Empowerment Practitioner

**Responsible to**:
Service Manager

**Responsible for**:
N/A

**Hours of Work**:
37.5 Hours per week ( 4 on 4 off)

**Location**:
YMCA Together - Domestic Abuse Respite SERVICE (DARS)

**Salary and benefits**:
Salary of £27,111 per annum
- 33 Days Annual leave including bank holidays per annum
- Paid Medicash support
- Birthday Day
- Charity Day
- Spiritual Day
- Well-being Hours
- Cycle To Work Scheme
- Refer a Friend Scheme
- Company Pension Scheme 4%
- Funded Training Opportunities

Closing date
- 8th April 2024

Date of short listing
- 9th April 2024

Interviews
- 11th April 2024

**This post is **only** available to **female** applicants as an Occupational Requirement and permitted under the Equality Act 2010**

YMCA Together has been voted No1 Charity to work for by our employees in 2022. YMCA is a registered charity and company Limited by Guarantee. We were founded in 1846 and so we build on a long history of providing a place for people experiencing challenging times in their lives.

YMCA Together is a truly value driven organisation.

Our vision is that everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and positive for their future. We meet our vision by working within our values of Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness. These SHREK values run through all that we do from recruitment to how we work alongside people in our services to our partnership approach with other providers.

Our clear vision and values come together to help us in our mission to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope, valuing the person and maximising potential.

**Main Purpose of Job**

To effectively manage an assigned caseload contingent on needs, strengths, abilities and preferences of the service user served.

Provide assessment, monitoring, planning, linkage and advocacy for women fleeing from or at risk of domestic violence across YMCAT Domestic Abuse Services.

**Hours of Work**

The hours of work are 37.5 hours per week on a 4 on 4 off basis, and will include some bank holidays.

**Main Responsibilities**

The Empowerment Practitioners (EP) will be skilled in delivering a range of interventions to adults, to build strength, enhance resilience and encourage progress. The post holder will be responsible for managing a small case load and will have the primary role of providing and co-ordinating support interventions and multi-agency activity.

All EP’s will undergo Cognitive Analytic Therapy Skills Training (CAT) this will provide a framework for understanding and working with service users. Training will also be provided around Trauma Informed Care. These approaches will be used for planning and assessing effectiveness of a variety of interventions and risk management.

**Support Planning and risk assessing**
- Provide a high level of therapeutic support as the lead case worker to service users, that empowers them to plan a positive and sustainable future
- Support service users to achieve their goals and targets as defined/ agreed within their support plans
- Manage, update and communicate risk assessments in line with policy and procedure
- Plan and facilitate workshops to individuals and groups that inform/ teach service users around healthy relationships, parenting skills, promote healthy lifestyles, how to manage a tenancy, manage a home and live independently
- Ensure households shape their own support and take part in activities.

**Household Involvement and engagement**
- Encourage involvement, participation and co-production from service users in the running and development of the service
- Provide a safe, welcoming environment with excellent standards and an ethos of service delivery that encourages service users to engage
- Ensure appropriate recommendations are made for the use of the Service User Personalisation Budget.

**Multi Agency Working**
- Encourage and support to service users with additional needs ensuring all appropriate referrals are made
- Promote and encourage the pathway to independence
- Acting as nominated champion to maintain key partnerships and links.

**Resettlement**
- Create a platform for move on to independent accommodation
- Provide intensive resettlement support to service users who move on from the service.

**Reporting/ Monitoring**
- Monitor positive feedback from service users and external agencies
- Ensure referrals to the programme are processed thoroughly and within the correct time frames.

**Internal relationships**
- Excellent communication with all YMCA Together staff
- Flexible and positive approach with all team members
- To be committed to learning and personal development both as an individual and as part of a team
- Sharing information and expertise with the team, covering absence, and working together to provide a high-quality service
- Attend team meetings as required.

**External relationships**
- Develop excellent working relationships with the City Council Commissioners and multi-disciplinary team and ensure successf