Domestic Abuse Child Support Worker
Reporting to: Team Leader
Hours: 37 hours/week with flexible working; times to be decided with Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: Work base is Boston, Lincolnshire
Salary: £25,000.00 with progression.
Pension: Employer’s contribution of 6% gross salary into workplace pension
Annual leave: 20 days increasing to 25 days after 5 years plus Bank Holidays
Closing Date:
PLEASE NOTE that this is NOT an entry-level post and is suitable for someone with at least two years’ experience working with children / young people, vulnerable children, those with substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse.
An essential part of the role is our work in schools, delivering workshops to both primary and secondary classes and working one-to-one with pupils who disclose abuse.
Child Support Workers work with other services with whom we have established relationships, often working to support challenging families whose children present complex needs in addition to having experienced domestic abuse.
Haven Domestic Abuse Service is an established domestic abuse charity with ambitions to support more people than ever before, we are committed to helping the most marginalised in society. Our passionate team provides refuge and support for victims of domestic abuse and their children from the crisis of fleeing the perpetrator right through to successfully resettling in their own new home.
Haven DAS operates across the southern part of Lincolnshire, an area of some 750 square miles with low population density.
Haven DAS offers a great opportunity for an experienced Domestic Abuse Worker to take a progressive step, team working in our refuge in Boston and our dispersed & move on units, whilst delivering particular project work and supporting the CEO.
Job Purpose:
Following training, the job involves:
1. Working closely with victims of domestic abuse and their children living in our refuge;
2. Delivering awareness-raising workshops in Primary and Secondary schools;
3. Working one-to-one with pupils who disclose domestic abuse;
The main duties of the Child Support Worker are to:
As part of the team:
1. Provide general support to residents within a structured key working relationship and at all times demonstrate an awareness and sensitivity to the support needs of residents.
2. Keep casework records up-to-date and in accordance with the charity’s requirements.
3. Welcome new arrivals to the refuge, showing around premises, settling into accommodation, providing information packs, explaining house rules, signing of documentation e.g. residents’ licence agreement and being available to answer any queries and to deal with concerns.
4. Keep and monitor all inventories and obtain resident signatures on admission and exit from refuge.
5. Attend regular house meetings and seek resident feedback, keeping clear minutes and records of all residents’ comments and concerns, and of outcomes in conjunction with the Team Leader.
6. Feedback to the Team Leader (or, in their absence the CEO) any concerns over residents and their needs.
7. Make risk assessments in relation to service users and inform the Team Leader of any risks.
8. Immediately inform the Team Leader any breaches of security, house rules or license agreements especially where there is concern about safety.
9. Ensure all victims, children and young people have access to a high quality service in accordance with the charity’s policies and procedures. Report any issues in accessing the service to the CEO.
10. Ensure that any issues in relation to Child Protection matters are brought to the immediate attention of the Team Leader, or if unavailable the CEO.
11. Carry out regular fire, health and safety checks in accordance with the charity’s policies and procedures.
12. Carry out risk assessment in respect of property.
13. Control access to the refuge when on duty and remind residents to keep building secure when staff are not present. Check daily and ensure efficient working of any entry system and security systems.
14. Ensure that all equipment (eg fridges, washing machines, cookers, heating, furniture etc.) are in safe working order and for periodic testing and maintenance as required. Ensure that emergency lighting is working and regularly check the safety condition of any children’s play facilities.
15. Ensure fire equipment and fire doors are in working order and not obstructed.
16. Ensure a good standard of hygiene is maintained in the refuge.
17. Develop and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with all staff, Trustees and volunteers.
18. Provide any reports or monitoring statistics as required.
19. Work within the confines of confidentiality and ensure that professional boundaries are always maintained when working with residents, staff and external bodies and to work within the charity’s Code of Conduct. To ensure that security of sensitive information is maintained.
20. Attend any meetings or training either internal or external as requested by the Team Leader / CEO and to attend regular supervision sessions.
21. Work within and implement all the charity’s policies and procedures, especially those on Individual Support, User Involvement, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Security.
22. Report any problems/difficulties/complaints to the CEO as soon as possible.
23. Carry out from time to time any other duties that may be required by the CEO.
Making children aware of domestic abuse and healthy relationships helps prevent abuse taking place when those children become as adults. It helps to make young people aware that they can disclose if they/their family are victims.
This Lottery funded campaign in primary/secondary schools & colleges will reduce future domestic abuse through awareness sessions to classes, followed by one-to-one sessions with any children affected:
1. Primary School workshops – for 8–11 year olds - helps children affected by domestic abuse to disclose and get help.
2. Secondary School workshops – for those aged 12 – 18 - also explores what makes healthy relationships within a family or with boy/girlfriends.
This project delivers 2-hour primary/full-day secondary school sessions across South Holland and Boston Borough districts of Lincolnshire.
Main duties, working with the Child Support Worker team:
1. To liaise with primary and secondary schools & colleges across Boston Borough and South Holland, delivering the awareness-raising and prevention work.
2. To deliver the scheduled workshops over the life of the project.
3. To offer support sessions on a one-to-one basis to any child presenting either to the Child Support Worker or a member of school staff.
4. To report any concerns to relevant authorities.
5. To develop effective monitoring and feedback methods to give a clear measurement of the impact and effectiveness of the project at both group and individual levels.
6. To work within and implement all Haven DAS operational policies and procedures especially Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Security, and to communicate with the CEO any problems relating to these policies.
The above is provided for guidance and is not an exhaustive list of all accountabilities that the post holder may have over time.
Person Specification – Domestic Abuse Child Support Officer
Criteria
Education
Good general level of education.
Qualifications
Relevant experience – a background in education, care settings for children/young people, or another domestic abuse service.
Level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent
Experience
Experience of providing direct support to people seeking support/advice, including effectively managing and recording casework.
Experience of working in a residential/educational setting.
Experience of working with children’s services, making referrals, attending TAC and CIN meetings.
Experience of working alongside Children’s Centre’s.
Abilities/Skills/ Knowledge
Knowledge and awareness of domestic abuse issues.
Understanding of issues of diversity and the principles of equal opportunities.
The ability to develop appropriate, professional, supportive relationships with victims and their children, maintaining professional boundaries with residents, staff etc.
Evidence of strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrable ability to work effectively within a team setting and within a line management structure.
Ability to work flexibly and positively within a demanding environment.
Evidence of the ability to work tactfully and diplomatically in establishing good working relationships with housing departments, social services, police and other agencies.
Understanding of the diverse needs of victims and children experiencing domestic abuse and the discrimination issues as they relate to women escaping domestic abuse.
General
A commitment to follow the policies, procedures and aims of Boston Women’s Aid and be committed to empowerment, support and equality which underpin all the work undertaken by the charity.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for an Enhanced Disclosure to be made to Disclosure and Barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.
Driving
A full driving license and a vehicle available for work, for which mileage allowance of 45p per business mile is paid.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £25,000.00-£30,900.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 24/01/2025
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