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Glasgow Women’s Aid provides information, support and temporary accommodation for women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. We have refuge accommodation, follow on services and outreach services both for women and children across Glasgow.

It is a very exciting time for us as we grow our services and work through our 2022 Strategic Plan. We are looking for experienced women who have the innovation and passion to drive our services forward.

Our Children and Young People team provide vital support to children dealing with the trauma of domestic abuse and leaving their home. They ensure that children are given a service which is driven by them and meets their needs. Our service includes 1-1 therapeutic support, therapeutic focused group work and free play sessions. You will also provide support as children move on from refuge. An important part of this role will be the development and delivery of innovative and creative groupwork. It is essential that you have experience of providing 1-1 support and groupwork for children who have experienced gender based violence, along with experience of carrying out Risk Assessments and support planning. You must have a relevant qualification for working with children and young people such as SVQ Level 3 Social Service (Children and Young People).

Glasgow Women’s Aid provides information, support and temporary accommodation for women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. We have refuge accommodation, follow on services and outreach services both for women and children across Glasgow.

It is a very exciting time for us as we grow our services and work through our 2022 Strategic Plan. We are looking for experienced women who have the innovation and passion to drive our services forward.

The main aim of our Women’s Outreach Service is to provide support to women in their own community and to support women identified as high risk through the MARAC process. You will provide practical and emotional support to women through support planning and will advocate for women to ensure their voices are heard. You will contact women who are referred to MARAC and provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning and information about the MARAC process. An important part of this role will be the development and delivery of innovative and creative groupwork. It is essential that you have experience of supporting women who have experienced gender based violence and carrying out Risk Assessments and safety planning. You must also have an HNC Social Services or SVQ Level 3 Social Services and Healthcare and IDAA training would be advantageous.

To ensure the smooth management of refuge accommodation, that occupancy is maximized and quality of refuges remain at a high standard.

To ensure all income is collected from Housing Benefit and other sources. To ensure that other ancillary costs for refuges are collected. To liaise closely with the appropriate Department in all issues pertaining to refuge rents, ensuring that all relevant documents are completed and submitted timeously. To collect monies from women as required and keep accurate documentation. To provide regular reports, and to work alongside other Women’s Services team members.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Refuge income/ quality

• Provide accurate and practical assistance in the completion of forms which ensure we receive appropriate payment for refuge. To ensure that all documentation is duly and timeously submitted including application forms (short and long), supporting information/proof of income and requests for information.
• Regularly follow up all applications and requests for information.
• Collect payments of rent, and ensure that all payments are kept up to date, lodged and recorded appropriately and to pursue payment of arrears as per approved guidelines.
• Ensure that all refuge payments are correctly assigned and reconciled with our own Finance Department, Dundee City Council’s Housing Benefit Department and other relevant departments.
• Implement the warning system where there are arrears of any monies due to us by a service user and to advise the line manager if a final warning is recommended.
• Undertake office administration relating to these duties, including the provision of statistical information as required.
• Manage refuge income applications ensuring that the maximum possible progress is achieved in relation to Refuge.
• Maintain an up to date understanding of refuge income such as Housing Benefit and related legislation.
• Admit women, children and young people to refuge.
• Carry out weekly checks of flats and refuges for Health & Safety purposes and ensure that flats are properly maintained by residents and report any difficulties to the Facilities Manager as and when required.
• Maintain and check before and after admission the inventory of furnishings, bedding, crockery, kitchen utensils, etc. pertinent to each flat as and when required.
• Assist in the update of Welcome Packs for refuge properties as and when required.

Services to Women

• Ensure women are provided with accurate information about the rent and benefits entitlement via our information packs and through initial assessments for refuge.
• Make refuge visits to provide direct support to service users in respect of Housing Benefit, claiming other benefits necessary to ensure successful, timeous income and other relevant tasks such as payment collection.
• Refer women to DCC Welfare Rights worker should here be any concerns about their recourse to public funds entitlement or migrant worker status.

Internal

• Work within the policies, standards and procedures required by the law, DWA or funders.
• Assist with the development, monitoring and evaluation of the service.
• Perform administrative tasks timeously to ensure a seamless service.
• Provide financial reports/information as necessary
• Liaise closely with the Finance Worker

Working Approach

• Work collaboratively and assist as appropriate, other DWA workers. This includes regularly attending team/other relevant meetings and keeping colleagues up-to-date on relevant work issues.
• Support the CEO and Directors in creating a positive, supportive and participatory working environment which fulfils the aims and objectives of DWA.
• Reflect on practice to ensure delivery of a professional service and positive learning experience.
• Support the CEO and Directors in creating a continuously improving organisation focused on service users.
• Take a proactive role in promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice throughout all aspects of the work.
• It is a requirement of the post holder to hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle with insurance cover for business use. Please note, applicants who do not meet this criteria will not be shortlisted.

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the scope of the post. The post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with the duties as detailed above.

The post-holder is required to be a member of the PVG Scheme.

Women only need apply under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.

To work as a member of a Housing First Team, which aims to offer support to single homeless women, providing permanent housing directly to street homeless individuals with ongoing assertive but flexible support, with a strong focus on harm reduction and sustainable tenancy within the community.

You will be employed by DWA and seconded to the Housing First team. Women only need apply under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010. You will be required to provide creative permanent housing solutions, whilst providing support consistent with the internationally recognised Housing First Fidelities:

• People have a right to a home
• Flexible support is provided for as long as is needed
• Housing and support are separated
• Individuals have choice and control
• An active engagement approach is used
• The service is based on people’s strengths, goals and aspirations

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Empowering People

• Ensure a high quality support programme is delivered which emphasises client choice and control and meets the needs of clients and funding bodies in terms of positive outcomes.
• Ensure client input into the programme is maximised by co-ordinating a range of effective participation methods including but not limited to group work, meetings, surveys and interviews.
• Carry out any client checks, planning and risk assessments as required.
• Ensure effective case management, multi-agency working, periodic reviews etc. take place according to relevant policies (e.g. Lead Professional). This will be achieved both through file monitoring and active participation in client reviews where required.
• Liaise with Programme Co-ordinator and Service Manager and any funding body or team in the preparation of case reports and statistical reports, whilst maintaining all relevant records including monitoring post support progress
• Be responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the Equality and Diversity legislation.

Achieving Excellence

• In liaison with the Project Coordinator and where appropriate, ensure compliance with contractual Key Performance Indicators.
• As directed by the Project Coordinator, ensure that all approved Quality Management and Information Systems are implemented and utilised within your specific area of responsibility.
• Contribute to the preparation and response to both internal and external inspections as part of the management team, taking the lead within specific areas of programme.
• Stay up to date with and work within regulations, policy, procedures and best practice in all fields relevant to their work.
• Be passionate and driven with the ability to lead programme delivery in specialist areas in line with the challenges of working within the voluntary sector.
• Be proactive in maximising outcomes which will demonstrate quality and effectiveness in all aspects of the programme.

Providing Opportunity

• Carry out any client checks, planning and risk assessments as required.
• Regularly update on your specialised area of responsibility which is domestic abuse, providing recommendations for ongoing service improvement.
• Take a lead in service development in the specialised area including supporting other staff in their area of work.
• Ensure client consultation is included and integral in service development initiatives in the specialised area.
• Take a lead in complex cases in the specialist area or where specialist knowledge and expertise is required.
• Work as part of a specialist team to deliver a specific programme of support.
• Where appropriate, complete and review client assessments including risk assessments, within contractual time frames and ensure person centred and outcome focussed support plans are created in accordance with Project Requirements.
• Conduct regular client support plan reviews within contractual time frames and ensure clients are meeting their identified goals in accordance with Project Requirements.
• Design and deliver a range of in-house support provision which clients can opt into thereby promoting individual choice and designed to achieve successful outcomes for clients.
• Effectively signpost clients to external providers where their identified support needs cannot be met through in-house provision.
• Adopt a multi-agency approach to supporting clients including co-ordinating case conferences, involving other support providers in assessments and reviews and ensuring effective outcomes for clients.
• Use motivational interviewing as one of a broad range of approaches to working with people in order to achieve change and help clients maximise their potential

Developing our Team

• Work with clients, ensuring the actions within support plans and other activities around the support of clients are addressed in a timely, professional and appropriate manner.
• Ensure good communication with volunteers and other staff working with clients so they are aware of and involved in addressing the needs of clients as defined by their support plans.
• Proactively pursue own personal development of specialist area, ensuring you are fully up to date with current good practice, legislation, service delivery and policy in the field, including maintaining an awareness of practice and professional qualifications in the specialist area.
• Play an active role in supervision and appraisal with manager.
• Develop competences in decision making, IT, communication, case management, motivation, listening, and delegation of work and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate their skills, knowledge and development by cascading relevant training internally.
• Provide information and support on a consultancy basis to the team on issues relating to domestic abuse
• Support and develop volunteers, this may include on the job training, mentoring and day to day monitoring of allocated tasks.

Encouraging Growth

• Regularly update on your specialised area of responsibility, providing recommendations for ongoing service improvement
• Through the support planning process ensure that Tenure requirements are met, maintained, monitored and updated
• Ensure service development in the specialised area is in partnership with clients and in line with both National and local strategy and make appropriate recommendations for improvements to the Project Coordinator.
• Attend agreed appropriate internal and external networks, forums and meetings in the specialist area including DWA monthly team meetings.
• Support colleagues to respond to women experiencing domestic abuse through consultation and ongoing mentoring

Value for Money

• Through the support planning process ensure client benefits are maximised and personal payments are made as part of a budget plan
• Work as part of the overall service team to ensure the most effective use of financial and other resources.

Other Duties

• To participate in ensuring the programme provides safe and secure accommodation for clients, in accordance with legislation, established codes, customs and practices.
• To assist clients to prepare for and locate suitable long-term accommodation.
• To provide support to women experiencing domestic abuse on DWA Support Line

Referrals

• To accept referrals and liaise, where appropriate with the referral agency.
• To assess the suitability of clients through interview and offer placements accordingly.
• To support clients in understanding and abiding by their occupancy agreement and organisational protocols.
• Where clients are assessed as high risk refer the case to MARAC
• Maximise opportunities to refer client’s perpetrators of domestic abuse to the MATAC process

Training

• To participate in training, supervision and appraisal. To arrange and attend monthly supervisions.
• To consult with the Project coordinator regarding training needs.

General

• To build constructive and realistic relationships with clients, participating in the programme.
• To encourage clients to participate in as wide a range of activities and interests as possible.
• You are required to successfully hold a PVG for adults and children and meet regulatory requirements of SSSC
• To undertake any other duties deemed necessary by the Project Coordinator or the Consortium.

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the scope of the post. The post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with the duties as detailed above.