Refuge Support Worker

JOB SUMMARY 

Job Title: Refuge Support Worker

Location: Lichfield Staffordshire

Contract Duration: Permanent Position

Salary: £23,870

Hours of Work:  2 x Positions available (26 hours per week & 30 hours per week)

(30 hours per week  PRO RATA £19,096)

(26 hours per week  PRO RATA £ 16,550)

This post is open to women only, under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.  We value diversity and are committed to ensuring that our organisation is an inclusive place to work. We encourage applications from women from all backgrounds and communities and actively welcome applicants from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds and women with a disability.  

 About Pathway Project

We are a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire. We offer a range of support services and run two refuges in confidential locations. We have been operating for over 30 years helping adults and children overcome domestic abuse, and to build a future where they live in safety and are free from fear. Since our founder, Kathy Coe MBE, created Pathway Project, we have helped over 25,000 people, with 5,814 hours of support provided in the last year. We offer a wide range of services, including adult and children outreach and community support, mental health, wellbeing and financial advice. We support the relatives of those who have experienced domestic and sexual violence and offer specialist counselling, advocacy and care to all who need us. Pathway Project believes in working as a cohesive team and are service user led. Our helpline is access to all and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why work for us?

Pathway Project is an inspiring place to be, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy. We are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion for excellence in service delivery. Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans. It’s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey. We are a flexible and supportive employer, committed to the personal and professional development and wellbeing of our employees. We welcome applications from women with lived experience of domestic abuse and from minority or under-represented groups.

We offer the following benefits:

·         25 days paid leave plus statutory holidays (pro rata)

·         A competitive pension scheme

·         Employee Assistance Programme delivered by Health Assured which offers incredible support to staff and their families

We value our colleagues and are constantly reviewing our policies and practice, looking for ways in which we can better demonstrate this. We also recognise the potential impact of working in this field and provide clinical supervision to all of our employees, whatever their role.

About the role

We are recruiting for two staff positions to join our dedicated team of professional staff who deliver support for women and their dependent children, who are escaping domestic abuse through accommodation in one of our Pathway Project intensive support centres.

Working within a framework of support the post holder will be able to deliver social, emotional and practical support to individuals to support them on their journey to being a survivor.    The ability to support clients in this circumstance is an absolute privilege and our clients deserve and receive the very best support the team are able to provide.

The postholder will join this supportive and caring team working a shift system  to ensure there is 24/7 support available in our intensive support accommodation based in Lichfield. This will involve working flexible hours, covering a rolling shift pattern which includes weekdays, weekends, evenings and overnight sleeping shifts.  The postholder will support clients by handholding and supporting attendance at external appointments as well as supporting their emotional and practical recovery. This is an incredibly challenging role which is immensely rewarding.

Access to transport and a full clean driving license is an advantage.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

o   To admit victims of emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse, into one of our intensive support centres, as well as any children who may be in their care, and handle any subsequent emergencies in line with Pathway's standards and procedures.

o   To provide advice and guidance to service users within the refuge and on the helpline.

o   To keep and maintain accurate records with regards to service users. This paperwork will be consistent across both sites and will be subject to a monthly case review.

o   To chair house meetings with service users.

o   To provide support and advocacy to service users of the project, including transporting to and attending necessary appointments and court.

o   To provide one to one support to deal with a variety of emotional and practical needs that service users may present with.

o   To liaise with other agencies both statutory and voluntary, on behalf of service users, to enable them to access services.

o   Representing Pathway and their service users at CAF’s, core groups and case conferences.

o   To ensure that the cleaning rota is adhered to, and that accommodation is clean and all relevant equipment provided is maintained.

o   To support management, or where necessary to conduct yourself, the delivery of disciplinary action. This may also include evictions.

o   To ensure that service users abide by their license agreement and house rules and to make recommendations to management with regards to disciplinary action required where service users have breached their license agreement and house rules.

o   To help review health and safety regulations and conduct fire drills.

o   To maintain confidentiality and information sharing protocols in line with Pathway’s policy and procedures.

o   To help with the resettlement of service users in the local community, to secure a successful transition.

o   To assist service users with benefit claims and advice.

o   To work closely with other support workers within Pathway and to ensure that service users have full access to all available services.

Essential Experience

• Formal qualification appropriate for the area of work or 12 months relevant work/volunteer experience. 
• Working knowledge of voluntary/statutory sector
• Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies relevant to women suffering domestic abuse. 
• Confident in dealing with multi agency work. 
• Ability to work with people and relate across a wide range of individuals and organisations. 
• Confident and assertive manner 
• Effective communicator bith verbally and written
• Reliable, confident and able to cope under pressure
• Non judgemental and accepting of others
• Ability to relate with empathy to clients
• Able to cope with emotionally charged pressurised work 
• Must agree to an enhanced DBS check 
• Must be able to participate in a rolling shift pattern which includes weekdays, weekends and overnight sleeping shifts. 
• Ability to be flexible to meet the demands of the organisation. 
• Ability to keep accurate records. 
• Ability to work in a team, motivating and supporting other team members. 

Desirable Experience

• Good knowledge of welfare rights and legislation affecting this client group. 
• Understanding of Safeguarding and or experience of application of a Safeguarding policy 
• Must have a driving licence and access to a car for work use. 
• Physically fit and able to use stairs

Other information:

Pathway Project is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes diversity across our services. All of our employees are required to adhere to our Equality & Diversity policies and to challenge discrimination wherever it is appropriate.

We strive to be as inclusive as is possible and look to recruit individuals with the right skills, experience and attitude, however, for genuine occupational requirement reasons we are looking to appoint a female only for this post (exemption under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9.

The role is subject to receiving satisfactory references, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, plus a probationary period.

How to apply:

Please send a full CV together with a covering letter indicating why you meet the essential criteria In no more than 2 sides of A4 by email.

       Closing date – 5pm  Sunday 17th November 2024