Job Details

Salary: £19,800 to £22,500 per annum Contract type: Permanent Working pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Sunday 01 October 2017 Interview date: Tuesday 10 October 2017

Please visit Refuge’s website for further details and other opportunities

About the Role

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services for victims of all forms of gender-based violence (domestic, sexual, so called ‘honour’ violence, trafficking, prostitution, forced marriage, stalking and FGM). Every day we support over 5,000 women and children in our national network of services. These include Independent Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Advocacy services (IDVAs/ISVAs and IGVAs), community outreach, specialist refuge accommodation, sanctuary services and culturally-specific services and the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Refuge and Women’s Aid). We advise Government and lobby hard to keep violence against women and girls high on the public agenda. We run award-winning prevention and public education campaigns, managing a busy press office and website, and we are an accredited training provider. We give a voice to the voiceless.

As a refuge worker, you will be responsible for providing high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. You will ensure the smooth running of the refuge, including the admission of survivors of domestic violence to the refuge. You will also assess and advise on their entitlement to welfare and housing benefits. You will develop support plans for each resident and aid them to obtain permanent accommodation.

The successful candidate will have evidence of strong casework management skills, good written and verbal communication and an understanding of the importance of maintaining professional boundaries. Knowledge and direct experience of providing support to women is essential as is a current understanding of legislation relating to domestic violence including civil/criminal legislation and welfare rights. The ability to work as part of an on-call rota is also essential.

Refuge is proud to be a leader in its field and an employer of choice with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. We offer the first Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) accredited qualification for our profession.  Other benefits include 28 days holiday, pension scheme, an employee assistance programme and a childcare voucher scheme.

An enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificate will be required for this role.

Refuge is committed to quality, equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This post however is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

No agencies please - as a charity we work hard to keep our costs down.

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.