Job Description:

Survivor Services Practitioner

Location: Remote (UK based) / Bristol / London
Salary: £29,450 per year (plus Inner London Weighting of £3,483.94, if eligible)
Length of contract: 1-year fixed-term
Hours per week: Full-time - 37
Closing date: We reserve the right to adapt the advert at any time per organisational circumstances and to close this vacancy early for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 
Interviews: Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis  

Who are Women’s Aid?  

Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. We are a federation of just under 180 organisations which provide over 300 local lifesaving services to women and children across England. For 50 years we have campaigned on behalf of our members and survivors to shape policy and practice, and to raise awareness of domestic abuse. 

Our support services, which include the Survivors’ Forum, the No Woman Turned Away Project, the Survivor’s Handbook, Love Respect (our dedicated website for young people), the national Women’s Aid Directory and our advocacy projects, help thousands of women and children every year.

Purpose of the Survivor Services Practitioner role:                 

Women's Aid is seeking a full-time practitioner to further strengthen its Survivor Services team. The post holder will work flexibly across our projects including the Survivors’ Forum, the Dedicated Service for Professionals, and No Woman Turned Away. All our services support women who are experiencing domestic abuse and the role involves upskilling other professionals who are working with survivors in the community. Many of the women we support are facing the greatest barriers to safety and the role will involve including supporting survivors with mental health needs, no recourse to public funds, language and cultural barriers or disabilities.

The post holder will work directly with survivors, so will need demonstrable experience in working with survivors of domestic abuse. Due to the online nature of the Survivors’ Forum, the post holder should also be competent in using digital platforms.

Key duties and responsibilities of the Survivor Services Practitioner:

• Respond to service need and work flexibly across multiple projects according to a rota
• Support a caseload of women requiring support, including to access refuge or safe accommodation. Assist in the placement of difficult to place and complex referrals, monitoring the barriers and the roles placed by different agencies
• Liaise with local statutory and voluntary agencies to identify and overcome barriers to accessing refuge provision
• Respond to requests for support from professionals working with survivors of domestic abuse
• Moderate posts and responses made on the Survivors’ Forum, as well as vetting new user signups and responding to queries (some weekend working required)
• Monitor our Survivor Services email inboxes and respond to enquiries, and offer ad-hoc advice and signposting
• Record accurate and timely case notes using Women’s Aid On Track system (Oasis)
• Work collaboratively with the Research and Evaluation team to support the recording of data, case studies and reporting trends

What we are looking for in our Survivor Services Practitioner:

• Level 3 or above IDVA/ISVA qualification or similar is desirable
• A good knowledge and understanding of the experiences and effects of domestic violence and abuse on women and children
• Familiarity with the Routes to Support database and its use is desirable
• Understanding or experience of supporting women with NRPF is desirable
• Understanding of barriers some women can face in accessing domestic abuse support is desirable
• Knowledge of the rights and options available to women and their children living with and fleeing domestic violence including basic knowledge of relevant legislation
• A working knowledge of the role of refuge and support services, as well as other agencies, in meeting the needs of women and children
• A good understanding on intersecting forms of oppression (for example racism, homophobia and ableism) and how this affects women’s lives
• Experience of delivering services for women experiencing domestic violence
• Experience of working in a multi agency context to secure refuge accommodation appropriate to need
• Experience of working to secure positive outcomes for survivors who face additional barriers to seeking help
• Experience working with or facilitating peer-support, lived experience groups is desirable
• Experience working with women facing barriers to accessing support (including NRPF) Skills is desirable
• Ability to notice risk and escalate through safeguarding processes as needed
• Good written and verbal communication skills including an excellent telephone manner
• Ability to secure positive outcomes for survivors, often in crisis situations with complex needs
• Proficient in word processing and the use of spreadsheets and databases, preferably in a Windows environment and use of email and internet
• Ability to liaise and communicate effectively, assertively and diplomatically with a broad range of contacts, including professionals and statutory agencies
• Ability to work empathically and appropriately with survivors of domestic violence and specialist service providers

Benefits of joining us as our Survivor Services Practitioner include:

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days + 2 Company Holidays + 8 UK Bank Holidays, with an extra 1 day per year after 1 year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.
• Pension Benefits: a generous 7% employer contribution.
• Flexible Working: remote working, a generous TOIL scheme, and family-friendly policies

NB:

• Women only need apply under schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010  
• All posts, including remote posts, must be based in the UK.
• Women’s Aid is committed to quality, equality, and valuing diversity. Applications are particularly welcome from Black and minoritised women. Please see the Reasonable Adjustments Statement on Job Description.
• Please read our Single Sex Statement on the Women’s Aid Website