Domestic Abuse Support Worker

Domestic Abuse Support Worker who has experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse who present with multiple and compound needs these can be, Mental Health, Homelessness, Offending Behaviour and Substance Misuse is required for a well-established organisation based in East Sussex.

If you’re a specialist already then great. But we are very interested in hearing from people who are willing to work towards becoming a specialist.

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent Positions

SALARY: £28,816 per annum + Benefits

WORKING HOURS: 37 Hours per Week, 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am - 4:30pm Friday, with the need to take part in the on-call service in the evenings and weekends

LOCATION: We have 4 vacancies in East Sussex - Eastbourne, Crowborough, Bexhill and Seaford (there may be a need to travel across all sites when needed). This is an office-based role where you are expected on site 5 days a week

JOB OVERVIEW

We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Domestic Abuse Support Worker who has experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse who present with multiple and compound needs (Mental Health, Homelessness, No Recourse to Public Funds, Offending Behaviour and Substance Misuse etc) and who has the desire to work towards becoming a specialist Domestic Support Worker.

Working as a Domestic Abuse Support Worker you will provide a support service to survivors of domestic abuse and their families where relevant. The organisation currently support women and children but will also run provision for male survivors and survivors from the LGBTQI+ community which all staff will support. The service is delivered across multiple sites in the East Sussex area and the current vacancies are within Eastbourne, Bexhill, Crowborough and Seaford. However, there would be an expectation for the post-holder to travel across other sites in the East Sussex area where required. Due to this, we ask that you hold a UK Driver’s Licence and have access to a car. (Travel between sites would be paid as per our mileage policy.)

As a Domestic Abuse Support Worker you will be required to build trusting and respectful relationships with all survivors accessing refuge, to ensure they feel safe and empowered to build a safe and promising future. This involves working directly with clients as well as building strong working relationships with partner agencies to ensure the most effective support is being provided for clients.

Delivery includes completing regular needs and risk assessments, delivery of regular keywork sessions, delivering a range of programmes, including group and individual sessions and events for adults and children, and dealing with crisis situations safely and effectively. Alongside this you will be expected to keep accurate records of interactions, risk assessments and support and care plans. It also includes maintenance of the buildings, involving regular health and safety checks, reporting and managing repairs, supporting clients with tenancy related issues (such as rent payments) during their stay in refuge and supporting with cleaning/making up rooms upon move out. This may, on occasion, involve moving furniture.

The role is fast-paced and has a range of opportunities for training and development, such as developing skills working with particular client groups around legal support, immigration, mental health support, children and parenting support, delivering groups as well as accessing IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) training for those with 12 months experience in a domestic abuse setting.

DUTIES | Domestic Abuse Support Worker

• Ensure a safe, responsive delivery of support to survivors accessing the service

• Facilitate a supportive, enabling environment for residents, through interaction with survivors, managers, East Sussex County Council, and through a comprehensive understanding of the requirements presented by those accessing refuge

• Responsible for completing assessment of need and risk such as DASH and Mental Health Risk Assessments

• Work with survivors to ensure that Enhanced Housing benefit applications are completed and submitted

• Work as part of a small team, engaging with residents to plan, arrange and deliver/co deliver structured activities to support the resident’s safe re-integration into the community

• Provide practical assistance to residents with everyday tasks such as accessing external services, completing paperwork, accessing benefits, and finding move on accommodation

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• Good working knowledge of domestic abuse and in particular, survivor’s experience

• Comprehensive understanding of the requirements of working in a residential environment.

• Experience of working in an environment with complex and challenging delivery needs

• Strong knowledge and understanding of principles underpinning effective delivery of services that meets the needs of vulnerable and complex people

• Clear understanding of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

• Experience of coaching and team development

• An understanding of risk management, safeguarding and public protection and its implication on practice, within a residential setting.

• An understanding of the benefits system, particularly relating to housing

Read more when you apply…..