Refuge Support Worker

**Refuge Support Worker**
Knowsley L32 | Part-time, 3-week rolling shift pattern | £18,705.94

**Closing Date**: 17th October 2025

**Interviews**: 29th and 31st October 2025

**About Us**
The First Step is a charity dedicated to supporting those who have or are experiencing domestic abuse. We provide safe refuge accommodation and specialist support, helping families to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and independence.

**The Role**
We are seeking a compassionate and motivated **Refuge Support Worker** to join our team. You will play a vital role in providing emotional and practical support to women and children living in our refuge, helping them to feel safe, empowered, and ready to move forward into the community.

**Key Responsibilities**
- The postholder is to assist in the provision of a safe temporary accommodation service for women and children, who are homeless as a direct result of domestic abuse, offering practical and emotional help and support.

**Main Duties**
- Act as a Key Worker for women in refuge, working closely with the team to ensure their individual needs are met during their stay.
- Complete referrals and risk assessments, gathering all necessary information before offering accommodation. Regularly review risk assessments, particularly after incidents or changes in circumstances.
- Carry out needs assessments in partnership with women, ensuring the process is service-user led. Develop tailored support plans with person-centred actions.
- Support women and families to maximise their income, including prompt access to housing support and benefits.
- Welcome new arrivals by showing them around, helping them settle in, providing information packs, explaining house rules, and completing required paperwork (e.g., licence agreements).
- Keep accurate, up-to-date records of contact with women, children, and young people, including support provided, referrals made, and any changes in circumstances or risk. Share information with the Refuge Manager in the required format.
- Arrange regular house meetings, gather feedback, record outcomes, and share with the Refuge Manager.
- Work in partnership with local statutory and voluntary organisations to ensure women and families receive holistic, high-quality support.
- Attend meetings with staff, residents, and external agencies as required, representing The First Step professionally at all times. Provide feedback to ensure everyone remains informed and records are kept accurate.
- Make referrals and maintain links with relevant partner agencies, such as the High Priority Panel and Furnished Tenancy Team.
- Liaise with previous landlords where needed, supporting women to end old tenancies and obtain references for new housing.
- Report immediately to the Refuge Manager any concerns about security, breaches of house rules, or licence agreements, particularly where safety is at risk.

**What We’re Looking For**
- Experience of supporting vulnerable people, ideally survivors of domestic abuse or those with complex needs.
- Strong communication and empathy skills.
- Ability to carry out risk assessments and create person-centred support plans.
- Knowledge of housing, benefits, and resettlement processes (desirable).
- A team player with a commitment to safeguarding and equality.

**What We Offer**
- A meaningful and rewarding role, making a real difference to women and children’s lives.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Supportive and inclusive working environment.
- Salary paid monthly
- Employer pension contribution of 6%
- 25.7 hours per week
- Business mileage allowance of 45p per mile
- 25 days annual holiday pro rata for part-time plus statutory bank holidays
- 365-day access to an Employee Assistance Programme
- Death in Service Benefit
- Clinical Supervision
- Enhanced DBS

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £18,705.94 per year

Expected hours: 21 - 32 per week

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking

Work Location: In person