Domestic Abuse Refuge Support Worker

Responsible to The Senior Refuge Support Worker

**Hours**

9.00 am to 5.30 pm

Weekdays as agreed.

**Salary**

£26,356.77 - £29,680.70 per annum_pro rata_

(£13.48 - £15.18) per hour

**Holidays**

28 days inclusive of public/bank holidays (pro-rata). Annual leave entitlement increases by one day for each completed year of service as at 1 April up to a maximum of 38 days (pro-rata) after 10 completed years inclusive of public/bank holidays.

**Probationary period**

6 months, with interim review after 3 months.

**Duration of post**

**AIMS OF THE POST**:
Working within the team, to be responsible for:

- Offering emotional and practical support to residents appointed to your case load.
- Answering the Domestic Abuse helpline, offering information, advice and signposting support to people impacted by domestic abuse.
- Carrying out administrative, monitoring and reporting tasks as necessary.
- Working to and participating in evaluation and review of the organisation’s policies and practices.
- Reporting statistical data regarding families supported in refuge and via Helpline.
- Ensuring the wellbeing and safety of all residents and callers to the helpline.
- Support with the day today running of the refuge project, including the premises.
- Working alongside the volunteer supervisor in providing opportunities for refuge volunteers.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
**1. To attend day shifts at either refuge as required**:
**1.1.**Taking initial requests and referrals from potential clients and ensuring suitability for services offered in line with CRT policies and procedures.

**1.2.**Provide information and support to residents on your case load.

**1.3.**Arrange safe accommodation, in refuge or elsewhere, including referring on to statutory and other voluntary agencies.

**1.4.**Admit new residents, settling in, ensuring room is clean and equipped, completing paperwork and statistics working with the Senior Refuge Support Worker.

**1.5.**Attend to helpline calls as required.

**1.6.**Make initial assessment of needs, supporting emotional needs; ensure access to other CRT services, especially children’s and counselling services.

**1.7.**Follow up and regularly review and record support needs.

**1.8.**Work with other relevant agencies as appropriate, offering information and support with legal issues, child& adult safeguarding issues, health, housing, benefits entitlements, schools and playgroups, adult education, child contact with absent parent, etc.

**1.9.**Ensure that house rules on safety, confidentiality and comfort are maintained.

**1.10.**Collect weekly charges and laundry money.

**1.11.**Complete weekly Health & Safety Checks of the premises as required.

**1.12.**Complete monthly Health & Safety checks of the premises as required.

**1.13.**Keep CRT case management system updated in respect of daily records of each resident’s progress and support needs, sharing information with colleagues as required and during daily handovers.

**1.14.**Assist residents in finding move-on temporary or permanent accommodation.

**1.15.**Helping to facilitate monthly house meetings.

**1.16.**Working with the Volunteer Supervisor to give direction and support to volunteers within the refuge and the outreach / resettlement projects.

**1.17.**Ensure that the house is safe and secure in line with health and safety policies and procedures and reporting and arranging repairs for any maintenance issues as required.

**2. General Team Duties**

**2.1.**Participate in regular staff meetings and occasional residents’ meetings.

**2.2.**Undertake additional small projects, with or without colleagues, as agreed.

**2.3.**Report on work to colleagues, management and funders, as required, verbally or in writing.

**2.4.**Attend regular supervision and appraisal with Senior Refuge Support Worker.

**2.5.**Undertake training where appropriate, reporting back to colleagues as required.

**2.6.**Represent the organisation at external meetings from time to time.

**2.7.**Observe and uphold all policies, including confidentiality, health and safety, child safeguarding, equal opportunities, service user consultation, and any others developed from time to time.

**2.8.**Provide out-of-hours back-up for helpline staff on a rota basis (approximately 1 week in 4); this will be paid at £10.00 per weekday and £20.00 per day at weekends. Emergency attendance will be paid at the full hourly rate, or time off can be taken in lieu.

**2.9.**Cover for other staff members when absent, when required (with support and training).

**2.10.**Occasionally and by agreement work outside designated hours to cover colleagues’ holidays and sickness or crisis situations.

**2.11.**Any other tasks deemed necessary for the good operation and management of the organisation, as agreed.

**PERSONAL SPECIFICATION**

**Qualifications and training**:
1) Health & Social Care or Person-Centred qualification, Community Support or equivalent at Level 3 or above

2) Tr