Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker
Hours: 35
Salary: £24,000 to £25,000 per annum (dependent upon experience)
Planned start date: 01/08/2023
POST TITLE Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker
HOURS 35 hours per week SALARY Between £24,000 – £25,000 per annum (dependent upon experience)
DURATION 12 month fixed term post, with the possibility of becoming a permanent position after 12 months
REPORTS TO Services Manager
LOCATION Redhill, Surrey
HOLIDAY & PENSION 20 days holiday per annum plus paid Bank Holidays, increasing with each full year of service up to 30 days and option of enrolment in pension scheme Please note: This post is restricted to female applicants in accordance with Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 1.
ACCOUNTABILITY The post holder is accountable to ESDAS’s Management Committee and will be supervised by the Services Manager.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
• To offer a domestic abuse outreach service to all members of the communities within the designated operational area of ESDAS.
• To encourage multi-agency and joint working in response to domestic abuse and raise the profile of ESDAS with statutory and voluntary agencies based in our operational area. This will include partnership working with the police.
• To encourage survivor participation in all aspects of ESDAS
DIRECT WORK WITH CLIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN
• Providing skilled practical help, advice and emotional support to enable clients to reach an informed decision regarding their future.
• Enabling and encouraging clients to take advantage of all services relevant to resolving their problems such as legal advice, housing and benefits rights, education, medical treatment, counselling etc. Assist clients in gaining access to existing services or professionals who can provide appropriately skilled help.
• Understanding risk and safeguarding issues and acting appropriately in relation to risk at all times.
• Assessing risk for example to children and the statutory implications of this and involve other agencies as appropriate.
• Providing advice and information to other agencies/organisations and individuals who may be working with survivors.
• Being mindful at all times of the personal safety of clients and yourself.
• Working within national, county and ESDAS guidelines, particularly in relation to good practice.
• Reducing client’s isolation and encouraging them back into the community.
• Encouraging clients to make use of the range of services offered by ESDAS including support groups and counselling, as appropriate to their needs.
• Liaising with other organisations and agencies where there is a joint or multiple approach to a client
GENERAL
• Maintain relevant records on clients and ensure such records are kept up to date. Be aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• Undertake such general office duties as your position requires.
• Maintain such statistical information as may be required by ESDAS and in the prescribed format.
• Participate in updating ESDAS’s information and resources, and in particular keep abreast of legislation and policy which have a bearing on your clients’ needs.
• Disseminate information to other employees, agencies and ESDAS members at meetings.
• Submit a monthly report to the Services Manager and Office Assistant by the 10th of the month in the prescribed format.
• Participate in producing an Annual Report, Annual Review and project planning.
• Attend meetings of ESDAS, and any other meetings, which are considered to be in the interests of the organisation and your position. Such undertakings to be decided in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Services Manager or Management Committee.
• Assess the effectiveness of our service from the user perspective; together with the response clients receive from other agencies with whom they have contact.
• To be willing to deliver training to other agencies and organisations.
• To carry out any other duties which are relevant to the post, as agreed from time to time by the Management Committee, Chief Executive Officer, Services Manager, and yourself.
PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL SKILLS / EXPERIENCE:
• To be able to work with integrity, honesty, kindness and compassion.
• A good standard of general education
• To hold knowledge of working with survivors of domestic abuse, or other disadvantaged or marginalised groups.
• An understanding of the importance of risk identification, assessment and management within domestic abuse.
• Highly skilled in making sound judgements in crisis and difficult situations
• An ability to look after yourself and others in the team reflecting a high level of resilience and self-awareness as well as ability to implement self-care when needed
• Ability to work in a flexible and responsive manner whilst prioritising work in a busy environment
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a confidential manner with excellent negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal.
• Be able to work effectively and diplomatically with a range of different statutory agencies, voluntary organisations, groups and individuals.
• The ability to listen, to communicate and to be non-judgmental.
• The ability to work on own initiative, but equally as part of a team.
• To demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities, anti-racist practice and the philosophy of making services available to all sections of the community.
• A clean driving license and access to suitable transport
• To be willing to attend training courses and able to occasionally work flexible hours
DESIRABLE:
• A Safe Lives IDVA, Women’s Aid DAPA qualification, relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent experience of a vocational qualification (for example, mental health first aid / suicide prevention training
• Some knowledge of welfare rights, housing law, or family law
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults and children policy and practice
How to apply
Please send both your CV and a Covering Letter outlining your interest in ESDAS and how your skills and
experience match the Job Description and Person Specification to support@esdas.org.uk stating clearly which vacancy you are applying for.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange an informal conversation with our Services Manager, please contact support@esdas.org.uk
Application deadline: 5pm on Wednesday 26th July 2023
Web link: https://www.esdas.org.uk/
Email address: support@esdas.org.uk
Phone number: 01737 771350
More about ESDAS
"ESDAS was established in 1993 and began delivering services in East Surrey in 1998. Our purpose has always been the relief of hardship, need and distress of those who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse including any associated children. We are proud to have developed one of the first community (non-refuge based) Outreach services in the country which to this day operates on a needs-led survivor focused basis and continues to be a model of replication and best practice both locally and nationally. Our Outreach Services provide advice, advocacy, information and support on a range of issues including criminal and civil law, benefits, debt, housing, safeguarding, risk and safety planning as well as empowering survivors to take control of their own futures. We aim to provide holistic services to avoid survivors and their children being re-traumatised by repeating their experiences to multiple professionals. Our associated services include Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) at Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and Surrey's Specialist Domestic Abuse Court (SDAC). Our holistic programme of group work included an informal Drop-In Support Group, the Freedom Programme and Recovery Toolkit as well as Self-Esteem and Parenting Workshops. Our Counselling service is tailored to meet the needs of survivors who feel unable to access talking therapies through usual means through fear, long waiting lists or lack of funds. Our Volunteering Project is aimed at harnessing the skills and experiences of survivors of domestic abuse to help others recover from abuse and reintegrate into their local community. Our services for children and young people include 1 to 1 work, group work, Play Therapy and expert consultancy to professionals in particular Children's Social Care. In 2005 we were awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in the Community which is the highest award granted to voluntary organisations. More recently ESDAS as the Lead Provider of four local Domestic abuse charities in Surrey was chosen as one of three national pilot areas for the Women's Aids Change that Lasts project. Change that Lasts aims to transform responses to DA, ensure that survivors and children are provided with the right help at the earliest opportunity and have access to specialist Domestic abuse services like ours. Our proudest achievement however is ensuring that survivors of Domestic abuse and their children remain central to the services we offer and that they have a voice locally so their experiences inform future services."