We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Homelessness service in Kent. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.
£25,565.65 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want
to feel like you’re making a difference? You’ll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
West Kent Domestic Abuse services comprises three refuges and an IDVA service. We support women and children who are fleeing domestic abuse and empower them to move on safely. We support with housing, access to benefits, education, budgeting and healthcare. We run programmes such as Freedom and Recovery Toolkit to enable women to process the abuse they have suffered.
We also work in the community raising awareness and offering training around domestic abuse.
We have access to Emergency overnight accommodation and run a Sanctuary Scheme for families in the area who wish to remain in their homes.
This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.
What you’ll do:
The role of a Step Down Worker is to provide ongoing support to IDVA clients where the risk has been reduced to a safer level. The post holder will provide ongoing support which is bespoke according to need and will work in a trauma informed way providing holistic support to aid client’s recovery from abuse. This post will be part of the IDVA team and will work collaboratively with the IDVAs to manage case loads.
Look Ahead domestic abuse workers have the personal qualities required to manage client expectations alongside the responsibilities of their role.
- Manage a caseload of clients who have been stepped down from high risk IDVA support
- Provide ongoing support with a range of client needs including but not limited to attendance at court hearings, mental health, substance issues, and housing support.
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system. Understanding of Marac protocols.
- Support clients to obtain orders where needed and any other civil remedies available to them.
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities.
- Attending all court and Case Management hearings with clients
- Prepare reports for Child Protection meetings.
- Supporting clients to set personalised goals in the form of a Safety and Support Plan.
- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents.
- Managing any ongoing risks and creating safety plans when required.
- Raising concerns of any increase in risk levels to senior IDVAs.
- Attend case management session with senior IDVA
- Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes.
- Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues.
- Encouraging customers to attend relevant programmes when appropriate i.e. Freedom Programme /Recovery Toolkit to support successful move on.
- Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times e.g. fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks etc.
- Adhering to all other Look Ahead’s policies and procedures.
- Engaging in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
- Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the IDVA Manager.
Other Qualities:
Look Ahead domestic abuse workers embody and promote the organisations values of quality, creativity, innovation, continuous improvement, integrity, transparency, openness and trust.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organized
- Able to apply the right balance of care and support dependant on the needs of the customer
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
- Ability to adhere to Look Ahead’s professional boundaries policy
What you’ll bring:
Essential:
Domestic Abuse experience essential
About us:
Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.