Location: / Work pattern:
18.75 hours per week
Job purpose: / The post holder will provide high quality support and safety planning to women and children in crisis. This includes enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.
Responsible to: / Domestic Violence Services Manager / Direct reports: / N/A
Main duties:
Managing service delivery and performance
1 / To provide practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles. This will include conducting key work sessions on a regular basis and keeping casework records up to date.
2 / To welcome new residents, explain and arrange for them to sign occupancy agreements, ensuring that they are aware of their options for moving on to more permanent accommodation and to develop a proactive move on strategy for individual residents.
3 / To collect rent payments promptly, record properly, and bank within agreed timescales.
4 / To ensure that rooms becoming vacant are re-let as soon as possible, taking all appropriate steps to enable new referrals into the service.
5 / To establish the risks to, and the needs of survivors of, domestic violence and their children through assessing their practical and emotional support needs throughout their stay at the refuge.
6 / To develop individual support and risk management plans which address the risk of harm to survivors of domestic violence and their children, and to ensure that such plans are in place for each resident.
7 / To ensure that any issues in relation to safeguarding children or vulnerable adults are brought to the immediate attention of the Services Manager, or if unavailable another manager.
8 / To work in partnership with other agencies and to advocate for survivors to ensure their needs are met.
9 / To assess benefit requirements of women escaping domestic violence and to ensure prompt take up of housing and other benefits.
10 / To ensure that survivors are aware of their rights to legal protection for themselves and their children, arranging for the provision of legal advice as required and accompany women to appointments if appropriate.
11 / To work within Refuge’s quality management system following all policies and procedures.
12 / To provide statistical monitoring or reports as required.
13 / To ensure that the views and experiences of women and agencies are sought actively, recorded carefully and inform the development of the service.
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Job description / Refuge Worker (continued)14 / To report any problems/difficulties/complaints to the Domestic Violence Services Manager and participate in follow up investigations as required.
15 / To participate in the on-call rota, providing 24 hour support over 7 days, to ensure effective out of hours coverage of the service.
Managing security
16 / To maintain the security and well-being of survivors of domestic violence and their children within the premises, and to communicate immediately with the Services Manager any breaches of security, house rules or occupancy agreements especially where there is concern about safety.
17 / To control access to the refuge when on duty and remind residents to keep the building secure when staff are not present.
18 / To check efficient working of any entry phone and CCTV systems daily.
19 / To maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries and security, when working with residents, staff and external agencies.
Managing health and safety
20 / To support the management of health, safety and security within a refuge, including carrying out and recording regular fire and health and safety checks, ensuring that fire equipment and fire doors are in working order and not obstructed.
21 / To ensure that all equipment provided by Refuge is in safe working order and that periodic testing and maintenance is carried out.
22 / To ensure that the accommodation is always attractive and comfortable and that a good standard of hygiene is maintained in the refuge. To carry out cleaning and other light manual duties when required.
23 / To arrange and supervise contractors, carrying out maintenance, window cleaning and cleaning of communal areas.
General
24 / To develop and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with all Refuge staff, both locally and across the wider organisation, being committed as part of the team to providing a high level of support to survivors.
25 / To attend all meetings or training as requested by the Domestic Violence Services Manager. To attend regular supervision sessions and participate in Refuge’s performance management processes. This will include travel to London.
26 / To ensure that security of sensitive information is maintained and complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
It is essential to the development of Refuge’s service delivery that the post holder is able to respond flexibly to changes in the requirements of this post. This job description is therefore a guide and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities the post holder may have over time.
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Person specification / Refuge Worker /Criteria / Essential / desirable / How measured?
(Application form/interview/ assessment)
1 / Education/ qualifications / 1.1 / Good standard of general education. / Essential / Application form
1.2 / A recognised social work/housing/legal/ counselling or other relevant qualification. / Desirable / Application form
2 / Experience / 2.1 / Significant proven experience of providing direct emotional practical and welfare support. / Essential / Application form/ interview
2.2 / Experience of assisting people in applying for benefits / Essential / Application form/ interview
2.3 / Experience of identifying and responding to the risks to and needs of survivors of domestic violence. / Essential / Application form/ interview
2.4 / Experience of working in a residential setting/ refuge/women’s advice centre or other relevant agency. / Desirable / Application form/ interview
3 / Abilities/skills/ knowledge / 3.1 / Knowledge of the dynamics and impact of domestic violence and how best to support survivors. / Essential / Application form/ interview
3.2 / Up to date knowledge of housing, criminal, civil and welfare rights legislation relating to domestic violence. / Essential / Application form/ interview/ assessment
3.3 / Evidence of the ability to build and develop supportive relationships with abused women and their children maintaining professional boundaries. / Essential / Application form/ interview
3.4 / Evidence of the ability to build effective relationships, both internally and externally, showing sensitivity for others’ viewpoints and valuing diversity. / Essential / Interview/ assessment
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Person specification / Refuge Worker (continued)3 / Abilities/skills/ knowledge (continued) / 3.5 / Evidence of the ability to provide, non-judgemental, non-directive and confidential support to women to take control of their lives and set realistic objectives and goals. / Essential / Application form/ interview
3.6 / Evidence of the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, including the ability to listen actively and match communication to the needs of the recipient. / Essential / Application form/ interview/ assessment
3.7 / Evidence of the ability to take responsibility for own actions and behaviour being able to reflect on previous experiences to improve own practice. / Essential / Interview
3.8 / Evidence of the ability to be calm and resilient whilst under pressure and to remain optimistic and persistent. / Essential / Interview
3.9 / Evidence of the ability to work as a team member and within a line management structure, understanding the importance of seeking guidance and support when required. / Essential / Interview/ assessment
3.10 / Evidence of ability to plan and prioritise work activities. / Essential / Interview/ assessment
3.11 / An understanding of the Supporting People framework. / Desirable / Application form/ interview/ assessment
Notes
1) This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for an enhanced disclosure to be made to the Criminal Records Bureau for details of any previous criminal convictions
2) Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010) applies.
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