Young Women and Girls Support Worker

Job Title: Young Women and Girls Support Worker

Location: Pathway Project Lichfield Office Based

Salary: £ 24,347 Full time equivalent Actual salary is £19,478

Hours of Work: 30 Hours per week (over 4 or 5 days)

Responsible to : Team Leader Outreach Team

Responsible for : Delivering domestic abuse services and prevention services to young women and girls aged 13-24 years.

This role is open to women only

The postholder will require a driving licence and access to a vehicle to undertake this role.

This post is open to women only under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1. We value diversity and are committed to ensuring that our organisation is an inclusive place to work. We encourage applications from women from all backgrounds and communities and actively welcome applicants from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds and women with a disability

About Pathway Project

We are a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire.

We offer a range of support services and run two refuges in confidential locations.

We have been operating for over 30 years helping adults and children overcome domestic abuse, and to build a future where they live in safety and are free from fear.

Since our founder, Kathy Coe MBE, created Pathway Project, we have helped over 25,000 people, with 5,814 hours of support provided in the last year.

We offer a wide range of services, including adult and children outreach and community support, mental health, wellbeing and financial advice.

We support victims in their journey to become survivors and offer specialist counselling, advocacy and care to all who need us.

Pathway Project believes in working as a cohesive team and are service user led.

Our helpline is access to all and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why work for us?

Pathway Project is an inspiring and caring place to be, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy.

We have a string belief in staff development and are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion for excellence in service delivery.

Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans.

It s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey.

We are a flexible and supportive employer, committed to the personal and professional development and wellbeing of our employees. We welcome applications from women with lived experience of domestic abuse and from minority or under-represented groups.

We offer the following benefits:

25 days paid leave plus statutory holidays (pro rata)

A competitive pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme delivered by Health Assured which offers incredible support to staff and their families

We value our colleagues and are constantly reviewing our policies and practice, looking for ways in which we can better demonstrate this. We also recognise the potential impact of working in this field and provide clinical supervision to all of our employees, whatever their role.

JOB SUMMARY

The postholder will provide outreach services within the community to provide emotional and practical support to young women and girls who have been subject to domestic abuse and sexual abuse or exploitation in order to meet their immediate needs, reduce risk and work towards long term safety and security.

This may also include young women and girls who have been involved in the sex industry or gang involvement. She will inform them of all the sources of help available to them and to facilitate their access to other support services, where it is appropriate.

She will enable access to age appropriate and age effective group work and to support the development of preventative workshops delivered to young women and girls.

MAIN DUTIES

To provide non-judgemental, one to one emotional and practical support to young women and girls (YW&G) aged 13-25, who have suffered domestic abuse and/or sexual abuse/exploitation.

To engage YW&G in effective one to one support designed to meet their individual needs.

To signpost YW&G on to other appropriate agencies and support mechanisms that will help them successfully move forward.

Complete risk assessments and develop risk management plans to address the risk of harm.

Undertake safety planning with YW&G to reduce levels of risk.

Complete needs assessments and individual support plans with the YW&G to ensure their emotional and practical support needs are being met.

To empower YW&G who have been victims of domestic/sexual abuse/exploitation to take control of their lives and make their own decisions.

To assist YW&G to access relevant services and agencies within their local area such as housing, counselling, debt, legal advice, health, training, education and support groups.

To refer service users onto other support services available in Pathway, if appropriate e.g. counselling, legal clinics.

To work with other services within Pathway Project to deliver the most effective support possible.

To work in partnership with other agencies and to advocate for YW&G to ensure their needs are being met.

To advocate on behalf of YW&G, accompanying them to appointments, if appropriate, and ensuring that their wishes and feelings regarding the provision of those services has been taken into account.

To help develop a programme of group work for YW&G looking at issues such as sexual exploitation, sexting, revenge porn, social media, grooming, healthy relationships and substance misuse.

GENERAL

Manage an appropriate caseload.

Maintain, update and keep accurate and factual case records.

Keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in YW&G situations, within information sharing protocols.

Note and feed back to other agencies any consistent difficulties YW&G are having accessing their service, or failures to engage.

Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within area of practice as necessary.

To work within the policies and procedures of the organisation.

Develop and maintain effective communication systems with key partners including Police, CPS, court service, social services, education, health, victim s gateway, witness service, voluntary sector organisations, CAFCASS.

Participate in team meetings.

Provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies.

To participate in networking opportunities.

To provide monitoring and reports as required.

To ensure that the security of sensitive data is maintained and complies with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisation.

OTHER

Any other duties the CEO or Board of Trustees consider appropriate.

The post holder must have a commitment to the aims of the Pathway Project, and uphold all agreed policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Essential

Ability to drive with a clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

Confident and eloquent speaker and networker.

Ability to write clear and concise reports and case notes.

Experience of supporting clients in any form.

Has an understanding of the issues facing YW&G.

Experience of working with vulnerable clients.

Experience of and an understanding of Safeguarding practice.

The ability to use initiative and be self directed in their work .

The ability to maintain professional boundaries and yet still build a rapport.

Being self motivated and able to generate connections and network locally to further the work to prevent violence against

YW&G.

Desirable

Confident presenter and deliverer or group workshops .

Ability to write and deliver workshops that are informative, fun and age appropriate for YW&G.

Ability to manage a diverse caseload and manage competing priorities.

Experience of Domestic Abuse or worked in the domestic abuse field.

Experience of or the ability to work with challenging individuals or situations

Experience of multi-agency working.

Knowledge of working in the third sector .

Ability to manage a crisis situation and remain calm and in control.