Refuge Support Worker

NORTH EAST LINCS WOMEN’S AID

JOB DESCRIPTION – REFUGE SUPPORT WORKER

RESPONSIBLE TO:
SALARY:
DAYS / TIMES:

Support Supervisor, Support Manager; Head of Services
£12.90ph (Unqualified rate)
24 Hrs per week – 8.30am to 5pm - Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
Flexible hours to meet client needs, where necessary
Take part in an ‘On-Call’ service (see below)

ADDITIONAL PAY/ HOURS:  Weekend cover (1 in every 3-weeks) Sat & Sun 9am to 12 Noon

WORK BASE:

Approx 2 on-call shifts per month
‘On-Call’ Weeknight (Mon-Fri) £15 per night
‘On-Call’ Saturday/Sunday and BH £30 per night
‘Call Out’ £20 per hour
Grimsby Town Centre

As this position will include working in the Refuge, we are only accepting applications from women.
(Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 applies)

To provide a high-quality domestic abuse service – ensuring victims and survivors receive an excellent
standard of accommodation and support that helps save lives and change lives.

REFUGE - MAIN DUTIES

•  To provide an immediate & safe place for women and children who are escaping domestic abuse.
•  To make final decisions about allocation of accommodation – as an individual or as a team.
•  To welcome new residents to the Refuge, to explain the conditions under which they will reside
at the Refuge, to issue Licences, welcome packs and other information to new residents in a
manner which ensures that they are fully understood.

•  To support women throughout the re-housing process, including applications to register with

local housing systems, housing providers and/ or agencies, visits to the properties etc.

•  To ensure weekend cover by participating in the weekend rota - Currently 1 weekend in every 3.
•  To be responsible for all warnings and evictions of residents, ensuring they are actioned in line

with Women’s Aid policies and procedures as well as Housing Law.

•  To ensure women living in Refuge maintain due regard for the other occupants of the building.
•  To deal with any disagreements or disputes in a professional and fair manner.
•  To encourage and promote school attendance to children and Mums.
•  To discuss concerns about a family’s needs with Support Supervisor, Support Manager and/or

Children’s Workers.

•  To ensure good daily communication and support with the Hideout staff.
•  To encourage and promote service user involvement including Coffee Mornings and help

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promote interest in any service user involvement.
In liaison with the Admin Staff, to work and operate the financial systems in the collection and
recording of resident’s charges, rents and the administration of petty cash.

•  To ensure that the physical environment of the Refuge is acceptable to the women and that they

are safe, clean and offer a high level of comfort.

•  To comply with Health & Safety at all times and to ensure safe working practices are adhered to.
•  To report and/or organise any maintenance and repair requirements as appropriate.
•  Act as a contact point for organisations and individuals wishing to provide activities and

information for women and their children.

•  To introduce and develop additional activities, educational and/or employment opportunities for

residents and their children as required.

•  Ensure the Child Protection Policy is adhered to and refuge children are not exposed to

unacceptable risk.

SUPPORT - MAIN DUTIES
•  To receive referrals for Refuge admissions and prioritise high risk cases.
•  To provide a high-quality and pro-active front-line service to victims of domestic abuse.
•  To address the safety of victims at risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family

members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.

•  Ensure provisions of support are available and accessible 24 hrs a day.
•  Deliver a pathway of care focusing on safety and protection to those at highest risk of domestic

homicide.

•  Participate in an ‘on-call’ rota for all domestic abuse services provided by Women’s Aid. The rota

will be undertaken by staff across all support projects. (Approx. two nights per month)

•  To explain all options and enable service users to make informed decisions.
•  To respond and record immediately to telephone calls, emails and enquiries in person.
•  To provide ongoing emotional support to those experiencing domestic abuse.
•  To manage a key-worker caseload of clients, ranging from low to high risks and low to high support
needs; ensuring all support is regular, structured and appropriate to client’s individual needs and
include safety, protection, risk management and ongoing support & future plans.

•  To ensure support is delivered in a trauma informed way.
•  To be flexible with support hours according to the client’s needs where necessary.
•  To carry out and record DASH Risk Assessments and be fully responsible for any actions.
•  To assess and provide support ensuring all needs, risks and aspirations are recognised and recorded.
•  To participate in MARAC research, updates, actions, feedback and meetings where necessary.
•  When necessary, to support the client through the legal, criminal and civil justice systems;

explaining procedures, their rights and encouraging involvement with legal support available.

•  To provide and record a relevant, thorough, detailed and comprehensive safety plan for clients.
•  To support the client to access practical means required to communicate with other agencies via

telephones / internet / Wi-Fi.

•  To establish and practice good working partnerships and multi-agency work with other

professionals and outside agencies.

•  To work within a strict framework of safeguarding under Women’s Aid & local authority guidance.
•  To support the empowerment of the client and assist them in understanding the dynamics and

complexities of abusive behaviours.

•  To work closely with other support workers and staff to ensure that the client has access to a full

range of services provided by Women’s Aid.

•  To support the client to explore ‘moving forward’ with their life; exploring opportunities,

identifying needs, encouraging aspirations & developing these into meaningful future plans & goals.

•  To participate and contribute to relevant client group sessions, where necessary.
•  To take part in accredited IDVA training (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate)
•  To collect and monitor information. When requested, to participate in the evaluation of services.
•  To promote and facilitate consultation and involvement of service users.
•  To keep clear and accurate records and maintain structured, confidential and up to date files on

service users.

•  To be responsible and accountable for individual case files and to take part in regular file reviews

and spot-checks.

•  When requested, to prepare and undertake client reports and/or feedback on their support.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
•  To work as a team member under the guidance of the management team.
•  To participate in supervisions (with line manager & clinical) and appraisals.
•  To participate in fundraising activities on behalf of Women’s Aid.
•  To work alone and on own initiative with due regard to our lone working procedures.
•  To participate in staff training, ensuring mandatory training is up-to-date and refreshed regularly.
•  To discuss any training personally identified in supervisions.
•  To attend team meetings, external meetings and Trustee meetings as requested.
•  To draw to the attention of the Support Manager any issues which may impact on clients or WA.

•  To be familiar with all policies of Women’s Aid; to ensure policies are signed off as instructed; to

ensure policies are implemented and adhered to at all times.

•  To be familiar with and work in accordance with Women’s Aid performance management system;

including measuring change performance and monitoring satisfaction are adhered to.

•  To work at all times in accordance with the confidentiality policy of Women's Aid.
•  To comply with data protection legislation; ensuring information sharing procedures are adhered to.
•  To ensure the highest standard of anti-discriminatory and equal opportunities practices are adhered
to and to work in a non-judgemental way, within the guidelines of equal opportunities and anti-
discriminatory practice.

•  To work in a safe and responsible way ensuring that safety and lone working procedures are

followed and that you do not endanger yourself, your colleagues or service users.
•  To work in accordance with staff values and ethos as described in our staff agreement.
•  To constantly raise an awareness of domestic abuse locally.
•  To assist with providing cover for absent colleagues during periods of sickness, holidays, etc., as

requested by the Support Supervisor, Support Manager. Head of Services or CEO.

•  To carry out any other duties commensurate with the level of this post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

REFUGE SUPPORT WORKER
QUALIFICATIONS
Any recognised professional qualifications

EXPERIENCE OF;
Supporting individuals
Undertaking client needs and risk assessments
Working in supported housing
Liaising with other agencies
Support File Management and record keeping
Safety planning and risk assessing
KNOWLEDGE OF

The impact of domestic abuse on everyone
The effects of homelessness
Housing/welfare benefits legislation
The local area, resources and agencies
Safeguarding practices
Drug, alcohol and mental health issues
SKILLS
Ability to work as a member of a staff team and as an individual
Excellent communication and organisational skills
Computer skills (file management is undertaken electronically)
Good literacy and numeracy skills
Interpersonal skills – with both individuals and external
organisations and agencies
Ability to cope with crisis management, conflict and distress
GENERAL
A commitment to the empowerment of those affected by abuse
To foster a tolerant, supportive and empathic approach to clients
To ensure a positive image of the organisation through personal
behaviour and appearance
Demonstrate a high level of motivation
A commitment to Equal Opportunities

ESSENTIAL  DESIRABLE

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Apr 26