JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE BME Refuge Support Assistant - Bilingual (Burnley)
PAYMENT £17,850 pa pro rata
RESPONSIBLE TO Refuge Team Leader
HOURS 18.5 per week, half day, Monday – Friday
JOB STATUS Permanent
OVERALL OBJECTIVES
1 To work as a member of the refuge accommodation support team and assist the support workers to deliver support to black and ethnic minority women and children living temporarily at the refuge.
2 In particular to provide additional support to overcome language, faith, culture and lifestyle barriers and to ensure equality of access to all areas of SafeNet support services, and to share knowledge and raise awareness of BME specific abuse such as forced marriage, so called ‘honour-based’ violence and FMG (female genital mutilation).
3 To contribute to the safety, well being and personal development of all residents, adult and children.
4 To carry out tasks at the request of the Team Leader and SafeNet Managers, to contribute effectively to the smooth running of the refuge and its projects both individually and as part of a team in accordance with SafeNet and Calico policies, procedures and guidelines.
Work with ethnic minority residents
1. Introduce BME residents to the refuge and the other residents, and to encourage them to participate in the services and activities provided through the refuge.
2. Develop appropriate working relationships of trust and support with BME residents and help them attain the confidence and ability to define and achieve their goals.
3. Support BME residents during regular/weekly support sessions, including formal key-working sessions and other ad hoc support as and when required, utilising bi-lingual skills to interpret and translate and ensure understanding is reached and understood.
4 Identify any additional support needs required by BME residents, ie language and faith needs or additional health needs for women and provide information / signpost or refer them to appropriate additional services
5 Work with support staff to assist ethnic minority residents to apply for and gain relevant benefits (filling in forms and follow up) and advocate/follow through any matters arising from this process with the relevant agencies, and to help residents understand both their rights and responsibilities regarding finances.
6 Support BME residents and staff around all issues encountered due to having ‘no recourse to public funds’ and contribute to Home Office Funding applications
7 Assist BME residents and staff with immigration matters where relevant, including advocating on residents behalf.
8 Assist BME residents and staff with resettlement and re-housing tasks.
9 Carry out occasional outreach tasks where appropriate and/or to identify volunteer support for outreach tasks, such as orientation, accompanying visits to doctors, solicitors, shopping etc
10 To keep records of assistance and support to BME residents in their client records, ‘handover’ notes/diary records and other relevant records, enabling the Support Team to pick up those records and continue with appropriate support as needed.
11 To establish and maintain relevant and up-to-date reference information in an orderly system which can be accessed and used by support workers in their direct support work with residents, including information on the following and other relevant topics:
· Translated information about SafeNet & DV services
· Translated information other from local statutory and voluntary services
· BME faith and religious organisations, places of worship etc
· Specialist BME support services
· Education / English as a second language classes/courses
· Local shops which stock appropriate foods, clothes
· Local orientation information ie maps, location of agencies etc
12 To undertake any other tasks and duties to assist supporting BME residents as required.
Security
1 To ensure the safety of residents and their children at all times by maintaining complete confidentiality regarding all personal information and the location of the refuges and location of residents when resettled.
2 Take all necessary precautions to stay safe and to keep service users safe. Where appropriate, abide by the lone working policy and procedure, use lone worker safety equipment, consider risk and utilise safety measures in all aspects of support work.
3 Safely monitor access to the refuge via the main entrance and rear doors and ensure only authorised access.
4 Safely monitor the external areas by use of the refuge on site CCTV camera.
Other Responsibilities and Tasks
1 Attend and participate in staff and team meetings when requested to do so.
2 Attend regular supervision and planning meetings with the Team Leader.
3 Attend appropriate training courses, workshops or other events within the resources of the refuge when requested to do so by the Team Leader.
4 Perform other duties as identified by the Team Leader.
Policy, Practice and Conduct
1. The post holder must maintain and uphold the standards set out in the staff policies and all other current Codes, Policies, Guidelines, Procedures and Practices.
2. Ensure that the equal opportunities policy and procedure is implemented at all times.
3 To follow and ensure compliance with Health and Safety Policy of the refuges, ensuring the correct use of the buildings.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
* Candidates will be assessed on their ability to meet the criteria detailed in this Person Specification. Please show how you meet these in your application.
BME Refuge Support Assistant - Bi-lingual
Work Related Experience & Knowledge Essential/Desirable
1 experience of supporting women and children practically and emotionally,
using bi-lingual skills E
2 an understanding of domestic abuse and violence E
3 experience of working in a busy supported housing environment D
4 experience of assisting and providing support to a multi-disciplinary team D
5 knowledge of local services and agencies and the ability to advocate/liaise with agencies on behalf of BME residents E
6 Knowledge and understanding of the diverse and additional needs of refuge residents from different cultures and backgrounds E
Skills and Attitudes
1 communicate clearly with women and children from different backgrounds E
2 to be conversant in an additional community language E
3 able to keep clear written records of residents progress
3 excellent time management and organisational skills E
4 computer literate E
5 able to think clearly and act appropriately in a pressured environment E
6 able to work responsibly and on own initiative, as required E
7 Commitment to a team orientated environment E
Special Working Conditions
Attend all team meetings as required
Provide cover for other support assistant workers during periods of sickness and holidays
July 2015 HJG