Community Refuge Support Worker

EDINBURGH WOMEN'S AID

Job Description

Community Refuge Support Worker
(Women’s Support Service)

20 hours per week, Monday to Friday

£30,740 (pro-rata £17,565.94) SCP26

Job Title:

Hours:

Salary:

Responsible To:

Operational Manager

Contract:

Permanent contract (subject to funding)

Holiday Entitlement:

26 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays pro rata

This role is subject to satisfactory Adult and Child PVG scheme membership.

Job Purpose

To support the provision of a safe, professional and supportive service for women in
the Community Refuge accommodation who have experienced or are at risk of
domestic abuse.

Main Duties

•  Providing practical and emotional support in an empowering way as part of a

planned input to support women to recover from domestic abuse.

•  Creating a safe environment for women and any accompanying children who

use EWA services.

•  Responding appropriately and empathically to women who are emotional or in

a distressed state.

•  Accurately and appropriately advising women of their welfare rights, legal

rights, housing options, benefits and child support options.

•  Assisting women with necessary paperwork for application for housing benefits
and other services to enable women to make informed choices and decisions.

•  Providing advocacy support in respect of the above options if required or

requested.

•  Proactively developing an inter-agency approach to working with women.
•  Ensuring that organisational policies and procedures are followed and

developing policies and procedures from time to time.

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Other Tasks

•  To work to the SSSC code of practice for support workers and national

standards for care – housing support services.

•  Ensure EWA policies and health and safety procedures are updated and

implemented throughout the team.

•  Actively participate in personal and team development including attending
support and supervision, team meetings, training and appraisals (if/when
applicable).

•  To organise and lead social/group opportunities for women who are using EWA
services and to use the feedback from such events to develop EWA services.

Refuge Specific Tasks

•  To familiarise women and any accompanying children with the appropriate
EWA environment, regulations, expectations and safety procedures.

•  To appropriately manage conflict within refuge.

Please note- the above list is not exhaustive

Person Specification

Essential requirements

•  An understanding of domestic abuse and the effects of abuse on women and

children.

•  Ability to practice in accordance with the ethos of a feminist approach to domestic

abuse.

•  Experience of conflict management.
•  Experience of providing person centred, empathic and empowering support to
women with substance misuse and/or mental health issues and/or other
vulnerabilities.

•  Ability to maintain work records and to keep appropriate monitoring and evaluation

records to a very high standard.

•  Ability to assess the needs of women and their children and to support ongoing

development of a service that meets their needs.

•  Experience of collating information and writing reports for a variety of audiences.
•  Computer literate.
•  Ability to manage a complex caseload and work on own initiative in a busy

environment.

•  Non-judgemental and anti-discriminatory approach.
•  Comprehensive understanding of child protection and adult support and protection

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procedures.

•  Understanding of the SSSC code of practice and National Care Standards.
•  A full UK compliant driving licence.

Desirable requirements

•  Experience of working in the voluntary sector or in a similar role

Edinburgh Women’s Aid is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications
from all sections of the community.

Women only need apply under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010

Company No: SC237521

Registered Charity No: SC028301

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