What does a Rehabilitation Worker do?
A Rehabilitation Worker or 'Rehab Worker' works with people with sight impairments so they can remain independent. This might involve anything from teaching everyday living skills, such as how to prepare and cook a meal safely, to providing advice on how to get about safely or how to use equipment specially designed for people with sight impairments.
My Route to Rehab: a KAB Rehab Worker describes qualifying with the Foundation Degree
I love the work because of the variety - no two days are ever the same: the tasks are different, the people are different, and I just love working with all different age groups. One day you're working with children, then you're working with an adult; you might be running an awareness session in the morning, and then providing mobility training for someone in the afternoon. It's this variety - and the fact that you're always learning - that keeps the work fresh.
Carol: a KAB Rehabilitation Worker and Mobility Officer
The partial or complete loss of a person's ability to see properly can require major adjustments to their life. One of the responsibilities of the Rehab Worker therefore is to seek to encourage a sense of hope, and to promote a desire to develop the skills the individual needs to live an independent life.
Because no two people's needs are ever the same Rehab Workers take into account each individual's unique requirements and devise a rehabilitation programme for them that might involve:
- teaching new ways to carry out day-to-day living tasks using specialist equipment when necessary
- offering emotional support and practical advice
- teaching safe ways to get about
- providing information on specialist equipment
What qualifications are needed to work as a Rehab Worker?
Most employers including local authority social services departments and voluntary organisations will expect you to already have or be prepared to work towards a relevant qualification.
Kent Association for the Blind and Canterbury Christ Church University offer a two-year Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (Visual Impairment Rehabilitation). This exciting modular course will enable students to gain the skills necessary for rehabilitation work.
Being qualified means enhanced job satisfaction, more pay and opportunities for professional advancement.
Find out more about this Foundation Degree
Download and print an application form in Microsoft Word for the Foundation Degree
Download and print a PDF application form for the Foundation Degree
If you'd like to find out more about rehabilitation work, including the working environment, conditions and future prospects and opportunities, please contact Avril Chapman, Foundation Degree Manager on 01622 691357. You can email Avril at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .