DOMESTIC ABUSE Family Support PRACTITIONER

/in /by

JOB TITLE:                              DOMESTIC ABUSE Family Support PRACTITIONER

LOCATION:                             MAINLY BASED OVER TWO SITES IN CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON

RESPONSIBLE TO:                  OPERATIONS MANAGER

SALARY: £21,988.00 pro-rata

REPONSIBLE FOR:  Assisting the CYPP and DAP Team Co-ordinators in the assessment of children and young people’s needs and delivering of day to day running of services and programmes for women and children seeking to recover and move on from the impact of domestic abuse.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS: The Domestic Abuse Family Support Practitioner will be required to work flexibly 37 hours per week worked over 5 days.  Some unsocial/out of hours/evening work will be required, including the provision of On Call Buddy support to the out of hours team on a rota basis. This is a 1 year fixed term post in the first instance.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST: To provide holistic and specialist support to women, children and young people who have been the victims of Domestic Abuse.  To work alongside families overseeing their progress through a programme of activities and interventions, offering support and strategies to achieve against 5 outcomes:  Physical Survival, Safety and Security, Social Needs and Belonging, Self Worth and Esteem and Meaning and Purpose. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge:  Essential

  1. Extensive knowledge and training or a qualification in domestic abuse, with an understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
  2. Understanding of safeguarding issues and the legal responsibilities surrounding these.
  3. Knowledge of civil and criminal law affecting victims of domestic abuse and their children).
  4. Understanding of the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children.
  5. Understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practise.

Desirable

  1. Understand the remits and resources of relevant statutory bodies and voluntary agencies.
  2. Knowledge of Welfare Benefits.
  3. Knowledge of specialisms e.g.  mental health, immigration, BME, housing, drugs/alcohol
  4. A social care related qualification.
  5. Paediatric First Aid qualification.

Experience:  Essential

  1. Extensive experience of working with women and children who have been/are victims of domestic abuse in Refuge and/or Community based programmes.
  1. Working with vulnerable adults and children, including those with complex needs.
  2. Working in a team.
  3. Keeping written/electronic records and evaluations.
  4. Managing a case load.
  5. Delivering group work.

Desirable

  1. Working as an agency representative in forums or steering groups.
  2. Lead facilitating group work.

Skills:  Essential

  1. A suitable child/youth related qualification e.g. NNEB, NVQ Early Years Child Care Level 3, youth work qualification, teaching qualification.
  2. Ability to work flexibly under supervision in a small team whilst being able to work effectively on own initiative in the absence of a Manager.
  3. Ability to make professional, client-centred decisions using appropriate policies, procedures to guide those decisions.
  1. Excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal and able to interact effectively with a wide range of individuals including service users and professionals.  
  2. Computer literacy skills.
  3. Good listening skills.
  4. Ability to manage own workload, with appropriate administrative, prioritisation and organisational skills.
  5. The ability to show initiative and be proactive when managing a case load and interacting with service users and partner agencies.
  6. Ability to develop positive working relationships with a variety of individuals (e.g., women, children and families, colleagues, external agencies and other stakeholders).
  7. Strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.
  8. Ability to deliver specialist relationship/domestic abuse group work programmes to women, children and young people or be willing to build on existing skills and undertake additional specialist training if required.
  9. Ability to be self motivated and the ability to motivate others.
  10. Be able to travel extensively across the county and beyond.

Personal qualities: Essential

  1. Compassion and empathy with the service users’ situation.
  2. Ability to act with integrity and respect when working with all service users, agencies and individuals.
  3. Ability and willingness to work in a cooperative, collaborative, person-centred way using a range of tools including Motivational Interviewing, Cycle of Change, and Restorative Justice practices.
  4. Flexibility and initiative.
  5. An enthusiastic and positive approach.
  6. Able to demonstrate a ‘growth mindset’, an optimistic attitude towards opportunities for personal growth and change. 

MAIN DUTIES

  1. Where requested by managers to act as Child Protection lead, keeping up to date on all Safeguarding issues, contributing to the updating of NVCFR Child Protection policy and advising other staff where necessary.
  2. Assess risks and needs of victims of domestic abuse and their children using assessment tools.
  3. Build supportive, empowering relationships with women and children who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse.
  4. Establish play sessions and prioritise work regarding the individual needs of the children.
  5. Ensure all children’s work and activities comply with Ofsted requirements.
  6. Work alongside service users to develop a person centred, needs led Individual Development Plan that supports them to achieve against service outcomes by receiving the appropriate service individual to their needs.
  7. Undertake preparation, delivery and evaluation of Children’s services, including therapeutic group work and programmes.
  8. Undertake regular reviews and  oversee and monitor children and young people’s progress through services delivered.
  9. Undertake regular monitoring, review and evaluation of group work, programmes and services delivered.
  10. Work with and support service users who are parents in relation to the needs of their children.
  11. If required, provide nutritious meals for children in the absence of the parent.
  12. Assist service users in goal setting and achieving effective outcomes, including planned and safe move on.
  13. Manage service user case load ensuring each person receives the appropriate service to meet their needs.
  14. Liaise with other staff and volunteers involved in the delivery of services for clients, review and monitor engagement in activities and interventions and achievement against the outcomes.
  15. Undertake advocacy visits, as agreed with the CYPP and DAP Team Coordinators, with service users where specialist skills are needed.
  16. Liaise with other staff members and volunteers, statutory bodies and voluntary agencies as appropriate, having due regard to confidentiality and Information Sharing Protocols.
  17. Attend multi disciplinary meetings with other agencies for adults, children and young people on an allocated case load.
  18. Provide peripatetic services in other locations across Northamptonshire as and when required.
  19. Assist in planning and delivery of residential mealtimes, parties, outings, day trips and holidays where appropriate.
  20. Undertake preparation, delivery and evaluation of specialist group work suitable for victims of domestic violence and abuse.
  21. Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to the work.
  22. Keep and maintain records both electronic and paper based as appropriate and provide written reports where required.
  23. Attend Case Conferences, Core groups and other related meetings/groups, providing written reports as required.
  24. Be aware of Health and Safety requirements in all issues relating to children and to ensure that regular safety checks are made in line with NVCFR Health and Safety and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
  25. Assess injury/sickness and obtain medical attention for children if required.
  26. Assist in the daily running and security of the service.
  27. Attend and contribute regularly to team development days, staff meetings, supervision and other team events.
  28. Provide On Call Buddy back up on a rota basis. Supporting the out of hours management team with refuge issues where on call staff need backup, including attending the refuge and dealing with issues appropriate to your level of expertise and training when required.
  29. Cover staff holidays and sickness where required.
  30. Undertake further training opportunities as appropriate.
  31. Any other duties as may be required by Trustees or managers from time to time.

Please apply here Job Application Form or email recruitment@eve.org.uk for an application form.