18 February 2014
Dear applicant,
Thank you for your enquiry about our recent vacancies. The following information is enclosed:
· details of current vacancies in Victim Support
· general information about Victim Support
· job description and person specification
· application form and monitoring form
· guidance notes for applicants
· equality, diversity and inclusion statement
Please ensure that you have all the items listed above. If not, please contact . If you would like more information about Victim Support, please visit our website at www.victimsupport.org.uk
Please ensure that you refer to the guidance notes when completing the application form.
The closing date for this vacancy is 12 noon on Friday 28 February 2014. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will only contact people who have been short-listed for interview. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, I regret that you will have been unsuccessful in your application on this occasion.
Thank you for your interest in Victim Support. I look forward to receiving your completed application form which should be returned to or to the address detailed on the application form.
Yours sincerely
Julie Rylance
HR Manager – North Locality
Victim Support is the national charity helping over 1.75 million people affected by crime every year. As we face the challenges and opportunities of developing and delivering our services nationwide, we are looking for outstanding people to help drive the organisation forward.
Domestic Violence and Abuse Caseworker £9,398 per annum (FTE £18,796) Bolton, Greater Manchester Ref: DVAC/GM/02/14
Job Share 18.75 hours per week
Wednesday - Friday
Temporary to end on or before 30 September 2014
Your primary role will be to provide holistic support to victims of domestic abuse in accordance with Victim Support’ Policies and Procedures and the National Standards, monitoring the service provided. You will assist with developing networks and partnerships and increase the role of the service in the community by actively engaging with health care services across Greater Manchester.
You will be required to attend relevant meetings and will provide regular reports to the Team Leader as well as undertaking talks and presentations to local groups and agencies on the work of Victim Support. You will assist with the monitoring, evaluation, and administration of written statistical reports on the project for management and our external funders.
Knowledge of criminal justice issues, criminal and civil remedies and the effects a court appearance can have on victims and witnesses, as well as an understanding of the nature and impact of domestic abuse on victims and children is essential. Experience of working with victims of domestic abuse within minority and hard-to-reach communities, including victims with drug, alcohol or mental health issues, in same-sex relationships or at risk of honour-based violence or forced marriage would be a distinct advantage.
Good IT skills, and the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people from all areas of the community and with other service providers and agencies in a statutory, voluntary, social or community setting would be useful. A willingness to travel freely throughout Greater Manchester is also a pre-requisite of this post and it is essential that you have access to a car.
This post is subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS Disclosure.
If you are interested in this vacancy and would like to request an application pack please email quoting the full job title and reference number when requesting an application pack.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 28 February 2014.
Diversity matters and we value it
Brief history and services
The organisation Victim Support developed out of a project begun by members of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in Bristol in 1972. It found that victims faced serious emotional, practical and financial problems and that no statutory agency was responsible for helping them – so the group decided to do something about it and set up the first local Victim Support group in 1974.
Other local groups were soon set up around the UK and from 1979 worked together under the umbrella of a national association. This changed in 2008 after the member charities voted to create a single charity covering the whole of England & Wales. A six-month merger programme brought together around 1,650 employees and 6,500 volunteers into Victim Support, the new national charity.
We have always been a world leader in the development of victim services, and have inspired the setting up and growth of similar organisations worldwide. We are still independent but work closely with many criminal justice agencies. We get core funding from the government, but we also have to raise funds like any other charity.
Our vision, purpose and values
Our vision is to be the world’s best charity for victims and witnesses.
Our purpose is to help people find the strength to move on after crime.
Our values are:
· Strong: helping victims and witnesses to find their inner strength
· Diverse: understanding that everyone is different and deserves to be valued for who they are
· Welcoming: friendly and easy to approach
· Straightforward: doing what we say
· Excellent: achieving the best results and continuously improving
· Ambitious: aiming high and looking to the future
You can find out much more about our vision, purpose and values in our Corporate strategy document for 2011-15.
Our objectives
Our corporate strategy also sets out six clear objectives for the period 2011-15. Full details are in the booklet. But they are:
§ Victims and witnesses will know they can always turn to us for help.
§ We will work with others to help victims and witnesses.
§ Victim and witnesses will value the excellence of our volunteers and staff.
§ We will make every penny count as we strengthen our funding base.
§ Our services will meet local need, drawing on national strength.
§ We will speak up strongly for victims and witnesses.
Our services
Our services for victims and witnesses are free and confidential. We give information, practical help and emotional support to anyone who has experienced crime, and to their families and friends.
We provide this service to well over a million people every year, whether or not the crime has been reported, working in partnership with criminal justice and other voluntary agencies.
We have a network of local offices across England and Wales that run and co-ordinate our local services. Both employees and trained volunteers are involved in giving support – with volunteers outnumbering staff by over four to one, operating within 4 ‘localities’ (10 regional divisions).
We also run the Witness Service to help people who have to give evidence in a criminal court, as well as their families. This operates in every criminal court in England and Wales, as well as the Courts Martial. We help around 375, 000 in this way each year, before during and after a trial.
Our national telephone service, the Victim Supportline, gives support and information, as well as referring callers to our local teams and to other agencies. It deals with around 12,000 calls a year.
Our National Centre in central London is the administrative, management and leadership hub of Victim Support. A number of the charity’s functions are based here, including national policy development, fundraising, campaigning and liaison with the national media.
As well as providing services, we are a national voice for victims and witnesses. We campaign for greater awareness of the effects of crime and to increase their rights.
We have also pioneered services for victims and witnesses across the country, for example enhanced and more responsive front-line services, new specifications for helping young victims of crime, and enhanced guidelines for domestic violence. In 2010 we set up the world’s first dedicated support service for people bereaved through homicide.
Our Chief Executive is Javed Khan, who joined the organisation in 2010. He reports to a 12-strong, independent Board of Trustees. Our President is HRH the Princess Royal.
Find out more about us and our work on our website at www.victimsupport.org.uk
Equality, diversity and inclusion at Victim Support
Introduction
Victim Support is the independent national charity which helps people cope with crime. Our services are free and available to everyone, whether or not the crime has been reported and regardless of when it happened. We also work to promote and advance the rights of victims and witnesses. To achieve this, we need to make sure that Victim Support puts non-discriminatory practices into effect in both employment and service delivery.
The following statement of policy is for use by all employees and volunteers working within Victim Support.
Equal opportunities statement
Victim Support is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to ensure that no victim, witness, employee, volunteer, trustee, or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnicity, religion/faith, age, gender/gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown as justifiable. Selection criteria and procedures are regularly reviewed to make sure that individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate, special training, to enable them to progress within the organisation.
Victim Support’s National Diversity Council is committed to a programme of action to make this policy effective and will bring it to the attention of all employees.
Diversity statement
Victim Support takes pride in being a diverse organisation, enriched by the participation of all individuals and communities. We recognise that prejudice and discrimination continue to result in unfair treatment for many people. We are committed to addressing this by:
· ensuring the effectiveness of our Equality and Diversity policy
· being clear and open about our values and promoting them
· listening, learning and taking action to bring about change.
Our diversity statement is “Diversity matters and we value it”
Job description
Job title: Domestic Violence and Abuse Caseworker
Location: Greater Manchester
Reporting to: Team Leader
______
1. Purpose of the job
To provide a high-quality frontline service to victims of domestic abuse and those at risk. Working within a multi-agency framework, you will actively engage with health care practitioners at A & E departments and in-patient maternity units across Greater Manchester to enhance service provision, develop and maintain referral protocols, ensuring that victims receive the best possible support to help them break the cycle of abuse by focussing on prevention, early intervention and support;.
2. Main duties:
.Referrals
Ø Receive referrals from branch staff, police, frontline health practitioners and other agencies and self-referrals.
Ø Identify and assess the risks and needs of domestic abuse victims using the CAADA DASH RIC Assessment Tool; put a support and safety plan in place to reflect that risk, referring high risk clients into the existing MARAC systems and IDVA services in their local area.
Ø Provide pro-active support and intervention to standard risk victims through individual safety planning and personal support.
Ø Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance.
Ø Working directly with all key agency partners to address the safety of victims.
Ø Manage a case load ensuring each client receives the appropriate service individual to their needs.
Ø Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and help them regain control of their lives.
Ø Work with the non-abusive parent to support the child, make specialist referrals where appropriate and liaise with education and health to meet the needs of the children.
Project Administration and Monitoring
Ø To ensure that all correspondence and telephone enquiries are dealt with promptly and appropriately.
Ø To ensure accurate records of referrals and action taken are kept.
Ø To ensure the maintenance and security of the databases, manual files and records in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
Ø To undertake administrative work as required, ensuring the efficient organisation of the project.
Ø To assist with the monitoring, evaluation and management of the work undertaken to achieve set targets as directed by the Team Leader.
.
Casework Management
Ø In accordance with our case management policy, to be proactive with your line manager in carrying out periodic case reviews based on a review of risk.
Ø To follow up where necessary work on behalf of cases, providing advice to volunteers, contact with other agencies and obtaining specialist advice where necessary.
Ø To monitor the standard and effectiveness of work with clients and deal appropriately with cases requiring further action or referral to other agencies
Develop Local Links/Networks and Represent Victim Support & Witness Service
Ø To work closely with Health Care professionals, IDVA and other specialist DV service providers and develop referral protocols as appropriate and service provision.
Ø Understand the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how your role fits into them.
Ø Work within a multi-agency / multi-agency partnership setting which will include participation at the MARAC when appropriate.
Ø To ensure liaison is maintained with the Police and monitor effectiveness of referral and other policies concerning victims’ issues.
Ø To work in conjunction with the Team Leader and partnered agencies, ensuring that Victim Support stays at the forefront of relevant initiatives, assisting with the undertaking of talks and presentations and providing representation in meetings.
Training
Ø To work with the Team Leader to assist in the development and delivery of training to frontline health care practitioners across Greater Manchester.
Ø To monitor and evaluate training on an on-going basis recommending change and further development as appropriate.
Ø To work with SDMs in the community to develop appropriate volunteers to support victim in line with Victim Support SDOIs