Main Purposes of the Role
• To work as part of a multi-agency team providing specialist support and well-being interventions to women exploited by the sex industry across all sectors (street sex industry in particular), taking into account emerging online sectors and migrant workers.
• To provide a range of practical and emotional support to women who are at risk of sexual and/or domestic violence and abuse and/or exploitation and human trafficking
• To assist and facilitate women using the service to make informed decisions and positive changes to their lives, using the self-help principle to encourage independence and empower the women to succeed on all levels.
Core SW Responsibilities:
1. Undertake and review risk assessments on individuals and activities.
2. Develop support plans in line with needs assessments for approval by Team Leader, action the approved plans and review accordingly.
3. Provide an appropriate level of support to the women in line with support plans, ensuring that all options are systematically appraised and making use of a wide range of development opportunities (e.g. training and employment).
4. Act as an advocate on behalf of service user encouraging and supporting self-advocacy as appropriate.
5. Assist and support service users to access health services, legal services, housing etc. according to identified need.
6. Work with SWA staff in other projects and services to ensure the smooth running of all SWA projects and a seamless service is provided for women accessing them.
7. Comply with all SWA policies and procedures at all times, paying particular regard to SWA’s child and adult protection/procedures and health and safety policies and procedures, taking steps to remove immediate risks and reporting any risks/concerns/issues to the appropriate person (e.g. Team Leader/ Supported Housing Coordinators) in line with SWA policy.
8. Encourage and enable service user participation in the development of all areas of service provision, including organisational and project specific consultation processes, policy review, service review and development etc.
9. Provide and facilitate 1:1 support and group activities for women using the principle of self-help to promote and encourage independence and empowerment.
10. Establish and maintain accurate and up to date records of all support sessions, telephone conversations, attendance and appointments etc., including progress made on behalf of women and children. Assist the Team Leader in related project administration tasks to include keeping accurate records of e.g. contacts, referrals, finance, statistical information, outcomes data etc., as required.
11. Direct and assist volunteers as appropriate.
Service/project specific SW responsibilities:
1. Develop and deliver a holistic service within a multi-agency partnership that provides specialist support and well-being interventions to women exploited by the sex industry across all sectors.
2. Work on an outreach basis to engage with women exploited by the sex industry at high risk, linking in with other support services to ensure their support needs are addressed.
3. Provide fortnightly visits to local brothels.
4. Undertake a weekly online check of local sex work advertising to monitor/record local activity for links to women exploited by the sex industry and ‘pop up parlours’.
5. Work closely with the police to encourage service user engagement, maximise reporting of crime and the sharing of intelligence.
6. Work in partnership with the aim of safeguarding individuals and managing the risks associated with supporting vulnerable marginalised people.
7. Participate and refer into the monthly Swansea/NPT Sex Worker Operational Team meetings, undertaking follow-up actions promptly.
8. Support, enable and empower service users to make positive lifestyle changes by increasing choices and opportunities and exploring safer, sustainable alternatives to sex work.
9. Work with other local specialist agencies who provide support with issues particularly pertinent to women exploited by the sex industry such as substance misuse, mental health, sexual health to meet service user’s specific needs.
10. Assist with the monitoring and evaluation of the project in accordance with funding requirements.
11. Attend meetings and provide feedback as requested.