WOMENS SUPPORT WORKER (REFUGE & FOLLOW ON) Glasgow, Scotland
Job description
Women’s Support Worker (Refuge & Follow on) Job Description
Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid Ltd was established in 1981 and is Scotland’s first feminist women’s aid service providing refuge, follow on and outreach services primarily to women, children, and young people from the Asian Black and Minority Ethnic communities. We support all women referred to us and will not turn any woman away without listening to them and sign posting to an alternative agency where possible if we cannot help them.
The organisation is based at Flat 0/1, 24 Willowbank Street, Glasgow, G2 2UE. This is the first point of contact for women, children and young people requiring support. We are one of 34 women’s aid groups across Scotland providing support to women, children, and young people.
The legal status of the organisation is a company limited by guarantee governed by a board of directors. The organisation is a single sex woman only service in terms of the Equality Act 2010. The Trustees and staff team are women from a diverse range of backgrounds. A multi-cultural working environment has been in place since the inception of the organisation, and we pride ourselves on the success of this working environment. The organisation is regulated by the Care Inspectorate, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and staff are registered with and work within policy and practice guidelines stipulated by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Main Purpose
The key role of the Women’s Support Worker (Refuge & Follow on) is to provide direct support to women living in the refuge and to support women when leaving the refuge to move to permanent accommodation via the follow-on service. The Women’s Support Worker (Refuge & Follow on) must be bilingual and will speak English and Punjabi, Hindi, or Urdu. The Women’s Support Worker will also be responsible for providing direct support to women and participate in a key worker system in accordance with HGWA policy and procedures. The Women’s Support Worker will work within a gendered analysis/feminist framework of domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour-based abuse, and apply this understanding to all aspects of the organisation’s policies and procedures, good practice guidelines, and standards. The Women’s Support Worker will report directly to the Women’s Service Manager and a professional, competent, and effective service is always required when supporting vulnerable women.
Conditions of Employment
Job Title Women’s Support Worker - Refuge and Follow-on service
Salary £26,000 per annum plus contributory pension
Responsible to Hemat Gryffe Womens Aid - Women’s Service Manager
Qualification SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6, working toward achieving the qualification or a willingness to undertake in line with registration requirements of SSSC. Funding and support will be provided to achieve this by the organisation. Expected timescales to obtain the qualification is dependent on certain criteria. New registration with Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) – 5 years Timescales for employees currently registered are determined by the SSSC. The qualification will be offered on successful completion of a probationary period. The cost of the qualification paid by Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid will be deducted from your final salary if you leave post within 6 months of achieving the qualification.
Hours 35 Hours per week
(Flexible working is required as and when necessary)
Pension Employer Contribution 3%
Royal London Pension Scheme
Holidays Holiday period commences April to March.
28 (increasing to 30 days after 5 years continuous employment)
1 Religious’ Day
All public Holiday
Contract type Fixed term contract to March 2024.
Funded by Scottish Government Delivering Equally Safe Fund
PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR APPLICATION PACK. TO APPLY FOR THE POST.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To provide confidential direct support primarily to women victims-survivors of gender- based abuse from the Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic Community and to provide bilingual support where required.
Participate in a key worker system when providing direct support to women in refuge in accordance with policy and procedure.
To promote and preserve the safety of women, children and young people who use the services of Hemat Gryffe, in line with relevant organisational policies and procedures e.g. child protection.
An element of this role will include partnership working with statutory and voluntary sector agencies including, but not restricted to: Police Scotland, Social Work Services,
Education Services, Health Services, Law firms & legal personnel, Homeless Case Work Teams, Department of Work and Pensions, Glasgow City Council Housing Benefit Team. ( This is not an exhaustive list).
Report and communicate any complaints and concerns (including concerns of service users) to the Women’s Service Manager and Senior Housing Support Worker in accordance with policy and procedure. You will assist the Women’s Service Manager and Senior Housing Support Worker with the day-to-day running of the refuge. This will involve ( but is not an exhaustive list)
- Assist women settle into the refuge
- Prepare flats for women to be admitted to the refuge.
- Perform duties asked by the Women’s Service Manager or Senior Housing Support Worker.
- Conduct flat inspections with colleagues
- Provide direct support and a listening ear to women
- Complete support plans, risk assessments and other required documentation in accordance with Data Protection/GDPR guidelines.
- Make welfare benefit claims
- Advocate on behalf of the women, make telephone calls, accompany women to appointments, provide bilingual support as and when required
- Provide information to refuge residents as required in relation to HGWA policy and procedures pertaining to the health and safety of the refuge.
- Issue welcome packs to women and ensure necessary paperwork is signed and completed.
You will be responsible for the follow-on service which requires assisting women leaving refuge to help them to resettle into permanent accommodation. You will require to work with the Childrens Refuge & Follow-on Worker with women who have children who are leaving refuge. The purpose of the follow-on service is to make the transition from refuge accommodation to permanent accommodation as smooth as possible.
You will ensure women in the refuge and the follow-on service have information in relation to HGWA service provision and informed of updated service user policies and procedures in accordance with Health and Social care standards. The service involves but is not restricted to:
- Advocating on behalf of women when viewing and signing tenancy.
- Complete paperwork prior to women moving to new accommodation
- Provide support to women to assist them to move to new accommodation
- Completing Scottish Welfare Fund application and other relevant welfare benefits.
- Complete a change of address information for the Department of Work & Pensions, the Bank, and other relevant organisations/agencies.
- Introduce women to the local area, take the women around local amenities and show her transport routes, hospitals, doctor surgeries and other relevant organisations and agencies.
- Register woman with doctors and dentist
- Set up utilities at new accommodation (this is not an exhaustive list)
You will work with the Women’s Service Manager and the Senior Housing Support worker and the women’s workers when dealing with referrals for women requiring refuge accommodation.
Ensure all documentation/support plans are completed as required, recorded on a computerised data system, and stored safely in accordance with HGWA Data
Protection/GDPR /Confidentiality policy and procedures
Contribute to the development of policy, practice and procedures required in the refuge to improve and enhance ongoing service provision to the benefit of staff and service users.
Participate in emergency/on call mobile phone on a rotational basis.
Promote a reflective approach to practice by participating effectively in support and supervision sessions conducted by the Women’s Service Manager.
Participate in fortnightly meetings with the Women’s Service Manager and colleagues.
Maintain and update a training and development plan and continued professional development in accordance with identified training needs and to satisfy the job role and the requirements of the SSSC.
Report and communicate any concerns /complaints raised to the Women’s Service
Manager.
To undertake any further duties deemed reasonable by the management team and board.
PERSON PROFILE & SPECIFICATION
Qualification, Knowledge, and Experience: - (ALL ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS)
- SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 6 as required within the ALL registration requirements of the SSSC. Work based training will be provided to Essential candidates who do not have the qualification.
- Experience of providing face to face/one to one support to vulnerable women who have experienced domestic abuse
- Experience of advocating on behalf of women who have experienced domestic abuse
- An appropriate level of knowledge and understanding of the principle of a person- centred approach to practice
- An understanding of a feminist perspective of domestic abuse and the impact of domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour-based abuse upon women.
- A knowledge and understanding of the specific issues and culturally sensitive support needs of women, from the Asian, Black and minority ethnic community who are experiencing domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
- Experience of organisational and administrational skills
- Experience of interagency or maybe a collaborative approach to practice through effective partnership working work when providing support to vulnerable women
- An ability to work within SSSC Codes of Practice Health and Social Care Standards in Housing Support Services
- Ability to represent the women’s service at local and national level
- To contribute to the development of the organisation and women’s service.
- Ability to provide bilingual support in Urdu, Punjabi, or Hindi
Abilities – Skills and attributes(ALL ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS)
- Able to assess the needs of vulnerable women and conduct risk assessments Able ALL to engage with and develop relationships with women
- Maintain professional boundaries Essential
- Able to listen to women and maintain their confidentiality
- Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Be computer Literate (email/internet/Microsoft office packages, virtual platforms: MS Teams/Zoom).
- Able to work with confidential materials and information in accordance with Data Protection/GDPR guidelines.
- Able to work using initiative and as part of a team
- Maintain accurate and up to date written records of work i.e., telephone calls, referral forms, support plans and a computerised data package.
- Able to forge effective alliances with external agencies and practitioners to ensure the safety and protection of service users
- Able to communicate in English and Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
Personal Qualities (ALL ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS)
- Commitment to promoting a women rights agenda. ALL
- Commitment to working in an inclusive and anti-discriminatory and anti- Essential oppressive manner.
- Willingness to undertake appropriate and relevant training
Other Requirements
- Available for evening and weekend work when necessary Essential
- Participate on an emergency ON CALL rota. Essential
- Ability to travel within/out with the Glasgow area i.e., walking/using public transport. Essential
- Conform to COVID 19 rules Essential
- Driving licence Desirable
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Salary: £26,000.00 per year
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Glasgow: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Spinal Injury: 1 year (preferred)
- Support Worker: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 23/06/2023
Reference ID: WOMENS SUPPORT WORKER (REFUGE & FOLLOW ON)
