Safe House Support Worker

At Saoirse Domestic Violence Services, we are looking for a Safe House Support Worker to join our team.

Full-time · Central Office

About the job

Would you like to work in a dynamic forward-looking organisation where you can make a difference and meaningfully contribute to our team? We are currently looking for a Safe House Support Worker to provide support to clients experiencing domestic abuse who reside in our Safe house accommodation services. As a Safe House Support Worker - you will provide timely interventions, assistance and support to those who are leaving refuge or the community to reside in our safe house properties. You will guide and support clients every step of the way to build safe supportive links in the local community, with an aim to progress them towards longer term housing options.

About you

Do you have experience of working in the community, with women and child/family support? Liaising with local authorities and/or other housing providers? Can you manage a dynamic case load of individual clients who have experienced domestic violence and abuse? Are you passionate to eradicate violence against women and children?

Reporting to: Outreach, Prevention and Training Manager

Job Type: Full Time (1 year fixed term)

Location: Central Office, Tallaght, Dublin

Responsibilities and Duties.

• Manage Safe House central referral system from advertisement and application stage right through to interview, selection and placement process.
• Carry out an ongoing assessment of needs, and continue the individual care plan for women and children, based on identified supports including risk and safety, health and wellbeing, finance and social welfare, legal and court accompaniment.
• Provide weekly link ins with women and or child/ren in the safe house, discussing care plan and move on options.
• Ensure client files are kept updated with developments and care plan.
• Assist Refuge Keyworkers explore clients move on options at planned exit stage.
• Develop, manage, implement, and review housing support plans for clients, which may be single persons, and families with children, while working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, to achieve service and client’s goals.
• Drive and implement care and case management processes and protocols whilst lone working in client’s home.
• Carry out risk assessments and follow safeguarding protocols to vulnerable clients and children.
• Liaise and stay in regular contact with stakeholders, social housing providers, landlords, management companies and local authority area offices where during the visiting support period.
• Advocate on behalf of clients, responding rapidly and providing practical aid in any issues arising.
• Assist the client with access to relevant services e.g., Housing Welfare, Social Welfare, Primary Care services, Treatment and Recovery Services and HAP sections.
• Provide emotional and practical support to clients who have experienced Domestic Violence and are at risk of homelessness or entering homeless services.
• Work from strengths-based perspective to encourage resilience in clients and support them in feeling empowered.
• Facilitate and access SDCC and SDVS housing maintenance and repair services and ensure the maintenance of upkeep of the Safe House and Step-down properties.
• Keeping children’s safety and welfare at the forefront of all decisions and advocating for their needs.
• Follow SDVS Child Protection & Welfare policy and procedures in line with Children’s First 2015.
• Carry out mandated person duties while maintaining relationships with parents and supporting them through the Child Protection Referral process.
• Engage in SDVS DDLP/DLP Meetings as per yearly schedule.
• To provide support, assistance and advocacy to clients on practical matters including court, housing, health, social welfare, rights and entitlements.
• To develop and deliver structured care plans with clients, through planned support sessions and encouraging active participation from clients in leading their own care plans and making choices for their safety.
• To accompany women to family court applications and hearings, legal aid appointments, Garda stations, etc, as necessary, and provide pre and post court support.
• To network and develop links with local service providers relevant to clients’ situations including, gardai, schools, housing authorities, social welfare, women’s groups, social work, hospitals, doctor surgeries, counsellors, youth services, family resources centres, etc. This includes sourcing referral paths and educating those services on referring to our services, in a safe and client centred manner.
• To participate in the provision of services as part of the Outreach team and in particular to liaise with colleagues from all sections of the agency to ensure a holistic care approach with families and that all relevant information is shared and understood.
• To observe and enforce a policy of strict confidentiality at all times in relation to all aspects of the service.
• To work according to company policies and best practice at all times.
• To ensure that all procedures in relation to the Health and Safety Statement are clearly understood and acted upon.
• To maintain and update accurate records of all files and any associated paperwork, including updating the database notes, in a timely and professional manner.
• To attend and participate fully in all team meetings, trainings and supervision provided by the company.
• To work according to Children First guidelines and Saoirse’s Child Protection and Welfare policy.
• To represent the work and ethos of Saoirse in a professional and respectful manner at all times and to work under the direction and guidance of management.

Qualification, knowledge and skills required

• Third level Qualification at degree level in social care, social science or related field.
• A minimum of 3 years relevant experience working in a social care setting with women/ families
• QQI Training qualification or similar, combined with 2 years’ experience delivering training in the community.
• Excellent theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding of domestic violence.
• Excellent theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding of the drivers of homelessness and housing policy and procedure.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the challenges and issues affecting women and children experiencing domestic violence
• Understanding and working knowledge of Domestic Violence Act/Children’s First Legislation/Child Care Act
• Risk assessment/Safety and Care planning knowledge is essential

Skills

• Excellent relationship building skills
• Excellent report writing skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• IT packages and Database skills
• Ability to lone work safely

Personal Attributes.

• Passion to eradicate violence against women and girls
• Self-starter
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Self-Motivation
• Self- sufficiency
• Dependability
• Empathy
• Independence
• Resilience
• Initiative

Experience

• Experience of inter-agency working
• Full driving license and access to own transport
• Experience of dynamic case management
• Individual client work and case management.
• Networking and relationship building with stakeholders in the community
• Domestic Violence advocacy
• Awareness of addiction, treatment pathways and services.
• Experience of assessing clients’ needs in their home and signposting to community supports.
• Experience of mobile working in a visiting support capacity.

Benefits

Pension: 7% employer’s contribution through our Pension Scheme (7% of annual basic salary) once probation is passed.

Annual leave/Public Holidays: Entitled to 25 working days annual leave exclusive of public holidays.

Paid Sick leave: available once 6-month probation passed.

Paid Maternity leave: payable after 1 year of service.

Doctor visits: Funding towards 2 Doctor visits per year.

Education Support: Funding towards further education and time off rostered duties where possible.

HSF assist: 24-hour support and counselling services available to staff and their families.

Team building days annually.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform that may be required either now or in the future.

Apply for the job

Do you want to join our team as our new Safe House Support Worker? Then we'd love to hear about you! Apply here, Safe House Support Worker (homerun.co)

Closing date for applications 1st May 2024.

Initial online interviews will be held the week of 7th May 2024.

Saoirse Domestic Violence Services (SDVS) provide a range of support services across South-West Dublin and West Wicklow including 24-hour helpline, safe refuge accommodation, safe house accommodation, children’s support services, community outreach support, prevention and educational tools and court accompaniment.

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