Resettlement Worker - Domestic Abuse Support & Accommodation Project

Aberdeen Cyrenians Aberdeen United Kingdom Community Based Projects
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Company Description

Aberdeen Cyrenians is a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by homelessness, violence, domestic abuse and other forms of social exclusion.

With the help of the local community, Aberdeen Cyrenians has been providing support to vulnerable people in the city for the past 50 years.

Through a range of services both in community and residential settings, the support focuses on:

  • Prevention of homelessness - through outreach support and advice
  • Alleviation of homelessness - through short-term and medium-term accommodation places along with Housing First programme
  • Rehabilitation - tackling underlying issues such as domestic and sexual abuse, substance misuse and mental health
  • Resettlement - practical help to learn the skills needed to live in the community, sustain a tenancy and gain employment.

We aim to help people to make planned changes in their lives, often at crucial periods of transition. All services are provided on a voluntary basis in recognition of people’s rights to choose if they want to access the support provided.

Position

(2 x FULL TIME POST – 36.25 hours pw)

Qualified Scale:               £17,325.00 - £20,902.00 (full-time)

Unqualified Scale:          £16,984.00 - £17,119.00 (full-time)

Fixed-Term until 30th June 2020

Aberdeen Cyrenians’ Domestic Abuse Support & Accommodation Project (DASAP) works in partnership with Aberdeen City Council to provide emergency support and a range of practical, emotional and advocacy support measures to ensure individuals feel safe in their accommodation of choice. 

Aberdeen Cyrenians currently has 2 vacancies within the busy DASAP team and the role includes providing one to one support to individuals affected by domestic abuse, inter-agency working and continuously monitoring and evaluation the service Aberdeen Cyrenians can provide.  The successful candidate should also have the ability to be flexible with working hours on occasion.   

Job Activities will include:

  • Form, develop, sustain and maintain relationships with women, men and families through which individual lifestyles and situations can be addressed and work with individuals on a 1-1 basis to address individual needs.
  • Intervene in crises to effectively avoid and pre-empt incidents and threats to personal safety.
  • Assist individuals to access accommodation and associated practical tasks.
  • Liaise/work with Aberdeen City Council Housing Access Service/other agencies in relation to meeting the needs of individuals affected by domestic abuse.
  • Ensure the basic needs of the individual are adressed and met.
  • Support individuals to address domestic abuse related issues and encorage them to engage with other agencies as required.
  • Assist individuals in their transition into the service.
  • Assist individuals to access temporary accommodation, or to remain in their own accommodation or work towards identifying alternative accommodation.  This may include practical tasks of ensuring safety, getting/moving furniture, painting/decorating, completing benefit claims etc.
  • Assess and follow up referrals through accurate & appropriate information gathering and the summarising of needs.
  • Ensure that an individual’s views and needs remain paramount and ensure that potential obstacles and issues are assessed and addressed.
  •  Plan individual and group support and implement and review support plans where the main issues to be addressed are:
    • improved accommodation situation
    • improved quality of life
    • improved economic well-being
    •  improved health
    •  improved practical skills
    •  improved social functioning improved general outlookreduction in risky behaviour
  •  Intervene in crises to effectively avoid and pre-empt incidents and threats to personal safety.
  • Advocate on an individual’s behalf and generally assist them with issues around communication.
  • Support individuals in relation to emotional issues.
  • Support individuals with substance misuse/mental health issues to engage with other relevant agencies as required.
  • Plan/participate and assist service user involvement in social activities on a one–to–one and group basis.
  • Where necessary, assist individuals with medication.
  • Contribute to the regular 6 monthly evaluation and monitoring reports on the project.
  • Participate in the ongoing awareness raising of issues around domestic abuse and around the work of the project and organisation.

Candidates will have a proven track record in a similar role supporting vulnerable adults and will be strong team players, capable of working under pressure and to tight deadlines.  A can do attitude is essential, as is a passion for our sector.

 

Requirements

Essential 

  • A qualification of N/SVQ3 in Care, or equivalent or the willingness and ability to attain this within five years.  
  • Literacy and numeracy at a level to maintain all the appropriate paperwork, write support plans and give budgeting advice.
  • Proficient in software applications such as the microsoft suite
  • Able to work unsocial hours (where applicable)

Deseriable 

  • An understanding of social justice issues such as homelessness, substance misuse.
  • An understanding of legislation/practice pertaining to the work.
  • Proven track record in a social care environment in a voluntary or paid capacity.
  • Experience of working with disadvantaged people.
  • Driving/clean licence

 

Other information

Key Capabilities

  • Interpersonal Understanding:  listens and understands expressed feelings; demonstrates concern for others; encourages others to express themselves. 
  • Emotional Awareness:  manages strong emotions and responds constructively; keeps own feelings in check; deals effectively with stress.
  • Service User Orientation:  strives to meet and surpass Service Users expectations; maintains appropriate contact until the problem is resolved; makes self available to Service Users at critical periods; able to advocate on behalf of Service Users.
  • Flexibility:  adapts easily to changes at work; modifies behaviour in response to a situation; sees the merits of differing viewpoints.
  • Initiative:  takes responsibility; looks ahead and anticipates what needs to be done; is able to assess and manage risks.  
  • Teamwork:  contributes fully to teamwork; establishes and maintains positive relationships with the team.
  • Working within Professional Boundaries:  demonstrates professional curiosity; accepts responsibility for own work; seeks and uses professional support; understands the principle of confidentiality.  
  • Leadership:  gives recognition and credit; generates enthusiasm and commitment.
  • Developing Others:  assumes responsibility for addressing Service Users' skills; encourages initiatives in problem solving and making changes.

All positions with Aberdeen Cyrenians are subject to satisfactory references and a completion of a PVG disclosure check with Disclosure Scotland.   All applicants must be able to prove that they are eligible to work in the UK.  We regret that we are not able to sponsor applicants who are not already eligible to work in the UK.