Accommodation Worker (part-time)

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Location Derbyshire (on site) Employer The Elm Foundation Reports To Accommodation Team Service Manager Hours Part Time 14 hours per week. The Accommodation Worker may be expected to work some Saturdays and evenings, as required to meet the needs of the service. Contract Permanent Contract Salary Grade 8 (£28248.00 – £30359.00) per annum plus 3% employer pension contribution (pro rata) Annual Leave 25 days + Public holidays increasing to 30 days annual leave after two years in employment (pro rata) Start date Immediate

Job Purpose

The Domestic Abuse Accommodation Worker will provide specialist support, risk assessment, and advocacy to individuals and families who are residing in, or have resided in, The Elm Foundation’s refuge accommodation, including communal and dispersed emergency accommodation.

The role involves supporting service users affected by domestic abuse through practical, emotional, and advocacy-based support, helping them to increase safety, access services, and move towards independent living.

The postholder will work within a multi-agency framework, ensuring service users receive timely and appropriate support, and will contribute to maintaining safe, well-managed refuge accommodation.

Key Responsibilities

Service User Support and Case Management

• Provide one-to-one face-to-face and telephone support to women, men and young people experiencing domestic abuse.
• Deliver emotional support, practical advice, advocacy and safety planning tailored to individual needs.
• Manage an allocated caseload of service users, maintaining regular contact and support sessions.
• Assist service users to develop their own solutions and long-term safety strategies.
• Provide advocacy with external agencies including housing providers, health services, legal services and welfare support agencies.
• Support service users to access appropriate services including GP services, mental health services, substance misuse teams, housing advice and financial support.
• Manage crisis situations effectively, responding appropriately to complex or high-risk circumstances.

Risk Assessment and Safeguarding

• Complete risk assessments, safety plans and support plans for all service users and review these regularly.
• Conduct ongoing risk and needs assessments using recognised assessment tools, including DASH where appropriate.
• Escalate high-risk cases to Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) where necessary.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and follow organisational safeguarding procedures for both adults and children.
• Refer families to Early Help services where appropriate.

Accommodation and Housing Support

• Work in partnership with local authorities and housing providers to assess risk and ensure survivors access safe and suitable accommodation.
• Support individuals to access longer-term accommodation either within Derbyshire or out of area depending on risk and availability.
• Provide tenancy-related support to individuals transitioning from refuge accommodation.
• Deliver step-down support to individuals moving on from refuge accommodation, including:
  • Face-to-face support for individuals remaining within the local area.
  • Up to four sessions of telephone support for individuals relocating outside Derbyshire.
• Undertake refuge referral checks and triage referrals to appropriate refuge accommodation.
• Maintain clear and effective handover communication between staff members.

Multi-Agency Working

• Work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector agencies including:
• Local authority housing teams
• Health services and GPs
• Mental health services
• Substance misuse services
• Legal and financial advice services

• Attend multi-agency meetings including core groups, safeguarding meetings and case conferences.
• Contribute to Team Around the Family (TAF) processes where required.
• Implement Derbyshire referral pathways for risk assessment, safety planning and referral.
• Liaise with police and other agencies regarding safety concerns or potential risks to service users.

Property and Accommodation Management

• Maintain health and safety standards across refuge properties, completing daily, weekly and monthly checks.
• Conduct weekly property inspections to ensure accommodation remains safe and suitable.
• Undertake property inventories prior to re-allocation.
• Arrange cleaning and preparation of vacant rooms to ensure timely re-allocation of accommodation.
• Ensure properties are maintained to a high standard and report maintenance issues to management.
• Monitor stock levels and notify management when supplies require replenishment, including kitchen equipment and household items.

Practical Support for Service Users

• Provide clean bedding, towels and essential household items for new residents.
• Provide emergency provisions including food parcels, toiletries and infant supplies where required.
• Arrange interpreters or translation services, including British Sign Language (BSL), where necessary to support communication needs.

On-Call and Out-of-Hours Support

• Participate in the organisation’s on-call rota to provide support to service users residing in accommodation services.
• Respond to out-of-hours referrals and crisis situations including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Training, Awareness and Service Promotion

• Support the delivery of presentations, workshops and awareness sessions about domestic abuse and the work of The Elm Foundation.
• Attend meetings, seminars and conferences as requested by the Service Manager.
• Contribute to raising awareness of domestic abuse and promoting services within the community.

Generic Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure service users receive appropriate emotional, practical and financial support in line with individual support and safety plans.
• Work collaboratively as part of The Elm Foundation team, sharing relevant information appropriately and supporting colleagues to deliver a high-quality service.
• Provide support, guidance and assistance to colleagues, students and volunteers, contributing to a positive team environment and helping to promote good practice across the service.
• Assist with the induction and informal support of new staff, students and volunteers, where required by the Service Manager.

• Work within the service performance management framework, ensuring targets and contractual KPIs are met.
• Promote equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of work.
• Participate in community awareness activities relating to domestic abuse.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date case records and monitoring systems in line with organisational procedures and data protection requirements.
• Provide emotional and practical support to service users, ensuring that responses are professional, compassionate and person-centred.
• Promote service user involvement and feedback to support continuous improvement and service development.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of domestic abuse, safeguarding legislation, housing options, welfare benefits and relevant support services.
• Assist with service monitoring and reporting requirements for internal and external funders.
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, including evenings, Saturdays and unsocial hours where required.
• Ensure compliance with The Elm Foundation’s financial regulations, policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Maintain awareness of security procedures, including alarm systems and CCTV where applicable.
• Participate in supervision, appraisal, training and professional development opportunities as required.
• Undertake administrative duties necessary to support effective service delivery.

• Support service users to build independence and develop their own solutions.
• Liaise with police and partner agencies when safety concerns arise.
• Maintain high standards across all accommodation premises.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by management.

Confidentiality

The postholder must maintain strict confidentiality regarding service users and refuge locations, in accordance with safeguarding policies and MARAC information-sharing protocols.

Equality and Anti-Discriminatory Practice

The postholder must demonstrate commitment to anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-discriminatory practice across all aspects of their work.

Professional Conduct

All duties must be carried out in accordance with The Elm Foundation’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies.

Occupational Requirement

Due to the nature of refuge services, this role is restricted to female applicants under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and requires an enhanced DBS check.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential:

• Experience working within a domestic abuse support environment.
• Experience providing advice, information, or support to vulnerable individuals.
• Experience working with children and young people.
• Experience of multi-agency partnership working.
• Experience supporting individuals experiencing crisis or complex needs.

Desirable:

• Experience using the DASH Risk Assessment tool.
• Experience delivering group work or workshops.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on adults, children and families.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection principles.
• Awareness of issues affecting victims of domestic abuse, including:
  • Mental health
  • Substance misuse
  • Disability
  • Cultural and community barriers
• Knowledge of the legal framework relating to domestic abuse.
• Understanding of the Children Act 1989.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to assess risk and manage crisis situations effectively.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to produce clear and accurate case records, reports, and correspondence.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with clients, families and professionals.
• Ability to reflect on professional practice and engage in continuous learning.

Qualifications and Other Requirements

Essential:

• NVQ Level 3 in Social Care or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable:

• SafeLives or Women’s Aid training.

IT and Administrative Skills

• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability to use and adapt to case management and data recording systems.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.

Application deadline: Friday 17/04/2026 at 5pm.Interviews: will be held the week commencing 20^th April.

Complete the Application Form (below) and Covering Letter and email to: recruitment@theelmfoundation.org.uk REF: AW