commitment and clear action, ensure diversity is positively valued, resulting in equal access and treatment in employment, service delivery and communications.

Where the role holder is disabled, every effort will be made to supply all necessary aids, adaptations, or equipment to allow them to carry out all the duties of the role. If, however, a certain task proves to be unachievable, job redesign will be given full consideration.

Role portfolio

The role holder will provide assessment, rehabilitation training and support for people with a visual impairment. The role holder will work as part of the Sensory Team based at Gorton South Office which comprises Link Workers, Rehabilitation Officers, and Social Work. The role holder will work within the context of the Care Act 2014, "Our Manchester" framework and the Manchester All Age Disability Strategy.

The role holder will be responsible for the safe delivery of rehabilitation services to people with a visual impairment, ensuring the effective provision of a high‑quality standard of service. The role holder will manage safeguarding risk effectively, working within a multi‑agency environment. Role holder will work in a holistic and person‑centred way, ensuring customers and families remain central to the processes they are part of.

The role holder will understand the main eye disorders, their functional impact and associated physical or mental impairments. Significantly the role holder must understand and address the emotional impact of sight loss and the impact on the person’s family, friends, and carers.

The role holder will undertake a needs‑led assessment to identify the rehabilitation needs of individuals with a visual impairment and their carers in line with the Department’s policies and procedures. They will ensure the assessment identifies individual potential and directly involves the individual service user and/or their carer according to departmental procedures and policies.

The role holder will deliver an effective and high‑quality rehabilitation and advisory service to people with sensory impairment, including the assessment of individual need, developing packages of care, provision of equipment and meeting the needs of carers. The role holder will be suitably qualified and hold a Foundation Degree in Sciences Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment) (Higher Apprenticeship or equivalent) to provide rehabilitation including the following.

• Mobility and Orientation training
• Communication
• Daily Living Skills
• Social/Personal Needs

The role holder will work in partnership with the citizen/or carer to prepare a written care plan which will also identify any unmet need. The role holder will engage informal support, seek resolutions in conflicts and mobilise various parts of statutory, voluntary, and independent services as and when appropriate. The role holder will prepare and produce a variety of high quality and professional written documentation on behalf of the City Council in accordance with national and local policies and procedures and within agreed timescales. Working in conjunction with and providing consultation to partner agencies, NHS, Voluntary, other sectors and citizen’s representative groups, to deliver effective planning for adults with a visual impairment and their families/carers to ensure positive outcomes. Ensure that the practice of ethical record keeping is observed, and recording is evidence based, accurate and up to date. Take an active role in team and service development. This may include supervising new staff and students and leading in the development of policies, procedures and training activities, supporting the Team Manager in achieving and sustaining a high‑performance culture within the team.

About the Candidate

DipHE in Rehabilitative Studies or equivalent (essential).

Post qualification experience, along with experience of working with complex cases (desirable).

Willing to consent to and apply for a Disclosure and Barring Check.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance – Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension – You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your newborn or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow – We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognise three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – Give back to the community with three days pro‑rata of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council – We’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments – Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats – Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the “Accessibility tools” button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text‑to‑speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long‑term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability‑friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you’re successful

In with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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Privacy Notice

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