Support/Development Worker

NOTTINGHAM CENTRAL WOMEN’S AID (NCWA)

Post Title:Refuge Support Worker

Responsible to:Management Committee/Manager

Location:NCWA Refuge

Hours: 21 hours per week working Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Salary: £23088 pro rota fte (pro rata plus on call @ £16 per

session)

Contract: Post is funded until July 2022 by the Big Lottery Fund

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The post holder will provide a refuge service to women and children who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or abuse. They will be flexible, adaptable and capable of working with minimum supervision. They must be prepared to manage a wide range of duties and able to work within a confidential and safeguarding environment.

A full Disclosing and Barring Service(CRB) check will be required for this post.

MAINRESPONSIBILITIES:

Tomanage referrals and voids, ensuring women, young people and children are properly welcomed to the Refuge, an induction processfollowed, and rooms fully prepared with individuals having their immediate needs met as a priority.
To provideappropriate practical and emotional support to residents through keyworking and the creation, implementation and reviewof individual support plans and risk and need assessments.
Toprovide appropriate welfare rights information and support and to advocate on the behalfof the resident and accompany them to appointmentswhen required.
To liaise with any relevant statutory and voluntary agencies including the Police and Social careand attend case conferences when necessary effectively working as the lead case worker for the family.
To take part in house meetings as required, and respond constructively to the suggestions or complaints of residents.
To deal with all aspects of breaches of the licence agreement and/or house rules appropriately and in line with policies and procedures.

To work with residents to empower them toregain independence and determine their own futures.
To maintain a safe environment and ensure good housekeeping at the Refuge, in line with agreed procedures including risk assessments and health and safety tests.
To assist residents to obtain permanent housing or move on to suitable accommodation and provide support with their preparations to leave the Refuge, as appropriate to their individual needs.
To be responsible for ensuring accurate and up to date records are maintained, ensuring confidentiality.
To undertake general administrative tasks as directed including dealing with correspondence, petty cash and service and rent charges.

To work as a positive team member ensuring effective communication with residents,volunteers, partners and management.
To be fully aware of and implement the organisation’s Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Policies and procedures and to attend appropriatetraining as required.
To provide induction and assistance to newRefuge worker/volunteers.
To attend meetings, occasionally out of hours and deliver and prepare verbal and written reports for other agencies and on behalf of the trustees and management.

To carry out any other duties, commensurate with the detailed explanation of this postand which may be reasonably required for the running and development of the project. (see Appendix A)

APPENDIX A

Refuge Support Worker

Duties

To provide general counselling and support to residents within a structured key working relationship and always demonstrate an awareness and sensitivity to the support needs of residents.

To ensure that women are provided with a high-quality service in line with Refuge requirements. That individual support plans are in place for each resident in accordance with the Refuge’s policy.

To conduct key work sessions on a regular basis and keep casework records up-to-date and in accordance with Refuge’s requirements.

To assess the practical and emotional support needs of residents and to ensure appropriate referral of residents.

To assess benefit requirements of women escaping domestic violence and to ensure prompt take up of housing and other benefits.

To welcome new arrivals showing around premises, settling into accommodation, providing information packs, explaining house rules, signing of documentation e.g. residents’ licence agreement and being available to answer any queries and to deal with concerns.

To keep and monitor all inventories and obtain resident signatures on admission and exit from Refuge.

To arrange for the provision of legal advice as required and accompany women to appointments if appropriate, by arrangement with the line manager.

To facilitate regular house meetings as required and seek resident feedback, keeping clear minutes and records of all residents’ comments and concerns, and of outcomes in conjunction with the line manager.

To refer women to specialist agencies where appropriate as part of their support plan and with the agreement of the line manager.

To make risk assessments in relation to service users and inform the line manager of any risks.

To communicate immediately with the line manager any breaches of security, house rules or licence agreements especially where there is concern about safety.

With residents explore and assess their housing needs and inform them of housing options. Advocate on their behalf presenting their cases as required.

To keep up to date with literature on domestic violence as well as the effects of domestic violence e.g. through reading and training events.

To ensure that all women and children are able to access a quality service in accordance with the Refuge’s Equal Opportunities Policy. To bring any problems in accessing the service to the attention of the manager.

To ensure that any issues in relation to Child Protection matters are brought to the immediate attention of the line manager, or if unavailable a member of the Management Committee.

To ensure that rent payments are collected promptly, properly receipted and secured in the safe.

To carry out regular fire and health and safety checks as part of a rota, in accordance with the Refuge’s policies and procedures. To carry out risk assessments in respect of the property.

To control access to the Refuge when on duty and remind residents to keep the building secure when staff are not present. To check daily and ensure efficient working of any entry phone system and effective operation of any security television systems.

In conjunction with the line manager, to arrange and supervise where appropriate garden maintenance, window cleaning and cleaning of communal areas. To ensure a good standard of hygiene is maintained in the refuge. To clean and prepare vacant rooms with fresh bedding etc for re-letting, personally carry out cleaning when required and other light manual duties as needed.

To undertake petty cash responsibilities as required by the line manager.

To develop and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with all Refuge staff.

To provide any reports or monitoring statistics as required.

To work within the confines of confidentiality and ensure that professional boundaries are always maintained when working with residents, staff and external bodies and to work within the Refuge’s Code of Conduct. To ensure that security of sensitive information is always maintained.

To attend any meetings or training either internal or external as requested by the line manager and to attend regular supervision sessions.

To report any problems/difficulties/complaints to the line manager as soon as possible.

To participate in the on-call rota to ensure effective out of hours coverage of the service.

The above is provided for guidance and is not an exhaustive list of all accountabilities that the post holder may have over time.

Nottingham Central Women’s Aid (NCWA)

Support/Development Worker

Person Specification

Attributes / Essential
Knowledge /

Practical knowledge of housing and welfare benefits.
Awareness of safeguarding issues for children and vulnerable adults
Awareness of equality and diversity issues
A knowledge of housing, welfare and policy relating to violence against women young people and children (VAWG)
A sound working knowledge of the practical, emotional, social and economic issues facing women young people and children affected by violence

Skills /

Ability to manage self and a commitment to continuing personal development
Ability to work well with a diverse range of stakeholders
Ability to effectively use IT systems and databases
Ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) including producing high quality reports and briefings

Ability to create a service user focused culture
Ability to work effectively both in a team and independently.
Effective organisational skills with ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and work flexibly and accurately
Ability to build trusting relationships with women and children
Ability to stay calm under pressure

Experience /

Minimum of one year’s experience dealing with vulnerable women and children.
Experience of partnership working
Experience of working with and supporting volunteers.
Experience of working in a regulated environment, managing risk, support planning and following case management procedures to meet the needs of a diverse and vulnerable client group

Other /

A strong interest in supporting and empowering vulnerable women and children
A non-judgemental attitude
Willing and able to work outside normal office hours as required
A commitment to follow the policies, procedures and philosophical principles of the Refuge and bededicated to empowerment, support and equality, which underpin all the work undertaken by the Refuge.

Appropriate qualifications relating to any of the above will be an advantage