Job Description – Blind Veterans UK

Job title:IT Instructor

Reports to: Senior IT Instructor

Department:Rehabilitation Services

Location:Brighton

Last updated:December 2017

Job purpose

To provide the finest quality service to help veterans discover life beyond sight loss. The role is to work as part of a Rehabilitation Service, assessing, training and issuing a wide range equipment to enable veterans to live as independently as possible.

Dimensions

Responsible for assessing members duringintroductory weeks.

Responsible for training members during 42 training weeks per year.

On a rota basis, deal with support calls from members.

Responsible for training members from basic keyboard skills training through to ITQ level 2 courses. Training will take place using a wide range of technologies including; PC; Mac, mobile and voice-operated devices. A key part of this training will be the use of access software such as: SuperNova, Guide, Synapptic, and Voiceover.

Support our one team approach to rehabilitationacross the centre including taking part in training and rehabilitation activities that take place outside the classroom environment.

Main accountabilities of the post

  1. Provide comprehensive assessments of members’ needs and abilities, in order to devise and implement individual technologytraining programmes that will help trainees to live well with sight loss.
  1. Make recommendations for suitable technology for people with sight loss, planning and delivering appropriate training, either one-to-one or in a small group, in order to enable the effective use of the equipment. Create relevant and personalised supporting documentation and study materials.
  1. Monitor and evaluate members’ progress and adapt lesson plans to ensure training is relevant and appropriate to the members’ individual needs and abilities.
  1. Maintain accurate and detailed records for each trainee, as well as for any members to whom technical support has been given.
  1. Fully participate in the introductory weeks for new beneficiaries, delivering presentations to groups and to individuals, and conducting one-to-one assessments that will inform future training and equipment provision in order to meet the needs of our veterans.
  1. Advise and make recommendations to the Rehabilitation Service Manager, on training, the purchase of equipment and software.
  1. Provide email, telephone and face-to-face technology support for members, to resolve software and hardware issues, conduct home visits to ensure a comprehensive technologyservice is provided.
  1. Contribute to the formulation of information technologypolicies and procedures to achieve efficient service provision.
  1. Contribute to the development of the department both in terms of new equipment, software or working practice.
  1. Invigilate and mark ITQ examinations materials before submitting to Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) Examination Board to assist the member in gaining qualifications.
  1. Actively contribute to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, including themed weeks, that may require working with parts of the Rehabilitation Service team other than Information Technology.

Additional responsibilities

  1. Attend relevant internal and external training courses, as agreed with your line manager.
  1. Practice and comply with all aspects of the Charity’s current Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  1. Engage actively with our volunteers as appropriate and within the scope of the post.
  1. Undertake any reasonable tasks from time to time at the line manager’s request, as may be deemed appropriate within the scope of the post.
  1. Keep up to date with new developments in assistive technology

Work context

1.The working environment is divided between delivering training in designated training areas, office-based administration, training in member’s homes or community locations.

2.The work can be complex in terms of managing the expectations of members in a tactful and considerate way if they have unrealistic expectations of what is available.

3.The role requires occasional physical effort when moving equipment around the department.

4.There is a significant amount of emotional effort involved in dealing with members who are adjusting to sight loss and have other disabilities and illnesses.

5.We provide a dynamic and responsive service to our members and the role requires fresh, innovative thinking, a willingness to evaluate what we do and to support and facilitate change when required

Autonomy and decision making

The post is largely self-directed on a daily basis in terms of designing and implementing IT training for members.

Decisions may be referred to the Rehabilitation Service Manager, who will give final authorisation fortraining and equipment to be provided. Requests and enquiries from caseworkers regarding further training and equipment provision may also be referred, as will final decisions regarding further training or support issues from members whose cases are contentious. The Rehabilitation Services Manager will also give final authorisation on which internal or external courses are attended.

Communications

Internal:

  • Members and their families on an on-going basis regarding technologytraining and support issues.
  • Case workers on an occasional basis regarding the members’technologytraining needs.
  • Liaising with community support workers and other colleagues working in the member’s local area.
  • Other Rehabilitation and Training service areas (outside of IT) on a daily basis regarding the IT training and support needs of member.
  • Volunteers who help us deliver our services to members.
  • Nursing and Residential Care on a regular basis regarding training and technologysupport for members.

External:

  • Assistive technology suppliers on a weekly basis regarding problem solving and enquiring about new products.
  • External sources of computer assistance, such as RNIB Online Today’s volunteers, on a weekly basis to arrange home help with personal computer issues.
  • Training colleges, learning facilities and local centres for the visually impaired, as required, to request information about courses and access software for use by members to ensure consistency with training.
  • Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) Examinations Board when required regarding members taking ITQ examinations.

Main areas of difficulty

The main challenges facing the post are:

  • Managing the wide range and increasing level of support calls balanced against teaching commitments.
  • Working with a large number of members from a wide age range who have diverse needs and abilities.
  • Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of specialist and mainstream computing hardware and software.
  • Managing the expectations of some members regarding support, training and equipment entitlement and provision.

Additional information

This Job Description is a guide to the work the job holder is required to undertake. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances. It does not form part of the Contract of Employment.

Person Specification – Blind Veterans UK

Essential / Desirable
Knowledge /
  • In depth knowledge of Microsoft Office.
  • In depth knowledge of Operating Systems.
  • Indepth knowledge of mobile phone operating systems.
/
  • Knowledge of Assistive Technology
  • In depth knowledge of Mac Operating Systems

Skills /
  • Accurate keyboard skills
  • Ability to adapt teaching skills and programmes to suit individual needs
  • Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Excellent communication skills
/
  • Touch-typing skills

Qualifications /
  • A nationally recognised Teaching Qualification e.g. City & Guilds 7307 Further and Adult Teachers Certificate
/
  • British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB) Trainer Certification Scheme (BTCS) or equivalent
  • Recognised IT qualification e.g. CLAiT, ECDL or equivalent

Experience /
  • Relevant teaching/training experience.
  • Experience of delivering bespoke inclusive teaching/training
/
  • Experience of working with people with visual impairment or special needs

Personal qualities /
  • Positive approach to equality and diversity
  • Can do attitude
  • Empathetic
  • Patient
  • Flexible
  • Enthusiastic
  • Calm under pressure
  • Team Player