Website Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid

Refuge Project Worker (Young Women’s Refuge)

POST: Refuge Project Worker (Young Women’s Refuge)
HOURS OF WORK: 37 hours * (some out of hours & on call work will be required, you will be required to participate in a 24 hours on call rota)
SALARY: £31,537

JOB PURPOSE:

To assist the refuge manager in the day-to-day running of the young women’s refuge
To ensure a high-quality standard of service in the refuge
To develop and deliver a front-line service offering support, advice and guidance to young women, and their children, living in the refuge

*BSWA provides safe secure accommodation to some of the most vulnerable women and children therefore in order to ensure we provide maximum support and safety it is essential that our service is available to them 24/7. We do this through operating an on-site rota that covers weekends, evenings and bank holidays as well as a 24 hour call out system.

RESPONSIBLE TO: The Refuge Manager

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SUPPORT WORK:

To build effective relationships with young women to encourage them to identify and respond to their needs, interests and personal development
To provide guidance and support to enable young women to deal with their experiences of abuse and the wide range of issues affecting their lives
To work with each service user to produce an Individual Support Plan (ISP)
To ensure the primary needs of residents are met, including medical, financial, housing, legal and education, referring to specialist agencies where necessary
To organise activities and celebrations in the refuge for young women and children which raise self-esteem, bring people together and broaden awareness
To assist young women in making claims for any welfare benefits that they may be entitled to
To accompany young women as appropriate and agreed by your line manager, to case conferences and meetings that may affect their own and/or their children’s welfare
To make representations, as appropriate and agreed by your line manager, to external bodies in support of women and children
To ensure that appropriate applications are made for re-housing
To identify the needs of young women and children leaving BSWA refuge after being offered permanent accommodation
To identify and make links with existing projects and community services, particularly those focused on young women, and to develop joint services where appropriate
To keep the refuge ‘welcome pack’ up-to-date
Devise and implement appropriate methods of communication with young women and children living in refuge, in agreement with your line manager
To offer support and training to volunteers and ensure they are aware of legal Health and Safety requirements
To participate in 24hour on call rota system

ADMINISTRATION:

To work within BSWA’s administrative and financial systems
To ensure that adequate records are kept for all service users
To keep accurate records of financial transitions in line with BSWA’s procedures
To ensure that Health and Safety records are kept up to date
To monitor and evaluate the refuge service via various methods including feedback from service users and by producing statistical information
To keep inventories of all refuge contents
To contribute where appropriate to the preparation of returns for funders

COMMUNICATION:

To ensure that all staff team members are aware of any matters that are relevant to the welfare and security of the refuge, staff, volunteers and service users by:
- maintaining BSWA communication records
- following safety procedures
- carrying out risk assessments in conjunction with your line manager
- attending team and project meetings
To attend in-house training
To attend support and supervision sessions with your line manager
To participate in multi-agency work and to develop a professional working relationship with external agencies
To contribute towards your project’s quarterly Management Committee report
To be involved in the Annual Review process

PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT:

To take referrals and welcome young women and children into the refuge
To ensure that the appropriate agreements related to tenancies are completed
To ensure that the appropriate agreements related to support are completed
To ensure that the refuge revenue is collected by completing housing benefit forms and all personal contributions are collected on a weekly basis, in advance
To report to your line manager any difficulties in relation to the collection of rent and other charges
To ensure that any house rules are read and understood by new tenants and that all residents comply with them

TRAINING:

To identify and attend training relevant to the post in agreement with your line manager
To work alongside colleagues to organise in-house training and information sessions on a range of issues for service users
To raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence on women and children and of the BSWA services

GENERAL:

To maintain the confidentiality of the women and children using the service and, in all matters, relating to the organisation
To offer an equal service to all women and children regardless of age, class, culture, language, race, religion and sexual orientation
To work within BSWA policies and procedures and demonstrate a commitment to the values and ethos of BSWA
To work within BSWA and local multi-agency child and adult safeguarding procedures
To work within BSWA’s framework for equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
To undertake any other duties required by BSWA, which may arise and commensurate with the post

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th September. Interviews will take place weeks commencing 21st and 28th September.

Application email: recruitment@bswaid.org

Our website: Jobs Archive – Birmingham Solihull Women’s Aid

To apply for this job please visit bswaid.org .

Connect with a cause that needs you!

Refuge Project Worker (Young Women’s Refuge)

Refuge Project Worker (Young Women’s Refuge)