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Job description

To provide a coordinated response for women and children experiencing domestic and sexual abuse; identifying and responding to their safety; and ensuring access to a range of services to support their needs. Self-help is important in the philosophy of Women’s Aid. All staff will work towards promoting the principles of self-help by creating an environment that encourages women to support each other and allows learning through sharing experiences and gaining independence..

Responsibilities

• Identify and respond to women s needs, including immediate risk, interventions and safety planning.
• Deliver individual support plan interventions to assess and respond to the safety needs of women to ensure that women are provided with a high-quality service in line with Supporting People requirements.
• To assist and encourage women to identify their needs and identify appropriate strategies to meet these.
• Assist women to identify their rights, represent their own needs and advocate, where requested, on their behalf.
• To promote and support the use and knowledge of statutory community services for women who have suffered from domestic and sexual abuse.
• Liaise and link into the Foyle Womens Aid referral system, and ensure that ongoing support, information and advocacy are available to victims.
• Conduct a risk and safety plan and agree individual support plans, including MARAC assessments.
• Ensure that victims are aware of their rights and range of options available to them.
• Provide written reports as and when required and contribute to the effective implementation and working of the MARAC.
• Observe information-sharing and operational protocols regarding domestic violence, and ensure best practice when assessing and monitoring risk.
• Liaise and refer as appropriate with all Foyle Womens Aid services and attend supervision, staff meetings and training as required.
• Respect the confidentiality and data protection of all personal information received as a result of the post holders duties.
• Adhere to the FWA Confidentiality and Data Protection Policies and Procedures, with a client-centred approach at all times.
• Ensure that your conduct contributes to maintaining good public relations between FWA and other agencies/stakeholders.
• Be aware of your own training needs and attend relevant training courses in consultation with your Line Manager.
• To contribute to the provision of 24-hour cover within FWAs accommodation, ensure that out-of-hours emergencies/crises are dealt with in accordance with the On-Call Procedures, and take part in an on-call rota.
• To ensure a high standard of care and support for women and children living in the residential accommodation is maintained. To ensure that the residential accommodation provides a positive environment for all those living there.
• The job description is intended to indicate the broad range of responsibilities of the post, and is neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. The post-holder is therefore expected to undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Possess a degree in Social Work or a related relevant discipline. Candidates who are studying for a social work degree or related degree will also be eligible for interview.
• Have at least 1 years relevant practical experience in a Support Worker role, working with vulnerable families with complex needs or homelessness, and managing case work.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of domestic and sexual abuse on women and families, and the appropriate interventions and competence in the use of Microsoft Office and report-writing.
• The ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, and provide reports and possess a full driving licence and use of a car for business purposes.
• You will be subject to an Enhanced Access NI Check and uyou will be required to work unsocial hours, including evenings and weekends.

Desirable Skills

• Possess at least 2 years relevant practical experience in a Support Worker role, working with vulnerable families with complex needs or homelessness, and managing case work.
• Demonstrate experience of working in an interagency setting and as part of a team, with a working knowledge of statutory and voluntary services available to women and children, and the skills required to provide a service.

Further Information

Location: Foyle Family Justice Centre