Refuge Worker

**Job Description: Refuge - Female Out of Hours - Night worker**

**SWINDON WOMENS AID**

**Location: Swindon**

This vacancy is open to females only (Exempt under the Equality Act 2010, pursuant to schedule 9, Part 1)

**Hours: 144 Hours per month covering mostly night shifts **9pm - 9am (12 hour shifts, 9.00pm-11.00pm awake, 11.00pm to 7.00am asleep, 7.00am to 9.00am awake)

**Other shifts are also available and may be required including**:
Twilight: Monday - Friday: 5pm - 9pm/10pm.

Weekends: 9am - 3pm/3pm -9pm.

Night shifts Monday to Sunday 9pm - 9am. (12 hour shifts, 9.00pm-11.00pm awake, 11.00pm to 7.00am asleep, 7.00am to 9.00am awake.)

This role includes weekends and bank holidays.

**Rates of pay**:Twilight and weekend day rate: £13.41 per hour.**

**Night shift working awake hours £14.90 per hour (9pm - 11pm, 7am - 9am)**

**Night shift sleeping hours £11.44 per hour (11pm - 7am) (Any hours spent awake over 30 minutes overnight will revert to £14.90 p/h)**

**Bank holidays are paid at a rate of 1.5 per hour**

**Job Purpose**:
The Refuge Out of Hours Bank Worker will work as part of the Refuge Team at Swindon Women's Aid providing out of hours access to emergency accommodation which includes evening, weekends, and bank holidays. You will form part of a roster of staff, based at the Refuge and will be the first point of contact for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and professionals during this time. The role involves practical housing and administration duties, undertaking and/or receiving referrals via 24-hour helpline, providing information to victims and survivors of domestic abuse and/or professionals and managing the security of the building.

During the hours of 5pm - 11pm you will be awake carrying out various duties as outlined below. Between 11pm - 7am you will sleep at the Refuge however during this time you will be available to answer the 24-hour helpline and respond accordingly. Between 7am - 9am you will be awake and undertake morning procedures to ensure the Refuge is ready for the day.

**Responsible to**:
Refuge Team Leader

**Main duties**:

- To be the first point of contact at the Refuge during 'out of hours' for residents living in the Refuge, responding to enquiries and providing information where required
- To answer the 24-hour helpline, taking and/or receiving referrals into service, providing information to victims and survivors of domestic abuse and/or professionals
- To welcome new residents arriving into Refuge, completing admission paperwork including risk assessments, undertaking health and safety tasks including a tour of the Refuge, showing fire exits, signing in/out process and security.
- Responding to general housing management related enquiries from residents, referring them to support staff where required, completing written records as appropriate such as incident logs and/or updating the case management system.
- To monitor access to the Refuge via the main entrance, ensuring authorized visitors only, taking appropriate action to remove or report any unauthorized visitors, ensuring residents and visitors sign in and out of the building
- To monitor the CCTV system, ensuring the reporting of anything suspicious or any faults with the system
- To carry out general administration duties such as completing referrals forms, data entry, writing letters, photocopying and/or scanning, organising and filing
- To work in partnership with other professionals and agencies so that the needs and safety of residents and their children are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner
- To be a positive ambassador for SWA ensuring services are delivered to the highest of standards and that policies and procedures are adhered to at all times
- To attend appropriate training courses required for the post
- To contribute to continuous improvement in service delivery and meeting key performance indicators
- To attend SWA team meetings and supervision with line manager

**Person Specification**

Experience
- Experience of working in a support housing environment would be advantageous
- Experience of working with individuals in crisis
- Experience of working with confidentiality and adhering the professional boundaries
- Experience of lone working

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Demonstrate excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Evidence of the ability to build and develop supportive relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries
- Evidence the ability to make decisions and remain calm under pressure
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with an ability to manage conflict
- Ability to operate and maintain basic administrative and case management systems
- Demonstrate knowledge of the issues facing women and children experiencing domestic abuse
- Understanding of Safeguarding, both for children and adults
- Demonstrate a clear commitment to Equal Opportunities
- Understand confidentiality and GDPR
- This vacancy is open to females only