Role Profile
Job Description
| Job TitleSalaryResponsible toHoursContract | |
| Sanctuary Support Worker | |
| £28,171 (Pro Rata based on 35 Hours) | |
| Line Manager at Behind Closed Doors | |
| 21 hours | |
| 12 Months Fixed Term Contract |
Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors (BCD) has been tackling domestic abuse for 25 years. They provide support to everyone in Leeds who is affected by domestic abuse including male victim survivors, and they act to prevent it.
BCD offer a benefit package that includes: flexible working policy, hybrid office/home working, 2-hours well-being time each month, pension scheme, access to Health Cash Plan, 28 days holiday, external supervision, values-led organisation and continued professional development.
Sanctuary Support Team (SST)
Leeds Domestic Violence Service (LDVS) is commissioned by Leeds City Council as part of the New Burdens Funding to provide a team of Domestic Violence & Abuse (DV&A) Practitioners who will deliver structured support to individuals and families living in properties where sanctuary installation through the LHO managed Sanctuary Scheme has been applied for. This Sanctuary Support Team (SST) includes workers from a range of organisations and means that people with protected characteristics are able to access more specialist support. The team must consider the support needs of any children living in the property. Asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants, who are not eligible for sanctuary installations, will also be supported in this project.
The Sanctuary Support Worker at Behind Closed Doors supports victim-survivors who may have a range of complex needs, including mental or physical health challenges, substance misuse, or other issues requiring additional support. The role focuses on providing tailored one-to-one support to help individuals rebuild their lives safely.
Purpose of Job
The Sanctuary Support Worker will be part of a team of workers located in different organisations with different specialisms. The workers will assess need and risk and provide appropriate support to victim-survivors that have been allocated through the team leader.
This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Physical Conditions
The Sanctuary Support Worker will be managed by the line manager at Behind Closed Doors and based within that host organisation. The post will be part of a team across a number of organisations and will be led by the Sanctuary Support Team Leader (SSTL) employed by Leeds Women’s Aid. Quality for the service will be managed by the SSTL.
Economic Conditions
The salary will be £28,191 per annum pro rata. Hours of work are 21 hours per week.
Relationships
Responsible to:
The Sanctuary Support Worker will be line managed by, and be responsible to, the Line Manager at BCD.
Main Duties
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To assess support needs for individuals and families allocated by the Sanctuary Support Team Leader using risk and needs assessment procedures.
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To structure support within a safety and support plan that will be “driven” by the service user as they identify their support needs.
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To ensure Safeguarding standards are met and incidents are logged and reported accurately.
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To work closely with external agencies to develop support networks and meet the service user’s support needs where appropriate.
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To review risk, needs and support planning on a regular basis.
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To signpost service users to specialist agencies and solicitors to enable them to use the criminal and civil law to protect themselves and their children, as well as a wide range of other agencies as required.
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To ensure important matters are communicated effectively and appropriately.
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To maintain confidential records and monitoring systems.
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To promote the Sanctuary Support Team (SST) within a variety of external organisations.
10.To monitor work undertaken following agreed monitoring and evaluation guidelines and systems.
General
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To attend regular SST Meetings.
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To attend regular catch ups with the SST Team Leader
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To undertake any other duties as may be deemed consistent with the requirements of the post.
14.To be supervised, appraised and trained in line with the organisation’s policies, procedures and practices.
15.To undertake any other duties as directed by the Team Leader that may reasonably fall within the scope of the post.
16.To provide information about Behind Closed Doors as a whole and to people/agencies interested in the organisation’s work.
17.To implement Behind Closed Door’s policies and practices and comply with the aims of the organisation at all times.
18.To be aware of and employ the general practices of Behind Closed Door’s Safeguarding and Health and Safety policies and ensure these are adhered to at all times.
19.To ensure that Data Protection, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling and Corporate Governance requirements are met.
20.To ensure information is dealt with in accordance with Behind Closed Door’s policies around confidentiality, communications, internet, e-mail and telecommunications, and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data.
21.To be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake learning and developments activities, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness.
Person Specification
| Experience | Essential Desirable | Essential Desirable |
| 1. Working with and assessing the needs of vulnerableadults, children and young people | 一 | |
| 2. Working with other voluntary and statutory services toco-ordinate the support for service users with a varietyof needs | √ | |
| 3. Experience of undertaking structured support | √ | |
| 4. Experience of using risk assessment, safety planningand support planning tools | ||
| 5. Experience of working with victim survivors of Domestic Abuse | √ |
| Understanding | Essential | Desirable |
| 6. Domestic abuse and the impact on victims and theirchildren. | ||
| 7. Barriers faced by victim survivors with varying needsand the prevalence of those barriers | √ | |
| 8. Sexual and honour-based violence, stalking and forcedmarriage | ||
| 9. The cultural and social context of DV&A and additionalbarriers and discrimination faced by oppressed groupsexperiencing and surviving DV&A | √ | |
| 10. The roles and responsibilities of statutory organisationsin relation to vulnerable people | √ | |
| 11. Multi-agency partnerships and the issues of informationsharing in domestic violence cases | ||
| 12. Child protection and safeguarding adults in relation tovulnerable people, children and young people | - | |
| 13. Equality issues specifically in relation to marginalisedgroups and an understanding of intersectionality | 一 |
| Skills | Essential | Desirable |
| 14.Ability to form good relationships with service userswhilst working within professional boundaries | ||
| 15.Excellent written, verbaland interpersonalcommunication skills | √ | |
| 16.Ability to use IT to produce reports and monitorprojects | √ | |
| 17.Ability to network with external organisations to raiseawareness of the service, particularly with servicesthat work with individual's with varying9 needs | 一 | |
| Personal Qualities & Competencies | Essential | Desirable |
| 1. Act with integrity and respect when interacting withservice users, employees, agencies and individuals | 一 | |
| 2. Commitment to diversity and working in an anti-discriminatory way | √ | |
| 3. Commitment to upholding LDVS's & Host Organisationspolicies and procedures | √ | |
| 4. A full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle | √ |