Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title:                     Support Worker (*Female)

Reports to:                  Adult and Families Senior Practitioner

Reportees:                  This post has no line management responsibilities

Salary and hours:      30 hours per week
                               £22,100-£22,500 per annum (FTE), depending on experience
                               in line with changes to NMW (April 2024)

Location:                    Ceredigion

Job Purpose:             To provide professional, confidential support and advice to women,

men and children who have experienced or are experiencing
domestic abuse.  The post holder will work as part of a team
providing a safe and confidential helpline and support services
working within our refuges, safe houses and in the community
providing trauma informed holistic support. You will provide
professional, confidential information and support to individuals,
across a range of settings including refuge, community, or through
our helpline. In doing so you will promote and facilitate the
development of all services, monitor and gain feedback. To ensure
that all safety and support plans and processes are in place and
working in the best interest of the survivor of domestic abuse. To
ensure that all clients are aware of the services available to them
and how best to access such services.

WWDAS places the needs of service users at the heart of everything it does and this is
reflected throughout the organisation and its relationships with others.

Please note this is a 6-page document and should be read thoroughly before applying
for any position. Please also read the instructions on the application form to ensure that
you give the most relevant details in your application.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder is required to work with minimal supervision. They will carry out some
or all of the following tasks, depending upon location, qualifications and experience:

Clients of The Organisation

•  To accept and assess referrals and work with service users in accordance with

WWDAS Quality Standards and established policies, procedures and guidelines,
maintaining all necessary records (manual and computer).

•  To give practical information, assist clients with obtaining relevant information
and support to people experiencing domestic abuse, including on-going one to
one support to residents and non-residents.

•  To facilitate delivery of support group work programmes for women and their

children.

•  To liaise with other agencies to meet the needs of clients and accompany clients
to other agencies when required and when there is sufficient rota coverage.

•  Empower service users to improve their quality of life by promoting and

maintaining independent living for themselves and any dependents they may
have.

•  Provide relevant support in accordance to service users’ needs through safety
and support planning, risk and needs assessments and through one to one
sessions.

•  To advise, assist and support service users in accessing services such as

housing and social services, welfare benefits, legal services, counselling and
other resources such as training and educational opportunities as required.
•  Enabling service users to develop skills required for independent living and their

broader needs by enabling access to other relevant services.

•  To inform good practice and policy development on the causes and effects of

domestic violence.

•  To develop robust Service User Inclusion including promoting events,

networking, fundraising and consulting with service users to ensure that they are
fully involved in service review and development.

•  Ensuring confidentiality is kept at all times.
•  To report any safeguarding related concerns and incidents immediately to the

line manager and ensure relevant policies are followed.

•  To participate in monitoring of and planning review and evaluation of services.

Crisis, Facilities and Accommodation

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•  To staff the helpline answering crisis support issues and ensuring effective

safety and support to a range of people offering appropriate information, advice
and support to people in a timely, confidential and professional manner.

•  To support the on call work of the organisation.
•  To make decisions to ensure the smooth and safe operation of all

accommodation and offices and the welfare of all clients.

•  To perform practical tasks including housekeeping and ensure accommodation
is clean and maintained to a high standard including preparing and cleaning
rooms for re-let and for support sessions to enable referrals into the service.

•  To promote personal well-being and domestic hygiene.

Administration and housekeeping

•  To maintain accurate and up to date detailed case notes and client records in
accordance with Data Protection and other legislation, WWDAS policies and
procedures and good practice.

•  To undertake own routine administration e.g. calendars, word processing, filing,

archiving in shared computer systems.

•  To compile and produce reports including statistics, letters and information

packs.

•  To respond to correspondence, including email, concerning clients.
•  To attend and contribute to staff meetings ensuring relevant information is

communicated to other members of staff.

•  To arrange and lead regular house and other meetings, keeping detailed

records of all issues raised within the meeting.

•  Under delegation from the line manager, to assist in the sourcing of adequate

staff and volunteer rota cover.

•  To perform practical tasks including housekeeping, recycling, dealing with

donations and supporting a welcoming and supportive environment for clients
and staff/volunteers

Human Resources

•  To participate in the mentoring and induction of new staff and volunteers.
•  To give ongoing support to volunteers and other staff members which includes

outreach work.

•  To attend staff training, supervision/appraisals and case conferencing as

required

Multi Agency Working

•  To establish close contacts with the various communities and statutory and

voluntary organisations in the area.

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•  Encourage and promote a multi-agency approach of working to ensure the
needs of the service users are met to a high quality which will include
partnership working within all aspects of service provision including when
relevant, safety and support planning.

Public Awareness and Publications

•  To be involved in awareness raising sessions and to support drop ins and

outreach

•  To provide and maintain relevant and current information materials to meet both
clients' needs and those members of the public who are interested in our work.

•  To be an ambassador of the organisation and identify potential sources of

sponsorship and additional income streams.

Other

•  Observe professional etiquette and confidentiality at all times.
•  Demonstrates a commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.
•  To attend and participate in external meetings, forums, etc. as appropriate.
•  To work with volunteers offering professional advice and guidance and assisting

with their training and development as required.
In the absence of staff assists with other duties appropriate to your role.

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•  The job holder is responsible for her own health and safety.
•  The job holder will attend training courses, charity meetings and other team

events as required.

•  To carry out such other reasonable tasks that may from time to time be

allocated.

•  This role profile is not exhaustive, it will be subject to periodic review and may

be amended to meet the changing needs of the charity.

*Female only under the Occupational Requirement Exception in the Equality Act
2010.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

Desirable

1.  Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and ability

to address them appropriately.

2.  Knowledge of confidentiality, data protection and professional

boundaries and willingness to comply with these.

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3.  Good knowledge of welfare benefits and housing options and

legislation related to statutory duty.

4.  Knowledge of health and safety relevant to role as a support

worker and working in Service User’s homes

Understanding

5.  An understanding of violence against women and domestic

abuse and how it affects individuals, children and young people.

6.  An understanding of professional curiosity

Language and Communication

7.  To be able to communicate in Welsh and English – both verbally

and in written form.

8.  Good communication skills including written - report writing,

presentation and verbal.

9.  Good time management skills.

10.  Listening and empathy skills, including demonstrating empathy

11.  The importance of managing difficult issues and conflict

12.  Ability to prioritise, work on own initiative and be part of a team,
take part in team working and contribute to ensuring the team
achieving their objectives.

13.  Good attention to detail and organised.

14.  Previous experience of using computer-based systems to

accurately record work and client details, including Word and
email use.

Qualifications

15.  5 GCSE’s Grade A-C including Maths and English or equivalent.

16.  Full Clean Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Experience

17.   Experience of group work skills.

18.  Working with minimal supervision.

19.  Experience of multi-agency work.

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Personal Qualities and Commitment

20.  Commitment to equal opportunities and to promoting service

users’ rights, privacy, dignity, choice and control.

21.  Able to work flexibly and to do evening and occasional weekend

work.

22.  Ability to take part in an on-call rota.

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