Specialist Domestic Abuse Help Line& Intake

**What's involved with this role**:
**Temporary Specialist Domestic Abuse Help Line& Intake Practitioner**

**Job Ref: Wakefield TCL 0009 6AC7 / 1**

**Pay Rate: £17.12 per hour PAYE**

**Hours per week: 37 Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 17:00**

**Role Length: This opening assignment is for 12 months**

**City: WAKEFIELD**

**Enhanced DBS disclosure required**

**Fully Office based must be local willing to travel full time.**

**Must have substantial experience working in the field of domestic abuse, experience of providing crisis intervention in relation to domestic abuse.**

This post will be responsible for triaging referrals, assessing risk and needs of individuals. Work with partners to establish the immediate safety of individuals contacting or being referred to the service.

The post holder will work as part of a multi-agency team to provide a high-quality frontline and first point of contact service to victims of domestic abuse, delivering an immediate co-ordinated response to those at high, medium and standard risk, prioritising those at highest risk of serious harm.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Act as a first point of contact for all enquiries and referrals to the service.
- Operates as part of a team in providing a helpline response, offering advice and information to public and professionals in relation to victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
- Receive and process agency referrals and self-referrals into the service.
- Work as part of a team to triage referrals into the service, prioritising those at highest risk of harm.
- Liaise with a referring agency where there are gaps of information in referral and/or to clarify information.
- Make initial contact with clients to establish engagement for support and to assess suitability of referral.
- Provide immediate support and safety planning to domestic abuse victims, including advice, emotional support, information around civil and criminal remedies, refuge placement and necessary interventions such as target hardening.
- Provide immediate safety and service information, signposting or providing onward referrals to appropriate services as required/appropriate. (Inc. Freedom Programme, Victim Support, Housing) and record all actions.
- Identify and assess the risks and needs of domestic abuse victims using an evidence-based risk identification checklist (e.g., DASH 2009).
- Complete initial assessments and record any immediate needs prior to allocation for longer specialist domestic abuse support (provided by a Specialist Domestic Abuse Practitioner - SDAP).

**Qualifications**:

- Hold an IDVA qualification or a relevant degree or demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skills gained through relevant employment.

**Knowledge**:

- Have knowledge of services available to support perpetrators of domestic abuse.
- Have good theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge of the civil/criminal justice remedies for victims of domestic abuse and their children.
- Working knowledge of the risk assessment and safety planning process, within the context of domestic abuse.
- Knowledge of the roles of different agencies in relation to tackling domestic abuse.
- Knowledge of the housing needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including emergency accommodation and sanctuary provision.
- Knowledge of diverse issues in relation to HBV, Forced Marriage, LGBT, FGM and a cultural awareness of communities of interest including those with No Recourse to Public Funds.
- Knowledge of other services to support those clients with complex needs.
- Knowledge of primary health care settings and how this can contribute to supporting people experiencing domestic abuse.
- Excellent understanding of child and adult safeguarding and its relation to domestic abuse and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues
- Excellent understanding of the complexity and dynamic nature of domestic abuse.
- Have a good understanding and knowledge of domestic abuse including the impact of victims and children.

**Experience**:

- Substantial experience working in the field of domestic abuse.
- Proven experience of multi-agency and partnership working to draw on the strengths of professionals in the contribution to improving outcomes for individuals and families.
- Experience of providing crisis intervention in relation to domestic abuse.
- Experience of providing support to domestic abuse victims, their families and perpetrators.
- Experience of providing support, guidance and advice to professionals around domestic abuse and those using abusive behaviours.
- Experience in case management working with domestic abuse/vulnerable client groups.
- Experience of assessing needs of domestic abuse clients and carrying out risk assessments with low/medium/high risk domestic abuse victims.
- Considerable experience of managing support to victims of domestic abuse.

**Skills & Abilities**:

- Have excellent crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and diffi