RSWJD & PS

Post Title

/ Refuge Support Worker

Salary Scale/Hours

/ £23,082-£25,551(35 Hours)

Reporting Base

/ Hamilton (will operate across South Lanarkshire area)

Reporting line:

Organisational Purpose:

Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire (WASL) is a voluntary organisation providing Refuge accommodation, support, information and advice to the women, children and young people of South Lanarkshire who are currently experiencing, or have experienced, domestic abuse. WASL works with children, young people and women to support improved outcomes. WASL reflects the complexity and range of services required to meet the national and local agendas for women, children and young people exposed to the issues of domestic abuse.

Team Responsibilities:

Refuge accommodation for women, children and young people operates within the context of legislative frameworks and national policy drivers and local priorities. The aim of the service is to ensure the well-being of women, children and young people requiring temporary accommodation as a result of domestic abuse, ensuring that they receive the support essential to their safety, health, future opportunities and economic well-being.

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Job Purpose:

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the Refuge service, including WASL’s out-of-hours and on call service provision.

The job involves ensuring that a high standard of crisis intervention and casework support is provided to abused women and their children who are living in our Refuges escaping domestic abuse and to ensure the Refuge accommodation is managed to a high standard.

Key duties and responsibilities:

  1. To deliver high quality support to women, children and young people (moving into, residing in or exiting Refuge accommodation) and to take responsibility for managing Refuge housing, in accordance with WASL’s operational policies and procedures.
  1. Provide general and targeted interventions, advice and information within a structured key working relationship. Ensure resident’s needs are fully assessed, that individually tailored support plans are in place and appropriate referrals are made to meet the holistic needs of the family (i.e. referral to C&YP Team).
  1. To welcome new arrivals and provide a thorough introduction and orientation to the accommodation (backed up with an information pack), explaining the WASL Refuge rules, signing of documentation such as the Licence Agreement and to assist the residents to apply for housing benefit and/or other benefit entitlements.
  1. To prepare residents for the transition out of Refuge accommodation and ensure a tailored leaving plan is in place for the whole family, where applicable, and that referral is made for follow-on support from other WASL services such as Outreach and C&YP Teams.
  1. To ensure culturally specific support for women, children and young people escaping domestic abuse and moving into, residing in or exiting Refuge accommodation.
  1. To ensure the services are sensitive to the needs of the women and children using them and that the policies, procedures and philosophy of WASL are fully implemented.
  1. To ensure that the Refuges provide a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in compliance with Housing Law, Regulations and the requirements of Registered Social Landlords and the Local Authority Housing Department.
  1. To contribute to WASL’s aims and objectives by developing effective partnerships and good links within the area, including with outside agencies and organisations including Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords.
  1. To provide emergency cover during out-of-hours periods, on a rotational basis.
  1. To ensure the regulatory provisions for providing services are met to a high standard including the out-of-hours service.
  1. To attend Refuge Team Meetings and participate fully in the supervision process with the Refuge Team Leader. When required, to provide cover for WASL colleagues in order that the needs of the service are met.
  1. To support the Team Leader to ensure efficient management of rent collections and voids ensuring that all financial processes are undertaken in accordance with Refuge’s financial procedures.
  1. To ensure the highest standard of accommodation is achieved and that housing maintenance tasks are regularly carried out.
  1. To participate in, and support the Team Leader with the monitoring, planning and continuous improvement of the services provided, especially in response to the feedback of women, children and young people, producing monthly reports as required.
  1. To support and participate in the continuous improvement of the services; through monthly supervision meetings, annual appraisals and performance management.
  1. To participate in ongoing training and development.
  1. To produce casework records that are kept to the required standard to ensure quality service provision and clarity and accuracy for monitoring purposes.
  1. To ensure regular Health and Safety and Risk Assessment Procedures are carried out and hold responsibility for Health and Safety on sites.
  1. To maintain confidentiality of women, children and young people living in the Refuges and accessing services, and ensure that all confidentiality agreements are signed. Always maintaining professional boundaries when working with service users, staff and external bodies, working within WASL and SWA Code of Conduct.
  1. To work within a line management structure and to report immediately any problems / difficulties/ complaints to the Team Leader or CEO and participate in any follow up investigations as required.
  1. To ensure a high standard of crisis intervention.
  1. The postholder will be required to ensure rotational on call provision and be expected to provide direct out-of-hours cover as required - including during bank holidays.
  1. To act as an advocate for those experiencing domestic abuse and to ensure that the issue of domestic abuse is high on the agenda of every organisation.
  1. Liaison with key partners and agencies to ensure effective working relationships and information exchange.
  1. Knowledge and experience of Child Protection and Child Protection reporting to statutory agencies.
  1. To work with all agencies to achieve compliance with the National domestic abuseand the National sexual Violence Reduction Delivery Plans and Strategies.
  1. Any other aspect commensurate with the role and as requested by the Team Leader and/or CEO.

General Information/Organisation Responsibilities:

  1. To undertake such duties as may be commensurate with the grade of the post.
  1. To ensure that the organisation’s Health & Safety policy is followed and training is undertaken in all pertinent health and safety procedures.
  1. To partake in the organisation’s staff training and development policies.
  1. To treat all information gathered, either electronically or manually, in a confidential manner.
  1. To demonstrate a commitment to the principles of equal rights both in relation to employee issues and service delivery, and adhere to the policies of WASL in the performance of duties.
  1. To be responsible for identifying and managing all risks associated with the job role through effective application of internal controls and risk assessments to support the achievement of Corporate and Service objectives.
  1. To ensure the highest standards of customer care are met at all times.
  1. To ensure the principles of Best Value in service delivery are fundamental in all aspects of involvement with internal and external customers.
  1. To participate in WASL’s system of performance appraisal.
  1. To ensure that the highest standards of data quality are achieved and maintained for the collection, management and use of data.
  1. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a Disclosure to be made to Disclosure Scotland for details of any previous criminal convictions.

12.Schedule 9 Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 applies to this post

Last Updated: April 2015

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RSWJD & PS

PERSON SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / SALARY
Refuge Support Worker / £23,082-£25,551(35 Hours)
NOTE TO APPLICANTS
Whilst all points on the specification are important, those listed in the essential column are the key requirements. You should pay particular attention to those points and provide evidence of meeting them. Failure to do so may mean that you will not be invited for interview.
CRITERIA /

NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS

Essential / Desirable
EXPERIENCE /
  • Knowledge/Experience of the causes and issues relating to domestic abuse and sexual violence
  • Experience of multi-agency working, in particular in a domestic abuse or child protection setting.
  • Experience of assessing the needs and risks to women who are experiencing domestic abuse
  • Experience of creating crisis plans and providing individual support and risk management
  • Experience of working within teams
  • Experience of working in women’s Refuge/residential, health and/or community setting
  • Experience of preparing reports for case conferences or similar proceedings in which women, children and young people may be involved
/
  • Reporting against performance indicators

SKILLS AND ABILITIES /
  • Casework skills and the ability to assess, identify and work with a range of presenting issues, including issues such as child abuse, mental health, alcohol and substance misuse, working with trauma in adults and children and crisis intervention
  • Problem Solving Skills
  • Good communication and negotiation skills
  • Advocacy Skills
  • Good presentation and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to gain the confidence of people at all organisational levels
  • Ability to prioritise tasks and manage input form partner agencies effectively
  • Ability to communicate WASL’s feminist philosophy and inspire staff and others about WASL’s mission
  • Sound knowledge of child protection issues and safeguarding vulnerable adults and the related statutory accountabilities
  • The ability to demonstrate sound judgement in crisis situations, including where lives need to be protected
  • The ability to work in a hierarchical structure
  • The ability to establish good working relationships with housing departments, housing associations and other key agencies and the ability to negotiate effectively with these agencies
  • A methodical and well-organised approach to workload
  • An understanding of the needs of minority and refugee women experiencing domestic abuse and how discrimination affects them
  • Knowledge of the range of housing management responsibilities including preventing rent arrears, eviction, health and safety, housing, legal and welfare rights of women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse and of working in multi-agency partnerships
  • Computer literate and the ability to collect data
/
  • Knowledge of different therapeutic models

EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS/ KNOWLEDGE /
  • Relevant SVQ 3 qualification, or equivalent
/
  • Related Professional qualification

OTHER REQUIREMENTS /
  • Flexible approach to work by responding to the needs of the services including, at time, requirements to work beyond normal working hours
  • A self starter, self motivated, highly organised and a flexible approach
  • Evidence of own personal development
  • Strong team player, committed to an ethos of continuous improvement
  • Ability to think operationally
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Report writing
  • Tact and Discretion
  • Focussed on positive outcomes for service user group
  • Committed to the ethos of social inclusion and participation
  • Full Driving Licence

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES /
  • Commitment to equal opportunities
  • Knowledge of equality and diversity in terms of best practice and current trends in legislation

COMMITMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY/ CUSTOMER CARE /
  • Evidence of providing a customer focussed service and the ability to recognise the needs of different service users
  • Provide evidence of linking day to day duties to performance management

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