Female Refuge IDVA
Reports to: Refuge Services Manager
Hours of work: full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Location: Slough (on-site)
Salary: £25,000 – £27,000 per annum dependent upon experience.
Contract: Permanent
Holidays: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 1 day for birthday
Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on receipt on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible.
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave per annum (+ bank holidays), plus up to 5 days additional leave for length of service.
- Birthday off + 1 ‘charity day’ day agreed by the trustees for all staff (usually last working day before 25 December)
- Christmas closure days given as additional leave (subject to annual Board agreement)
- Access to benefit platform for a wide range of discounts on everyday spends plus gym discounts.
- Access to private healthcare scheme
- Holiday buyback scheme
Overview
The Dash Charity is looking for a Refuge IDVA to join its dedicated refuge services team.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a local domestic abuse charity with a huge influence and reach. For almost 50 years The Dash Charity has been supporting individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse, empowering women, men and children to recognise the tactics of abuse, break the cycle, and take back control of their lives.
We were one of the first charities in the UK to be awarded Leading Lights status for our Advocacy and Outreach Services by SafeLives, and pioneered healthy relationships workshops in schools over a decade ago.
We run three refuges that offer a sanctuary to women and children escaping violence and abuse, offering specialist children’s support and one to one support for women.
Key responsibilities:
• Identify and assess the risks and support needs of refuge clients using an evidence-based risk identification checklist.
• Manage a caseload of clients ensuring each client receives a quality and consistent service and support individual to their needs and risks.
• Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and help them regain control of their lives.
• To ensure that information is shared within data protection guidelines to ensure a co-ordinated approach is taken to understand client need/risk and support appropriately.
• To work in accordance with the Refuge Services Case Management Policy ensuring that all client records and casework are to the required audited standard as per the case management policy.
• To maintain accurate, professional and confidential case management records and databases and ensure all monitoring and evaluation records/tools are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
• To understand any grant, funder or contractual requirements pertaining to the funding of the individual post, ensuring data and outcomes are gathered to inform periodic reporting as and when required. To contribute to the preparation of any grant/contract reporting as required.
• Support colleagues and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, in order to provide the best possible service for victims of domestic abuse.
• To fully keep up to date with relevant legislation and sector updates.
• To work with a strong multi agency focus liaising with other agencies and professionals both internally and externally to ensure client’s needs are met.
• Support clients through the criminal justice system.
• Support clients with options of civil remedies and child contact options.
• Ensure intake paperwork is completed and individual support plan in place, including advising women on terms of occupation of safe house.
• Role model, mentor and support students and volunteers assisting with intervention of clients to support the Refuge IDVA role.
• Ensure that meaningful involvement of clients is central to all activities, applying equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies and ensuring rights to privacy and confidentiality.
• Ensure clients are clear about their rights and obligations whilst receiving our service.
• Complete 2 weekly keyworking sessions to identify individual client support needs and create an individual support plan for all refuge clients.
• To support clients in accessing medical treatment, legal, housing and debt advice. Attend appointments with clients as required.
• Ensure the Safelives RIC is reviewed 6 weeks after intake to refuge or immediately if an incident occurs.
• To complete a Housing Benefit application for all new clients and submit to SBC within 48 hours of intake.
• To update DAIU when a client arrives and leaves refuge.
• Ensure client rents are collected weekly, rent card completed and the Finance team are updated.
• To facilitate monthly resident meetings, complete meeting minutes and any actions arising from the meeting.
• To complete weekly H&S checks and update RST manager accordingly.
General duties:
- To operate within clear professional and confidentiality boundaries and to work within The Dash Charity code of conduct.
- Ensure clients are clear about their rights and obligations whilst receiving support.
- Check email daily and respond to urgent requests
- Review workload daily and prioritise accordingly
- Ensure that meaningful involvement of clients is central to all activities, applying equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies and ensuring rights to privacy and confidentiality.
- Contribute to the development and review of The Dash Charity policies and procedures.
- Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.
How to apply:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the role, please do not hesitate to contact us.
To apply for this position, please review the full job description and then apply by emailing your CV and a cover letter to the Refuge Services Manager.
