Domestic Abuse Caseworker

We have an exciting opportunity for a Domestic Abuse Caseworker to join the team in Preston, working 37.5 hours a week.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we’d love to hear from you

**County/Borough**
- Lancashire

**Office location**
- Victim Support, Ringway House, Percy Street, Preston PR1 1HQ

**Full time/Part time**
- Full time

**Hours per week**
- 37.5

**Work schedule**
- 9-5 or 10:30-18:30 Monday to Friday.

**Basic Salary**
- £25,500 per annum

**Contract type**
- Fixed Term

**DBS required?**
- Yes

**End date (if fixed term)**
- 31/03/2025

**Police vetting required?**
- No

**Closing Date**
- 14/08/2023

**Ref No**
- 5045

**What we offer**:
At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
- An extra day off for your Birthday
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- Enhanced sick pay allowances & maternity payments
- High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
- Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
- Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
- Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

**About the role**:
As a Domestic Abuse Caseworker, you will be:
Focusing on victims of domestic abuse and will provide a pro-active, short to medium term crisis intervention service, through individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support

This will include supporting victims either face to face or over the telephone to assist them in accessing services to keep them and their family safe. It will involve developing individual safety plans to meet client’s needs as identified in the needs and risk assessment.

You will provide advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including
exploration of legal and civil options, housing, health and finance and support clients through the criminal justice system.

You will participate fully in multi-agency meetings by being the voice of the client and follow up actions agreed in meetings keeping the client’s safety at the forefront of proceedings.

You will need to:

- Have a good understanding of domestic abuse including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
- Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children
- Understand Safeguarding issues, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues
- Have theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge of civil and criminal justice remedies for victims of domestic abuse and their children
- Experience of working within a multi-agency and legislative framework
- Experience of managing a complex caseload, to prioritise work and deal with competing demands demonstrating an organised and methodical approach to work
- Have strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations
- Have excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals
- This role involves regular travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

**About Us**:
Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

If you have a disa