PROJECT MANAGER
37 HOURS PER WEEK
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE
LOCATION: BLACKBURN /
Changing Lives
Changing Lives works nationally with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and a range of other problems by reaching out into communities. We also offer specialist support services for women and families, provide employment opportunities for our clients, and run several successful social enterprises.We are now recruiting permanent staff to help us to deliver a Domestic Abuse Service across Blackburn with Darwen. We will be working with around 3000 clients a year delivering safety and support planning; as well as providing training for victims, perpetrators and health care professionals.
Job Emphasis
To manage the Blackburn with Darwen Domestic Abuse Service, ensuring the effective delivery of services to our clients and that the required outcomes for our funders are achieved. To work with staff, other projects, external providers and other stakeholders to improve the services available.
Job Responsibilities

Service Provision

•To manage the day to day operations at the Domestic Abuse Service and Breaking the Cycle Service – which includes referral and counselling; Sanctuary scheme; and delivering training for victims and perpetrators, as well as for professionals and front line services.

•To support and input into the Domestic Abuse agenda within Changing Lives.

•To have lead responsibility for service Budget review and yearly forecasting

•Remain up-to-date and compliant with all relevant legislation connected to your work, including organizational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct and the IDVA Charter, in order to uphold standards of best practice.

•Lead on quarterly and annual service reviews which include monitoring data, evaluations, intake and output policy, and practice and work load reviews for the whole service.

•Be the lead professional for child protection and information sharing ensuring that staff understand and comply with the service’s safeguarding framework.

•Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the service works in, providing a service that recognizes the diverse needs of survivors and their dependents, ensuring the service is accessible to all.

•Represent the service at contract management level and develop close working relationships with Commissioners

•To ensure the delivery of a high quality service meeting the physical and emotional wellbeing of victims of Domestic Abuse and their children.

•To be an ambassador for the service, working in partnership with local agencies to tackle domestic violence. This will include extensive travel including to rural locations and building effective local multi-agency partnerships.

•To support the IDVA Coordinatorin managing referrals and assessments, including the allocation of key workers and support the delivery of a person centered approach where needs are complex and behaviors challenging.

•To monitor all clients have active person-centered safety plans and progress assessments recorded ondatabase and ensure the quality of service provision by staff, is focused on sustainable change.

•Work with partner agencies to recognize, respect and address the needs of service users who face particular barriers when seeking help to access the service, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LGB&T communities, those with disabilities and complex needs, and other hard to engage groups.

•To work with the Regional Lead in contributing to and implementing new service provision.

•Establish effective working relationships with stakeholders to ensure appropriate referrals are made, regular reviews held with related professionals and service users being supported to move-on.

•Lead on Changing Lives input into the local Domestic Abuse forum, MARAC proceedings, CAF assessments and LSC & AB processes and training.

•Ensure all requirements are met for the safeguarding of adults and children which reflect best practice in children's services, reporting incidents to the local Safeguarding Unit and liaising with the Safeguarding Unit regarding risks to clients and their families.

•Ensure that reporting requirements are being met and inspections are passed to a high standard and all monitoring reports are submitted on time to Commissioners. To ensure that the Regional Lead is kept informed of action taken to manage any heightened risks that may affect the effective running of the services.

•Facilitate effective IDVA provision including assertive outreach into the community and effective engagement with courts and legal processes.

Finance

•Produce annual budgets for the project year.

•Oversee the management of budgets, including taking corrective management action when required in line with financial regulations. To monitor bad debts ensuring compliance with procedures.

Data and Reporting

•Ensure that case files and records are accurate and complete, and that both are kept and in compliance with DPA requirements.

•Ensure appropriate recording of information on INFORM(Client Information Management system) or other relevant system , and that all case files are complete and kept up to date including auditing of case files

•Toensure all incidents are reported appropriately using the Datix reporting system

•Ensure that service user feedback is gathered systematically and recorded on the Changing Lives Datix System and acted upon.

•To submit regular service management and performance reports.

Staff

  • To manage and develop staff in accordance with organization’s performance management scheme, ensuring their involvement in the continuous improvement of services.
  • To ensure all staff within area of responsibility are engaged in regular service review to promote best practice and continuous improvement of service. To implement and manage the sharing of knowledge and good practice towards improving service delivery.
  • To contribute to workforce planning in line with contract requirements, ensuring there is always sufficient cover for services including over holiday periods.
  • To manage and develop staff in line with Changing Lives’ procedures, ensuring their involvement in the continuous improvement of services.
  • Line manage all staff to deliver excellent support and outcomes for clients and their families.
  • To engage the staff team in regular service review to promote best practice and continuous improvement of service. To implement and manage the sharing of knowledge and good practice towards improving service delivery
  • Responsible for the day-to-day supervision of staff which aims to deliver a high quality frontline service keeping the safety of victims of domestic abuse central to all processes.
  • Be involved in the recruitment, selection, induction and retention processes for all staff reporting directly to you.
  • In conjunction with team leaders deliver and provide effective support and supervision for all members of staff by delivering / implementing:
  • Routine case and work load reviews based on reviewing risks and abuse;
  • Line management

•Identify learning and development opportunities and performance management issues. Contribute to employee evaluations, salary and training reviews.

•In conjunction with team leaders to manage staff rotas and on-call rotas.

•Ensure that staff are competent in working with victims of Domestic Abuse and their families.

•To ensure that Changing Lives’ policies, procedures and ethos are fully understood and implemented by staff.

Monitoring and evaluation

  • Maintain effective monitoring and evaluation systems and databaseswhich assess intake, output, performance and effectiveness of the service and carry out weekly case file reviews.
  • To do regular Audits on all aspects of the service as agreed with regional manager

General

•Present a professional image of Changing Lives at all times and ensure professionalism of staff team practices and working environment.

•Maintain in depth and up-to-date knowledge of all Changing Lives practices and policies.

•To be an ambassador for Changing Lives, working in partnership with other agencies to tackle domestic abuse

•Comply with all legal and health and safety requirements, including ensuring lone working protocols are adhered to.

•To work to the performance standards provided and requested by Changing Lives.

•To be an ambassador for Changing Lives, working in partnership with local agencies to tackle domestic violence. This will include extensive travel including to rural locations and building effective local multi-agency partnerships

•To carry out any other reasonable requests. Ensure that risk assessment and risk management procedures are followed at all times, prioritising those most at risk.

•To attend any training, national and regional meetings as directed by Changing Lives, including those at our Head Office in the North East of England.

Person Specification – Project Manager

(To be used for recruitment purposes only)

Criteria /

Essential

Requirements necessary for safe and effective performance in the job /

Desirable

Where available, elements that contribute to improved / immediate performance in the job
Qualifications /
  • Professional S.W. Qualification - CQSW/Dip.SW or Equivalent relevant qualification
  • Post Qualifying Award
  • Equivalent Competence based experience in similar role
/
  • Relevant management qualification
  • CAADA/Safer Lives Management Training or IDVA qualification

Experience /
  • Direct work with victims of domestic abuse and their families
  • Direct experience of assessing children and their families including use of the Common Assessment Framework and the DASH assessment tool for victims of Domestic Abuse
  • Report writing and presentations for meetings, conferences and court settings
  • Experience of service development
  • Experience of multi-agency working in line with best practice including MARAC, multi agency safeguarding procedures
  • Experience of supporting and supervising staff
  • Experience of implementing performance management frameworks
  • Ability to comply with necessary commissioning requirement including supporting people reviews
  • Experience of stakeholder engagement
/
  • Experience of working in a residential setting
  • Experience of Managing Community based Project

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities /
  • Knowledge of the causes and effects of Domestic Abuse
  • Knowledge and experience of Survivor led Programmes
  • Knowledge and experience of Perpetrator programmes
  • In depth knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Practice
  • Knowledge of asset/strength based approaches to families at risk
  • Experience of developing and maintaining appropriate relationships with adult and children’s services
  • Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers
  • Ability to use basic Microsoft Office packages
  • Ability to work at a strategic level with commissioners and stakeholders
  • Ability to support the development of staff to work effectively with children and their families
  • Ability to manage conflict within teams
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines and achieve targets
  • Ability to prioritise workload
/
  • Experience of development of innovative practice

Personal Attributes /
  • Commitment to the values of Changing Lives
  • Commitment to detail, ensuring all work is accurate, concise and understandable
  • Commitment to equality and diversity
  • Understanding of how to work within professional boundaries
  • Willing to work in cooperation with team members
  • Willing to work flexibly, some weekend and unsociable hours and occasional overnight stays
  • Willing to travel nationally
/
  • Full driving licence

For further information and to apply, please visit

Blackburn with Darwen Domestic Abuse Service – Project Manager