Women’s Aid in Rhondda Cynon Taff
Refuge Coordinator
Job description
JOB TITLE:Refuge Coordinator
HOURS OF WORK:37.5 hrs per week.
Some evening and weekend work is required.
SALARY:£26,539 -£27,323
PLACE OF WORK:All WA-RCT facilities (Across the RCT County)
RESPONSIBLE TO:Services Manager
RESPONSIBLE FOR:Family Support Workers, (Refuge-based)and Licence Management Officer
Aims of the post
To manage and coordinate our specialist emergency accommodation (refuge) based support services.
To lead and manage the Refuge-based staffing team,ensuring that services are provided to a high and consistent standard across all refuges.
Increasing and monitoring outcomes for service users.
To ensure that the refuge based services provide a safe and supportive environment for service users in compliance with housing law and the requirements of funders, auditors and social housing landlords.
To oversee the safeguarding of service users and their children whilst accommodated within the service.
Main tasks
1. Staff management
To line manage the refuge-based Family Support Workers and licence management officer; providing support andsupervision sessions, case management discussions, and annual appraisals.
To promote a culture of learning and development and to ensure that all staff undertake appropriate training in line with organisational requirements and core competencies.
To contribute to the identification of staffing needs and participate in the recruitment, selection and induction of new refuge-based Family Support Workers.
To manage the performance of the refuge-based staff team, dealing with staffing issues as necessary in line with WA-RCT’s policies.
To engage the whole team in regular service reviews; promoting best practice and continuous improvement of service.
2.Service delivery
To manage the delivery and development ofsupport provided to our service users in accordance with WA-RCT’s processes and policies.
To manage the overall refuge budget
To oversee the collection of rents and charges and take corrective management action when needed in line with WA-RCT’s financial regulations
To ensure that services are delivered effectively, proactively and of the highest standard to meet the needs of service users.
To ensure that service users are encouraged and supported to participate in day-to-day life at the refuges and in activities that increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
To ensure that refuge services promote and safeguard the safety and security of clients, staff and visitors.
To ensure the services case management and quality policies are implemented and adhered to.
Tomonitor the service comprehensively, evaluate regularly against quality standards, ensure continuous improvement and that the service is audit compliant.
To liaise with the Licence Management Officer to ensure that service users are supported to maintain their licence agreement and that breaches are investigated fairly and effectively.
To manage and resolve complaints from residents and others appropriately and effectively and where necessary escalated to Services Manager or senior management team.
To enable service users to feed into the delivery of the service and feedback is systematically gathered, recorded and acted upon.
To ensure that the security of sensitive information is maintained and complies with Data Protection regulations.
Work positively and collaboratively with other WA-RCT teams to provide a high quality service for Clients ensuring organisational objectives and aims are met.
3. Personal Development
Take part in relevant training and opportunities to increase and develop knowledge in consultation with the Services Manager.
Promote public awareness of the work of WA-RCT and Domestic Abuse issues whilst working in partnership or attending meetings with other agencies.
Prepare and participate in supervision, appraisals and team reviews.
4. General / other
To work within the policy frameworks of WA-RCT and assist senior management team with reviewing and development of policies.
To carry out such other duties, in consultation with the Services Manager, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post.
To ensure that volunteers, mentors and student placements are integrated into and are developed in refuge facilities.
Take an active part in fundraising activities.
Ensure that all work is conducted to the highest professional standards and complies with WA-RCT Policies and Procedures.
Take part in the Management Support 24 hour emergency On-Call service.
Refuge Coordinator
Person specification
CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLEEducation and qualifications / A relevant degree level qualification
or equivalent experience (3 years or more) in a related discipline
Management qualification / public sector, health and wellbeing, business and management
SAFELIVES service manager training
SAFELIVES Training
Project management qualification
Experience / 2 years’ experience of providing direct line management to a support team
Experience of effective performance management of staff
Experience of service monitoring/ review/evaluations
Experience of policy development
Experience of representing employers within external meetings / stakeholder meetings
Experience of establishing operational partnerships and protocols, within a multi-agency context / Experience of identifying and responding to the risks and needs of survivors of domestic violence from an organisational perspective
Experience of working collaboratively with tenants or residents
Experience of working in the voluntary sector within a support environment
Experience of managing services across more than one site
Experience of needs assessment and support planning
Experience of budget management and financial housing management
Skills and abilities / Ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills when dealing with a range of audiences
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with service users and a wide range of external agencies
Be able to write reports, deliver presentations, and to communicate with stakeholders in a clear and effective way
A high level of organisational, planning and prioritisation skills, including an ability to work to deadlines and use initiative
Competency in IT including internet and software packages
Conflict management / resolution
Evidence of the ability to work effectively on own initiative, with minimal direct supervision and as part of a team
Evidence of the ability to manage in a crisis and to work under pressure within a stressful working environment
Ability to collect and analyse statistics / Ability to speak Welsh
Knowledge and understanding / Knowledge and understanding of the issues associated with domestic abuse and its effects
Up to date knowledge of housing, criminal, civil and welfare rights legislation relating to domestic violence
Up to date knowledge of the welfare benefit system / Understanding of quality/auditing frameworks
Working knowledge of the Supporting people Framework/grant
Knowledge and understanding of housing related support
Understanding of multi-agency partnership structures, including housing, health and the MARAC forum, in responding to domestic violence
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding concerns and procedures
Knowledge of the legal system/framework relevant to supporting women experiencing domestic abuse
Other / Current valid driving license, access to a car and insurance covering business use
Flexibility with working hours which may occasionally require evenings and weekends