goodmoves

Are you interested in joining our team?

We have around 30 members of staff and volunteers working in our Children, Young People and Women's Support Services, Facilities and Administration teams.

Purpose of post

To provide an independent advocacy service to women who have experienced domestic abuse, are assessed to be at very high risk of repeat victimisation and who may have been referred to the MARAC. The post holder will work directly with women, children and young people offering crisis intervention, information, support and advocacy services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide an advocacy service to victims/survivors of domestic abuse and those referred to the MARAC process. This will involve close liaison with the MARAC administrator and the domestic abuse staff at the Public Protection Unit as well as working closely with other voluntary and statutory services.

• Contact victims/survivors and those referred to MARAC, by telephone or in person (mostly by telephone); offer crisis intervention and if necessary explain the MARAC process and sensitively gather information about the victim/survivor’s views.

• Support the victim/survivor to identify and take action to address any concerns s/he may have for their or their children’s safety and wellbeing. Carry out risk assessments, identify clients at high risk of further assaults/abuse and involve other services and professionals as appropriate ( in line with Child Protection Guidance)

• Manage a complex caseload of clients providing information, advocacy and support in relation to recent experiences of domestic abuse.

• Occasionally attend MARAC meetings, providing input as required ensuring the victim/survivor’s views are heard

• Work with other agencies to ensure safety and support needs of victims and their children are being met. Ensure continuity of care; facilitate referrals for on-going support; and monitor and report on identified gaps between and within services

• Liaise with, develop and sustain good working relationships with agencies across Dundee which have a remit to provide services to those experiencing domestic abuse. Take part in appropriate multi-agency working groups.

• Develop domestic abuse information resources as required

• Maintain accurate manual and computer based client records (in accordance with data protection)

• Provide statistical information, prepare and present verbal /written reports and contribute to effective monitoring and evaluation of MARAC as required

• Comply with relevant health & safety legislation, good practice and the ethos of Dundee Women’s Aid. Take part in staff and service meetings as required and show commitment to on-going personal and professional development. Self-service – the ability to carry out your own filing, photocopying and IT services.

• Undertake any other duties as reasonably requested within the overall business objectives of the organisation.

This job profile is intended as an outline of the responsibilities and qualities required for the post, and does not form part of terms and conditions of employment.

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.

PURPOSE OF THE POST

The NICE Coordinator develops volunteering opportunities across DWA services including befriending, peer mentoring, participation and additional activities for women, children and young people. The NICE Coordinator also oversees the volunteer counsellors we currently have within DWA and develops placement opportunities for student counsellors.

A large part of the role relates to the NICE (Nurtured, Included, Complemented and Enhanced) project. This project aims to ensure women are nurtured and included and that current services (1:1 time-limited support and group work for women in refuge and on outreach) are complemented and enhanced through the principles of self-help, mutual support and recovery. The NICE Coordinator also takes the lead in service user involvement across the service and monitoring and evaluation of all services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Key Tasks

• To recruit, induct and train volunteers and complete documentation to support this.

• To raise awareness of the NICE project and update publicity materials, continue the development of the befriending model for the project and ensure standards are high.

• To identify and recruit volunteers for a range of roles – support line, administration, facilities, children’s team, alternative therapies, counsellors and peer mentors.

• To develop an action plan for the NICE project with robust monitoring and evaluation processes.

2. Scope of Planning and Organisation

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the post holder will:

• Have regular contact with their line manager to determine work plans but will be responsible for planning and prioritising their work.

• Take the lead in developing volunteering roles, recruitment and planning appropriate training for volunteers. They will work to meet set targets for volunteer participation and impact which will be monitored on a month to month basis.

• Attend and contribute to meetings including staff training and development.

• Deliver the ongoing development of key peer mentoring training for volunteers.

• Develop the volunteering in such a way as to ensure that it operates with proper regard to good practice and any mandatory or legislative requirements relating to child protection, confidentiality, vulnerable adults and safe care issues.

• To develop an annual monitoring and evaluation plan

• To develop an annual programme for service user involvement

3. Scope of judgement and decision making

• Contribute to the development of volunteering processes using their knowledge and initiative to make recommendations to their line manager.

• Promote and support the implementation of best practice in volunteering and maintain quality and standards.

• Support the volunteers’ training and development needs.

4. Key Accountabilities

Team Management

• Ensure volunteers operate within the boundaries of their role.

• Coordinate the activity of the volunteers, including a rota of groups and, where applicable, one-to-one activity between volunteers and service users.

• Coordinate a monthly volunteer meeting, where volunteers share best practice and update on progress.

• Regularly review a handbook for volunteers.

Supervision

• Provide 1:1 management supervision to volunteers, identifying and responding to training and development needs.

• Plan and implement an induction training programme for the volunteers as well as on-going development training.

Service Delivery & Development

• Ensure that volunteer activity is provided in line with the organisational policies and procedures.

• Develop volunteering roles; be creative in how to attract volunteers; undertake recruitment; train and guide volunteers in alignment with the needs of services, functions and the communities in which they work.

• Coordinate and publicise volunteer related events available within the organisation.

• Coordinate and publicise service user involvement in partnership with team managers

• Create ways of monitoring service delivery through evaluation and quality assurance

• Oversee management of an allocated budget, with support of the CEO and Finance Worker.

• Work closely with DWA management team and other relevant agencies to develop policies and procedures.

Information Management

• Produce regular and timely monitoring and evaluation reports for internal and external sources such as funders.

• Ensure accurate information is recorded and maintained in the service database.

• Fulfil monitoring requirements within the Service Delivery Monitoring Framework.

• Compile reports about services or specific areas of activity as required.

Networking, Liaison and Brokering

• Develop effective working relationships with relevant services both at front-line and management levels.

• Provide the volunteers with opportunities for personal and professional development by linking into activity provided within Dundee and brokering opportunities with providers of education, training and employment.

Health and Safety

• Ensure that volunteers are aware of and comply with project policies and procedures for safe working practices for volunteers and service users.

• Ensure current risk assessments are in place for all volunteer activities.

This post requires a PVG scheme record check for both types of regulated work – work with children and work with protected adults.

SAY Women is a leading provider of services to sexually abused young women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Since 1991 we have pioneered projects and approaches which help young women survivors make progress in their lives, with the help of our support, safe accommodation and opportunities to learn coping strategies, skills for self-care and to feel more empowered.

Our practice is based on gendered analysis, a feminist perspective and trauma-informed approach.

Say Women provides support and accommodation for 8 young women who have experienced homelessness and sexual abuse. Our work with them follows the Judith Herman model, focusing on establishing safety, and then supporting young women’s recovery and their journey towards an independent tenancy and becoming reconnected with a social network and community helping them thrive.

This work is carried out in partnership with Shettleston Housing Association in one accommodation block with flats, and our office and support space, and an outreach flat (shared) nearby.

SAY Women strives to be an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from individuals who are disadvantaged and under-represented in the labour market. These posts are open to female applicants by exemption under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 and subject to PVG disclosure checks.

To provide a safe, professional and supportive service for women who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse. This role will function predominantly as a city wide outreach support role but the post holder may be required to support women across any of our services including refuge accommodation.

• Must be fluent in spoken and written Polish and English
• Qualified to SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6 or other relevant qualification to register as a housing support worker with the SSSC.
• Adult and Child PVG scheme membership will be required.

Edinburgh Women’s Aid strives to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. Women only need apply under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.