HOME INSTRUCTOR COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED DEFINITION:
Under close supervision of a supervisory official in the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Department of Human Services, does the field instruction, provides advice, and makes appropriate referrals to help newly blinded persons adjust to the loss of vision; does other related duties.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills.
62662C - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL: Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Visits adults referred to the Commission who have lost their sight, and provides a variety of services designed to assist them in making the adjustments necessitated by loss of sight.
Interviews, in the office or their homes, persons who have lost their sight and acquaints them with the nature of the services provided by the Commission; prepares a factual statement, using information provided by the client, which shall have included a complete social and personal history.
Assists newly blinded persons in adjusting to the challenges associated with the loss of vision, and assists them in obtaining the services needed to gain necessary independent living skills and emotionally adjust.
Provides home instruction in the techniques of household operation, including home management and, where required, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, and other housework; provides training in the use of special devices such as Braille timers and measuring and other devices.
Provides home instruction in communication skills, including reading and writing Braille, keyboarding, the use of Talking Book Machines, telephone dialing, pencil writing, and the use of tape recorders.
Provides home instruction in varied types of craft work.
Provides instruction and guidance in the techniques of daily living, including grooming, travel (using a cane) within or directly outside the home and other recreational or skilled-related activities.
Provides guidance on child and baby care.
Makes the required contacts with other services within the Commission and with social, welfare, civic, health, and other agencies, and refers clients as required; provides information regarding the home instruction services to such agencies.
Makes periodic visits to clients, physicians, and other agencies to obtain medical records and other information; arranges for transportation for clients, and makes appointments for clients with other agencies.
Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE:Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester-hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Five (5) years of professional experience in providing instruction or other social services to the blind.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience.
NOTE: Appointees will be required to successfully pass a Braille assessment, administered by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
NOTE:"Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of current practices in the guidance, training, and rehabilitation of the blind and of social casework techniques.
Knowledge of the emotional, vocational, social, economic, and other problems of the blind.
Knowledge of current developments in the fields of education and social work as they apply to the home instruction of the blind.
Knowledge of community resources available to provide needed Services to the blind.
Ability to interpret the federal and state laws, regulations, and standards, and the policies of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Department of Human Services pertaining to the blind and the rehabilitation of blind persons.
Ability to read, teach, and communicate in Braille.
Ability to organize assigned work involved in home training to perform the duties of this position.
Ability to organize assigned field work, analyze home instruction service problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic laws, regulations, policies, procedures, objectives, and techniques.
Ability to comprehend the many problems arising from blindness.
Ability to organize programs for individual clients designed to provide training, guidance, and counseling services to the blind.
Ability to keep current with developments, trends of thought, and new methods in the fields of social casework, guidance, counseling, and home training as they relate to the problems of the blind.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with local community organizations and other agencies interested in, or concerned with, the problems of the blind.
Ability to establish rapport with newly blinded clients and provide assistance in their emotional, social, and other problems.
Ability to compile the information required to prepare adequate intake records and to provide a basis for home instruction services.
Ability to provide home instruction to newly blinded persons in household operation, communications skills, crafts work of varied types, and other independent living skills, and, where it is applicable, child and baby care.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with local and other health, welfare, civic, educational, and other organizations, and to make the necessary referrals of clients.
Ability to provide information concerning Home Instruction Services and other services of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired available for blind persons.
Ability to make required contacts, by telephone, letter, or by visits to clients, physicians, and other agencies to obtain information.
Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
