Location:               Domestic Abuse Recovery Service

Salary:                   £30,000 per annum

Hours:                   37.5 hours per week

Job Type:              Permanent/Fixed Term

Shortlisting:          TBC

Interview:              TBC

Why this role would be great for you

We are excited to announce the launch of our new DARS (Domestic Abuse Response Service), starting on 1st August. DARS has been developed to provide specialist, inclusive support to individuals affected by domestic abuse who have added complexities, ensuring that both males and females receive the tailored help they need in a safe and supportive environment.

As we prepare for this exciting new chapter, we are currently recruiting passionate and dedicated male and female staff to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an innovative service from the very beginning and to make a genuine difference in people’s lives.

If you are committed to supporting individuals affected by domestic abuse and want to be part of a forward-thinking service, we would love to hear from you.

The Empowerment Practitioners (EP) will be skilled in delivering a range of interventions to adults, children and young people to build strength, enhance resilience and encourage progress. The post holder will be responsible for managing a case load of households and will have the primary role of providing and co-ordinating support interventions and multi-agency activity. 

All EP’s will undergo Cognitive Analytic Therapy Skills Training (CAT) this will provide a framework for understanding and working with households. Training will also be provided around Trauma Informed Care. These approaches will be used for planning and assessing effectiveness of a variety of interventions and risk management. 

Our service is built on values of hope, empowerment, choice, and independence, and we strive to provide children with opportunities to thrive, play, and heal. 

Domestic Abuse Focus

This role sits within services that support individuals with lived experience of domestic abuse. The postholder will be expected to work in a trauma‑informed, survivor‑centred way, recognising the impact of domestic abuse on individuals and families, and responding in a manner that promotes safety, empowerment, and choice.

What your week may look like

Empowerment Practitioners will be skilled in delivering a range of interventions for Empowerment Practitioners to build strength, enhance resilience and encourage progress. The post holder will be responsible for providing key work support to a caseload and will have the primary role of providing and co-coordinating support interventions and multi-agency activity. 

• Working as part of the daytime Support Team 

• Ensuring each person will receive personalised support considering their identified risks and personal needs 

• Engaging with professionals and other providers to provide a safe space to complete support sessions. 

• Providing a safe, welcoming environment with excellent standards and an ethos of service delivery that encourages all service users to engage with support on offer 

• To respond to emergency referrals and/or situations. 

It is recognised that the association is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

What We Can Offer You

What can we offer Working with You Matter comes will a whole host of benefits. We hope that people will find personal fulfilment and purpose by working with alongside people in our services. Our teams are compassionate and supportive, fostering a strong sense of community. With opportunities for professional growth, You Matter offers training to support your role and personal development. For a full list of benefits see here: Careers Page | You Matter.

The skills we are looking for

• Work safely and sensitively with survivors of domestic abuse, recognising risk, harm, and patterns of power and control.
• Contribute to safety planning and risk management in line with organisational safeguarding procedures and multi agency frameworks.
• Support service users to make informed decisions, respecting autonomy while prioritising safety.
• Maintain accurate, professional records relating to domestic abuse, safeguarding concerns, and risk.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners where domestic abuse or safeguarding is identified.

EXPERIENCE 

• Experience of working with households with a history of domestic violence, mental health, homelessness or substance misuse. 

• Experience of Adults and Children Safeguarding 

• At least 2 years’ experience of working within a Refuge or Domestic Abuse support service 

• Experience of partnership working 

• Experience of creative support planning and target setting 

• Experience of support planning using “The Outcome Star” 

• Experience of formulating risk assessments 

• Experience of resettling individuals into independent accommodation 

• Experience of formulating Risk Assessments and Safety Plans for DA clients. 

KNOWLEDGE 

• A working knowledge of providing support 

• A working knowledge of Health & Safety issues 

• A clear understanding of complex needs support issues such as mental health, homelessness, substance misuse and offending 

• Knowledge of safeguarding protocols 

• Understanding of how to deal with challenging and chaotic individuals 

COMMUNICATION 

• Excellent communication, engagement and interpersonal skills 

• Excellent administration skills 

EMPATHY and RESPECT 

• YMCA ethos, philosophy and SHREK values, Strength, Humility, Respect, Empathy and Kindness 

• Energetic, dynamic and self motivated 

COMMITMENT 

• Committed to improving the lives of people with complex needs 

• Committed to own personal development and CPD planning 

ORGANISATION 

• Creative and dynamic approach with the ability to “think outside of the box” when providing solutions 

• Energetic, highly motivated with a reputation of being held in high regard by peers 

• Excellent interpersonal/ communication skills 

• Excellent negotiation/ mediation skills 

• Committed to own career development 

COMPUTER LITERACY 

• Computer literate, competent in working with Microsoft word, outlook, windows 

What is a nice to have

• Experience of working within a psychologically informed environment (PIE) 

• Experience of Trauma Informed Care and of working in a therapeutic environment 

• Knowledge and understanding of Social Care involvement and the steps taken by Social workers to keep children safe, i.e. Child in need/Child protection and EHATS 

Even if you don’t feel that you have all the relevant skills and “nice to haves” we would still like to hear from you and invite you to fill out our application form.

You Matter is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.