Specialist Domestic Abuse Practitioner

Vale Domestic Abuse Service provides specialist support to women and children who have been subjected to violence against women, domestic abuse and/or sexual violence (VAWDASV). You can find out more about us here.

The purpose of this role is to provide trauma informed, needs led, strengths based and risk assured support to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence that leads to clients:

• Feeling safe


• Can access safe and secure housing


• Have improved understanding of themselves


• Being informed and have knowledge to be able to make informed choices


• Understanding safe, equal and reciprocal relationships


• Are well connected and have a healthy support network


There are two vacancies available, one in the accommodation team and one in the community team. Both roles are office based with a requirement to visit clients in the community.

About the application process

At Vale Domestic Abuse Services we use Applied for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your CV we'll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymised, and reviewed in a random order by members of our team. We will be asking you to upload details of your work history and your qualifications to meet safer recruitment requirements.

Some extras for you

Vale Domestic Abuse Services offers great benefits:

• employer pension contributions


• 35 hour working week


• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays


• up to 1 week sickness leave from week 1


• health cash plan


• employee assistance programme.


We have a colleague group which organise fun things to participate in if you would like!

What this job does

• Provides support to clients


• Act as a first point of contact for survivors who wish to access our services, ensuing they are aware of their rights


• Provide proactive, trauma informed immediate crisis intervention services, identifying risks and carrying out safety and support planning with the client which are needs led and strengths based


• Build professional, trauma informed relationships with the allocated caseload of survivors starting the process of recovery and supporting the clients to plan for the future


• Support and assist clients in understanding the dynamics of domestic abuse ensuring they are aware of their rights and responsibilities that enable them to make informed decisions about their life.


• Support clients to explore and assess their housing needs, informing them of housing rights and responsibilities, assist with accessing permanent accommodation, advocate on their behalf presenting their cases as required


• Support, signpost and refer clients to the services that are mutually agreed as part of their support plan.


• Promote client involvement and organise activities and engagement opportunities for clients


• Ensure all clients are safeguarded following Vale DAS's safeguarding policies


• Excellent case management


• Maintain timely, accurate and confidential case management records


• Evaluates distance travelled and ensures the views and experiences of clients are actively sought to inform service development


• Carry out regular case reviews in liaison with the line manager to review ongoing risk and needs, using the outcomes to inform action planning


• Ensure confidentiality and security of information is maintained in accordance with Vale DAS Confidentiality, Data Protection policies


Be a team player

• Be an ambassador for Vale Domestic Abuse Services to ensure an effective, coordinated community response to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence and their children


• Ability to demonstrate behaviours that accord with our values: Curiosity, Strengths Focused, Collaborative, Self-Awareness, Kindness, Inclusive, Integrity, Dedication


• Participate in team meetings, supervision, training either internal or external as requested by the line manager.


• Work within the Policies and Procedures of Vale DAS


• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required.
  
  Has sound knowledge and understanding of the practical, emotional, social and economic issues facing women and their families impacted by Domestic Abuse


• Is feminist in understanding "Violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence"


• Knowledge of trauma informed, needs led, strengths based, and risk assessed support


• Minimum of 1 year experience of providing emotional and practical support to adults, including effectively managing and recording casework


• Evidence of up-to-date knowledge of housing, criminal, civil and welfare rights legislation relating to domestic abuse and sexual violence


• Ability to manage own caseload, working under pressure and prioritising workload


• Strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with challenging situations


• An understanding of the importance of recording information in a timely and accurate manner


• Ability to demonstrate behaviours that accord with our values given above