September 2015

Dear Applicant`

Refuge Support Worker - Mansfield

Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed the following:

  • Job Description
  • Person Specification
  • Information about Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd
  • Women’s Aid Federation of England Statement of Purpose
  • Application Form
  • Main Terms and Conditions of Employment

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon, Tuesday 13th October 2015. The date for the interview is Wednesday 26thOctober 2015 at The Farr Centre, Worksop.

Applications will not be accepted by email or fax.You must send a hard copy by post.

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd accepts no responsibility for non-receipt of application forms. It is recommended that you check the weight of your application form before posting and apply the correct postage as incorrect postage will result in non-receipt of application.

Please note that application will not be accepted by CV.

Yours faithfully

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd

Mandy Green

Head of Services

Encs

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WOMEN’S AID LIMITED

POST:Refuge Support Worker Mansfield

SALARY:£22,221 per annum, pro rata

LOCATION:Based in Mansfield Refuge, to work flexible to cover the needs of both Mansfield & Bassetlaw refuges

HOURS:24 hours per week flexible over 7 days

The Refuge runs on a rota basis covering Monday to Friday 9 am – 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 1.00 pm.

Rota basis on call for out of hours cover

RESPONSIBLE TO: Refuge Services Co-ordinator

This post requires you to work as part of the Refuge Team and along side the services within the organisation.

The refuge offers safe, temporary 24 hour accommodation with an out of office hours on call system that responds to the needs of women, children and young people who have experienced or are escaping domestic abuse. The refuge worker must ensure she works in a sensitive, flexible and non judgemental way in order to respond to the diverse needs of women, children and young people within the refuge setting and on the help line.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • To offer practical and emotional support to women experiencing domestic abuse
  • To key work and encourage regular one to one support sessions and group work
  • To work alongside the Child Support Workers in ensuring that children’s needs are met and that all House Guidelines, Health and Safety and Fire regulations are understood.
  • Support the aims and principles of the project including to empower and support women and children in making decisions and taking control of their lives
  • To accompany women to relevant appointments/social and leisure opportunities as necessary in line with Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd policy and procedure and agreed with Refuge Service Coordinator.
  • To respond to the needs of the service users on issues around:
  • The provision of legal, housing and welfare rights advice and practical support
  • Advocacy and liaison with other agencies e.g. housing departments, solicitors, courts, social services, schools, doctors, DSS etc
  • Provision of information about local agencies and community resources
  • Help with arranging furniture removals and storage and re-housing
  • To ensure telephone support, information, resources, signposting and referring where necessary to families.
  • Tenancy, license agreement, inventory and property review issues.
  • Follow all procedures for the initial enquiry, referral and admission process
  • To carry the Out Of hours On Call Emergency Phone on a rota basis as agreed with the Refuge Service Coordinator.
  • Ensure the smooth running of the refuge to aid self contained and communal living
  • Completing with the client Tenancy, Licence agreements, flat or room inventories and full property reviews.
  • Set up and maintain accurate client records
  • To liase and build up networks with other local agencies
  • To attend external meeting as agreed with the Refuge Service Coordinator
  • Be responsible for collecting accurate daily information for monitoring purposes and to ensure the information is passed to the relevant person for collation and distribution purposes
  • Record all relevant financial transactions according to procedures for rent collection and other financial systems
  • Take joint responsibility for the collection of mail and deal with relevant correspondence
  • Be jointly responsible for the maintenance of the house, grounds and equipment
  • To report all repairs to the relevant department or person/s
  • To report on the relevant paperwork any damages and/or renewals to the Refuge Service Coordinator
  • Facilitate weekly house meetings and refuge social events as and when required
  • Ensuring well being client checks are completed.
  • In conjunction with the Refuge team, organise and facilitate groups, events, information sessions and leisure sessions for families on issues around Domestic Violence and/or any other related issues
  • To participate and attend training as identified and agreed with the Refuge Service Coordinator
  • Attend team, project and trustee meetings as agreed with the Refuge Service Co-ordinator
  • To work on a rota basis to ensure that the Refuge Service is covered Monday – Sunday and to work flexibly as and when required
  • Ensure that all health and safety regulations, policies and procedures are adhered to
  • To take all possible steps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of the users and employees of the organisation
  • To be aware of and implement policies and procedures as set out by Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd
  • Direct key work with individual clients
  • To participate in regular supervision and appraisal to be agreed by Refuge Services Co-ordinator
  • To follow child protection policies and procedure and liaise with Refuge and Children’s Services Co-ordinators
  • To take joint responsibility for the staffing of the helpline
  • To work closely with external agencies and organisations
  • To take joint responsibility to ensure the smooth efficient running of the refuge office eg filing, photocopying, stationery, inventories etc
  • To ensure all weekly Refuge Timetable of events occur at appropriate and relevant times
  • To work within the aims, objectives and principles of Women’s Aid Federation England and ensure a high quality service is offered to women and children escaping domestic violence
  • To work as part of Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd Refuge Service Team in order to develop services and build relationships across the projects
  • To carry out any other duties which may vary from time to time as may reasonably be required within the general level of responsibilities of the post

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd

Refuge Support Worker– Domestic Violence

Person Specification

This is a list of the qualities that we consider are needed in order to fulfil the requirements of the post. We recognise that it is unlikely that any applicant will have all the characteristics but training will be offered to the post holder in the areas where it is necessary.

Qualities/Skills/Experience that are essential:

  • An understanding of Domestic Violence and the effects on women, children and young people
  • A commitment to Women’s Aid Federation England’s principles and objectives

Direct experience of supporting women preferable in a hostel setting

  • An understanding of confidentiality issues relating to refuge support work.
  • An understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices
  • Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team
  • Ability to work under pressure and in conflict or crisis situations
  • Good communication skills both written, oral & ICT
  • Good record keeping skills
  • An understanding of Health and Safety issues
  • Good working knowledge of Legal options, housing/homelessness legislation, welfare rights, Child Protection issues and The Children’s Act 1989.
  • Active listening skills
  • Advocacy skills
  • An understanding of support planning, needs assessment and key working
  • A full clean driving licence and use of a car

Desirable

  • Experience of housing management
  • Awareness of local available services and resources

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd

Refuge Support Worker

Main Terms and Conditions of Employment:

Salary:£22,221 per annum pro rata for part time

Pension:October 2015-September 2017 Employer pays 1% Employee pays 1%

October 2017-September 2018 Employer pays 2% Employee pays 3%

October 2018 onwards Employer pays 3% Employee pays 5%

Hours:Part time, 24 hours per week. This will include weekend and evening work. Overtime is not payable but time off in lieu will be arranged.

Holidays:23 days, plus bank holidays pro rata for part time.

Travel:Mileage rate is currently paid at 35p per mile for authorised travel.

Equal Opportunities:

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd is committed to the prevention of discrimination or harassment against any of its workers, support group or users of its services on the grounds of race, religion, sexuality, size, age or HIV status.

Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd

Background Information

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd, formally Bassetlaw Women’s Aid Ltd was formed in 1984 by a group of women who saw the need for a Refuge in this area. Since then it has grown and developed services in response to need. It is a charitable company limited by guarantee governed by a Board of Trustees. In 2003 it changed its structure from a collective to a linear management structure and in 2006 after consultation with its members changed its name from Bassetlaw Women’s Aid Ltd to Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid LtdIt offers temporary emergency accommodation, confidential advice, information and support to single women and women with children who have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused.

Mission Statement

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd exists for the benefit of all women, young people and children experiencing physical, mental or sexual abuse in their relationships. We offer information, a menu of options, access to (temporary) accommodation, ongoing support and aftercare.

Women’s Aid recognises that violence against women results from the unequal position of women in society. We are opposed to all forms of emotional and physical violence and abuse against women, young people and children. We are committed to the principle of self-help and self-determination and encourage women seeking advice, information, support or refuge to determine their own future.

Quality Assurance

Women’s Aid National Quality Standards

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd has passed stage 1 of the Women’s Aid Federation England National Quality Standards.

Leading Lights Accreditation

Our Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) service achieved Leading Lights Accreditation (a nationally recognised advocacy qualification) in July 2011, achieving re accreditation in January 2015. Currently only 20 other IDVA services have achieved this standard in the United Kingdom.

Investors in People

In September 2011 the organisation achieved recognition from Investors in People, being awarded the GOLD standard. In September 2014 we maintained the GOLD standard award. We are currently awaiting the outcome for Champion Status.

Aims and Objectives

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd aims to help women and their children who have experienced any form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse by meeting the following main objectives:

Refuge provision

We will meet the immediate housing needs for women and their children who are escaping abuse by offering an immediate and temporary place of safety in the Refuge. Our “open door” policy ensures that no woman will be turned away without receiving assistance from our organisation.

We will offer the women and their children the support needed to adapt to their new environment and to provide the appropriate advice to empower women by encouraging them to determine their own future without prejudice or persuasion.

Domestic Abuse Support Service

We will enable the woman to maintain an assured short-hold tenancy through ongoing support and resettlement work up until the time the woman determines this is no longer needed.

We will recognise the varied and individual needs of each woman by reflecting this in the personal support agreements and respect these individual needs.

We will ensure that all women who are or have experienced domestic violence and have chosen to stay within their existing homes are given the same opportunities for information, support, and training.

We will endeavour to reduce the isolation of the women seeking our services due to location, disabilities, etc by providing an accessible rural as well as urban outreach service.

The Farr Centre

We will provide support to women in the community who are experiencing domestic violence, abuse, poverty, unemployment and changes to their lives.

We will provide information, support, guidance and training.

We will enable women to develop skills through involvement in social activities, to become confident, self aware and assertive in order that they can take control of the lives through self-determination.

Children’s Services Young People Domestic Abuse Support Service

We will provide direct support to young people and children as individuals, within the family or in groups, around their experiences of domestic violence.

We will provide child-focused support to women around their children’s experiences of domestic violence.

We will liaise and advocate on behalf of young people, children and carers with other local agencies in order to coordinate support services in the community.

Reference No ______

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd

Application for the post of:Refuge Support Worker - Mansfield

Please return the completed form, clearly marked Private and Confidential to:

Refuge Support Worker - Mansfield

Employment Group

Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd

The Farr Centre

Chapel Walk, Westgate

Worksop, Notts S80 1LR

Closing Date: 13th October 2015 at 12 noon Interview Date: 26thOctober 2015

Personal details (please complete in block capitals)
First NameLast Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone numbers
DayEvening
Email address:
National Insurance Number:
Are you related to any current worker, volunteer or trustee of Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd?YES NO  If yes please state their name
Do you have a full current driving licence ?YES NO 
Do you have regular use of a car?YES NO 
Are you eligible to work in the UK? YES NO 
Referees
Please provide details of two referees below. Relatives are not acceptable referees. One of the referees must be your present or most recent employer and normally no offer of employment will be made without reference to her/him. If you have not been previously employed, then head teachers, college lecturers or other persons who are able to comment authoritatively on your educational background and/or personal qualities are acceptable as referees.
Name (Referee 1)
Address
Telephone
Email
How long known?
Can we approach before the interview YES  NO  / Name (Referee 2)
Address
Telephone
Email
How long known?
Can we approach before the interview YES  NO 
Disclosure of Criminal Background
Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd is required under the Police Act 1997, the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Criminal Justice & Court Services Act 2000 to check the criminal background of those employees whose jobs give them access to children or other vulnerable members of society. Decisions to appoint will be subject to consideration of a disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
If the post for which you are applying requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check, you must provide information about ALL convictions, as the post is automatically exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and rules relating to “spent” convictions do not apply.
The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are “protected” and are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.
Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website
Please answer the following questions.
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? / YES  NO 
Have you ever been cautioned for a criminal charge? / YES  NO 
Are you at present the subject of a criminal charge? / YES  NO 
If YES to any of the above questions please give brief details including dates.
Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will receive the organisation’s Safeguarding Policy that outlines the duties and responsibilities of the employer and employee.
Equality Act 2010
The Equalities Act 2010 states a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. The Act requires an employer to make reasonable adjustments to working conditions in order to enable disabled applicants to have equal access to employment opportunities. Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd is committed to the development of positive practices to promote equality in employment. The organisation guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential shortlisting requirements.
If you would like to declare your disability, please tick the appropriate box below.
Do you consider yourself to be disabled?YES  NO 
DATA PROTECTION ACT
The personal information collected on this form will be processed on computer to manage your application. If successful, your personal information will be retained whilst you are an employee and used for payroll, pension and personnel administration. It will not ordinarily be disclosed to anyone outside the Organisation without first seeking your permission, unless there is a statutory reason for doing so. This Organisation is under duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud.
It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information visit: ww.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Declaration
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information given on ALL parts of this form is correct. I understand that, should my application be successful and it is discovered subsequently that information has been falsified, then disciplinary action may be taken which may include dismissal from the post.
I confirm that I have a legal right to work in the UK and if this application is successful, I undertake to produce appropriate documentary evidence to prove this, prior to commencing work with the Organisation.
I consent to the collection, storage and use of my race, disability, gender, belief or religion, age or sexual orientation details. I understand that these details will not be used as part of the selection process. I understand that any use of these details will only involve producing anonymous statistics to monitor the effectiveness of Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd Equal Opportunity Policy.
Signed / Date
Please return your completed form by post to arrive by the closing date to: “job title” Employment Group, Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd, The Farr Centre, Chapel Walk, Westgate, Worksop, Notts S80 1LR
If you have not received a reply within the next 6 weeks, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
PLEASE NOTE: CORRECT POSTAGE MUST BE USED TO ENSURE DELIVERY OF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT DELAYED. Postage rates must comply with the royal mail size guide.

Statement of Support for the Work of Women’s Aid Federation of England