Support Worker (Sure Start Project)

POST: Support Worker (Sure Start Project)

REPORTS TO: Community Services Manager (Causeway)

LOCATION: Based in Coleraine with travel across the Causeway area

HOURS: 28 Hours per week

Closing date: Monday 26th October @ 12pm

Flexibility is required as the post may require occasional evening/ weekend/work, as per the demands of the project.

Time-in-lieu is available for additional hours worked when approved in advance.

SALARY SCALE: £19015.36 PA (Plus 8% Employer Pension Contribution)

Summary of Main Responsibilities:

• To provide support to women and their children who have experienced Domestic Abuse and are eligible for Sure Start services.

Key Responsibilities:

• To support and maintain contact with families referred into the project.
• To make initial contact with women and assess the family’s needs and risks.
• To carry and manage your own diary and case load of clients and ensure case files are up to date.
• To establish and maintain contact with women in the Refuge prior to re-housing/returning home.
• Help to develop good working relationships with all statutory and voluntary organisations.
• To provide a range of support services to assist women in ensuring their own safety and maintaining their independence including advocacy, emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning, personal development work, and support to access and work with statutory agencies.
• To support delivery of programmes, activities and trips for families.

Specific Duties:

Supporting Women & Children

• To respond to requests and referrals for support in a timely and appropriate manner.
• To identify and respond to the needs of those referred to the project, through:

Carrying out risk assessments

Exploring and discussing options available

Offering relevant information which will assist clients to make informed choices and be self-determining

Developing achievable support plans with clients

Supporting clients in their informed choices

Safety Planning

Assisting clients to access other help and support when needed

Accompanying clients on visits to statutory agencies & court and acting as advocate where appropriate.

Offering self-help guidance for those accessing the project.

· To give practical support and assistance to families to plan for their future needs.

• To signpost clients and assist them to access other Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid services or external services as appropriate.
• To monitor individual client’s housing and support needs and review plans regularly to take account of any change.
• To enable clients to develop the skills and confidence to manage their own futures and those of their children.
• To maintain statistics and records in line with Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid and funder requirements*.*
• To be mindful of Child Protection considerations and policies and make referrals as appropriate and agreed with the Child Protection Officer.
• To participate in duty cover for the Women’s Centre taking referrals and dealing with ad-hoc support requests both in person and by telephone.
• To maintain client case records and logs.

Community Involvement

• To help to develop and maintain good working relationships with statutory and voluntary organisations.

Policy

• To ensure that the project adheres to Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid agreed Policies and Procedures.
• To keep abreast of Policy and Legislative change in relation to your area of work.
• To be conversant with all organisational polices

Health and Safety

• To ensure the organisation’s Health and Safety Policy and Procedures are adhered to and appropriate risk assessments are carried out with recommendations implemented as directed.
• To participate in housekeeping duties as required.

Team Working

• To participate in the provision of a comprehensive service which is responsive to the needs of women and children.
• To contribute to effective relationships within Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid and with external agencies through collaborative working and discussion.
• To respect the roles and responsibilities of all members of the team.
• To participate in team meetings respecting others’ opinions and differences.

Administrative

• To accurately maintain the recording and monitoring systems in place to meet both Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid and Coleraine Sure Start partnership requirements.
• To be aware of the financial constraints of the organisation and to work within agreed project budgets.
• To provide verbal, written and statistical reports as required.
• To assist in preparing reports for the Sure Start project Manager as directed by the Senior Project Worker.

External Agencies

• To liaise and consult with statutory and voluntary agencies and maintain good working relationships.

Confidentiality

• To respect the confidentiality of all information received as a result of the post holder’s duties whilst being mindful of the limitations arising from Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding concerns and legal responsibilities.

Fundraising

• To contribute to the fundraising needs of the project/organisation and actively participate in fundraising activities as required.

Volunteers

• To promote volunteering within Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid and assist in the development of volunteer opportunities within your project.

Training & Supervision

• To prepare for and attend supervision sessions as required
• To be aware of your own training needs and to attend relevant training courses in consultation with and as directed by your line manager.

Any other Duties

• Carry out any other duties that may be required of you and make decisions on any other issues that may arise and would be within your areas of responsibility
• No job description can be considered complete, and this job description will be subject to review and may be amended following consultation to reflect any changes that may occur and to meet the needs of the organisation and its service users.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential/Desirable

Assessment Method

NVQ Level III/minimum 2 ‘A’ levels at grades A-C or higher/equivalent. E Application Form

3rd Level Qualification in related discipline (e.g. youth & community work, housing, social work, psychology) D

Completion of basic welfare rights training. D

Completion of specialist housing training. D

Experience

At least 2 years recent previous full-time experience of working in a supportive role with vulnerable adults/families within a residential or community-based environment or part time equivalent. E Application Form

Previous experience of working in partnership with both statutory and voluntary agencies. D

Skills

Excellent communication skills both written and verbal. E Application Form and Interview

Able to maintain statistical and case load records in an accurate and timely manner. E

Able to carry out Risk Assessments and prepare Support Plans for individual service users.

E

Knowledge

Awareness and understanding of the issues relating to Domestic Violence E

Application Form and Interview

Knowledge of the civil and criminal justice system in relation to domestic violence. D

Awareness of the Sure Start Programme and remit E

A working knowledge of relevant statutory/voluntary organisations and their roles in providing support to

those living in the community. D

Abilities

Able to work on own initiative within a framework of collaborative working. E

Interview

Good time management and organisational skills and an ability to prioritise workload in a crisis. E

Ability to network and liaise with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies in an effective manner. E

Ability to work as part of a team in the delivery of an holistic service to service users. E

Attitudes

Essential/Desirable

Assessment Method

To practice in a non-judgmental manner and respect the rights, responsibilities and opinions of others. E Interview

To be aware of the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality within the working environment. E

Other

Hold a valid driver’s licence and have access to a car (this can be waived in the case of an applicant whose disability prohibits driving, but who is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements which enable them to meet the duties of the post)

Flexible and responsive to the project needs.

Due to nature of the work which involves contact with children and vulnerable adults the candidate will be vetted through Access NI and additional PSNI checks.

Short listing will be carried out in respect of the Essential criteria but in the case of a large number of applicants we reserve the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria to include the desirable requirements.

Women’s Aid is a woman only organisation and the lawful recruitment of female(s) for the post falls within the exception stated in Article 10 (2b & 2e) of the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976. Causeway & Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid is a registered charity supporting Equal Opportunities Policies. We welcome applications from all areas of the community.

We do not offer sponsorship.

Pay: £19,015.36 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Work Location: In person