FEMALE OUTREACH WORKER (ASSESSMENT TEAM)

FEMALE OUTREACH WORKER (ASSESSMENT TEAM)
          Job Description & Person Specification

JOB PURPOSE

•  To provide a confidential, impartial and independent domestic abuse outreach  service from
point of first contact which is open to all members of the community living in the boroughs of
Waverley and Guildford.

•  Providing skilled and practical advice via telephone that offers emotional support to enable our

survivors to reach clear and informed  decisions about their future.

•  Enabling and encouraging survivors to take advantage of all services relevant to  supporting their
needs by assisting them to access further services and professionals  in the desired area of need.

•  Understanding risk and safeguarding issues and acting in accordance with the

organisation’s policies and procedures.

•  As part of our assessment team, referring callers to the SWSDAS support team or signposting

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to appropriate agencies and acting as an advocate to enable  access to other services.
If working within our support team, reducing a client’s isolation and encouraging them back into
community living.

•  Providing advice and information to other agencies/organisations and individuals  working with

survivors as well as being willing to offer training.

•  Encouraging multi-agency and joint working with the local community to increase the  service profile
and build networks and relationships with other agencies, both  voluntary and statutory in the area
and refer to them as appropriate.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•  Be mindful at all times of personal safety of the client and yourself as safeguarding is  paramount.
•  Ensure risk assessments are carried out prior to visiting survivors, complying with  policies of the
organisation and any additional policies of the outreach service.  Location of the visit will also be
risked assessed and in accordance with the level of  risk identified, an appropriate location will be
agreed between the outreach worker  and client.

CORE DUTIES

•  Assess risk to clients and their children and implement appropriate safeguarding procedures where

required.

•  Deliver telephone support to survivors using support plans and goals where appropriate. Record
client details in  accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations and service monitoring
requirements.

•  Provide practical advice and support to survivors about their options, including advice  on

entitlement to legal services, housing and other benefits, injunctions and other  civil and criminal
proceedings so they can make informed decisions about their  future. To offer safety planning to
survivors.

•  Provide housing related support to enable service users to either remain safely and

independently in their home or to support them finding appropriate and alternative
accommodation. To refer to the Sanctuary scheme as appropriate.

•  Support survivors who are moving out of refuge accommodation or safe houses and  help them

resettle in the area and make these homes safer through advice.

•  Provide support to those wishing to prosecute the perpetrator.

DEALING WITH REFERRALS

•  Receive direct self-referrals to the service and referrals from a range of agencies and  service

providers.

•  Receive telephone calls direct from survivors, or from agencies from 9am-4pm,  Monday to Friday
and follow these through by the same day when in office hours or  the next working week morning.

GENERAL

•  Undertake such general office duties as your position requires.
•  Maintain such statistical information as may be required by the organisation.
•  Participate in updating information and resources, and in particular keep  abreast of

legislation and policy which have a bearing on your survivors’ needs.

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•  Submit reports to the Service Manager when requested.
•  Assist in producing an Annual Report and Annual Review.
•  Attend meetings which are considered to be in the interests of the organisation  and your

position. Such undertakings to be decided in consultation with the  Chief Executive Officer or
Service Manager.

•  Encourage service user participation in all aspects of the service by obtaining  feedback on
the usefulness and effectiveness of the service and to shape the  service according to their
needs.

•  To carry out any other duties which are relevant to the post, as agreed with the  Service

Manager or Chief Executive Officer.

ATTITUDES & APTITUDES

•  An understanding of commitment and active approach to Equal Opportunities.
•  A commitment to good professional practice and the provision of a high-quality  service.
•  A willingness to be flexible in response to the needs of survivors and the

organisation.

•  The ability to empathise and to be non-judgmental, thereby allowing survivors to  work

through their problems at their pace and to make their own decisions.

•  To undertake relevant training.

ACCOUNTABILITY
The Outreach Worker is accountable to the Service Manager at South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service.

ESSENTIAL

Person Specification

•  An awareness of the importance of confidentiality.
•  Understanding of the importance of and have knowledge of GDPR/Data Protection.
•  The ability to listen, to communicate effectively and to be non-judgmental.
•  To understand the importance of identifying and responding to the risks associated with those

experiencing domestic abuse and their children.

•  An ability to offer support to survivors in order to empower them to reach informed  decisions.
•  To be willing to deliver training to other agencies and organisations.
•  To  demonstrate  a  commitment  to  equal  opportunities  and  the  philosophy  of  making  services
available  to  all  sections  of  the  community,  including  hard  to  reach or marginalised groups.

•  A current driving licence and use of a car.
•  The ability to work on own initiative but equally committed to working effectively  as part of a

team.

•  Be able to work effectively and diplomatically with a range of different statutory  agencies,

voluntary organisations, groups and individuals.

•  To be able to draft concise reports, collate information and produce evidence-based

recommendations.

•  Good IT skills.
•  To  be  able

to  manage

the  stress

that  emanates

from  dealing  with  people  whose

circumstances  may  be  harrowing  and  identify  support  to  help  you  where necessary.
•  To  be  willing  to  attend  training  courses  and  able  to  work  flexible  hours  on  occasions.
•  An understanding of safeguarding adults and children responsibilities.

DESIRABLE

•  Experience of working with survivors of domestic abuse.
•  Knowledge of welfare rights, housing law or family law.
•  Knowledge of domestic abuse practices, policies or research.

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