VAWG/IDVA Complex Needs Specialist Advocate

ABOUT US

Hopscotch works hard to support women and families facing racial and gender inequity in London. We are proudly anti-racist and anti-misogynist. We take our trauma informed practice seriously, both with service users and within the organisation. We also run a successful Homecare service, with Care Workers supporting vulnerable people in south Camden who draw on care.

WHY HOPSCOTCH?

o Great, supportive culture and values, with low turnover and high levels of contentment

o You will want to work in an environment which is inclusive and non-judgemental. It s a chance to challenge the status quo and not settle for what isn t working

o You ll love being a part of a diverse and vibrant team which has positivity, creativity and problem-solving values and where all voices are heard

o Your dedication will have a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need

o Be with an employer who is a signatory of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant (EDAC) a pledge by businesses to support employees who are survivors of violence

o 25 days annual leave for full time employees, increasing after 5 years employment, with additional paid office closure between Christmas and New Year. Hopscotch believes we all deserve quality time to focus on our friends and family and most importantly, ourselves at this time

o Occupational sick leave

o Regular internal and clinical supervision with qualified therapists

The Role

Assertive outreach casework with very vulnerable women

Responsible for supporting three women in the Borough of Camden

Intensive support for complex needs with service users with a history of non-engagement with services

Accountabilities:

Casework

Solution-focused casework interventions with women who have experienced VAWG and severe and multiple disadvantage

Provide emotional support using a trauma informed approach

Build and maintain supportive relationships with ethnically Minoritised women

Ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with service users within an attitude of positive risk taking

Provide support with life skills, including practical assistance where skills are not yet developed

Maintain accurate case notes and up to date records

Contribute to the completion of outcomes reports and funding returns

Complete all WiSER documents when support work commences and keep up to date with any changing risks to or from the woman.

Risk assess situations in the moment, act calmly, professionally and be ready to remove self from/ call 999 in situations that appear too high risk to remain in

Advocacy and support service

Empower women to access benefits and services they need

Involve service users in the design, development and delivery of the service

Multi-agency

Engage with a wide range of professionals (some of whom may have very different approaches to problem solving) through a multi-agency approach, and advocate to agencies on behalf of the Project and its service users

Promote coordinated, joined-up service delivery for service users between violence against women services and drug and alcohol agencies, mental health, housing, health and legal agencies.

Contribute to a service-wide communications plan and ensure that information about the service is widely available locally to other agencies and is also readily accessible to potential service users

Educate a wide range of agencies and stakeholders about the challenges faced by women experiencing multiple disadvantage

Proactively develop links with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for service users in the community

Attend and contribute to the Domestic Violence MARAC as appropriate

Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of the Project

Be self-motivated to research processes and services in order to fully support and advocate for the women.

Fully engage with the WiSER team and all support and team spaces offered, supporting colleagues with the difficulties they face and celebrating positive outcomes.

Corporate Responsibilities

Ensure that all Hopscotch and Solace s policies and procedures are adhered to

Ensure effective implementation of Hopscotch and Solace s Equality and Diversity policies and ensure awareness and integration of an equalities and human rights agenda in all your work

Ensure that the service user is at the heart of all service delivery and development

Attend all meetings and training relevant to your role

Act as an ambassador for Hopscotch and Solace

Values, Behaviours & Competencies

Committed to the purpose of Hopscotch and Solace Women s Aid, ensuring that the service user is at the heart of service delivery and development

Feminist in understanding Violence against Women and Girls

Committed to fostering innovation and continuous improvement in working practice

Flexible and open to new challenges, ideas and experiences, and able to be self-reflective

Committed to understanding diversity and ensuring anti-discriminatory practice is applied in all forms of our work

Non-judgemental with a commitment to self-care within the team

Collaborative, building relationships with internal and external partners.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Experience of working within the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Sector, including experience of risk & needs assessment, casework and safety planning with victim-survivors

Experience of working with people affected by severe and multiple disadvantage: homelessness, substance use, mental health issues, insecure immigration status, prostitution and offending behaviour

Experience working with minoritized Global Majority women and a diverse staff team applying anti-discriminatory practice

Experience of building and maintaining partnerships with other agencies

An excellent understanding of the issues faced by survivors of VAWG, including a knowledge of options for and rights of women experiencing all forms of VAWG

Awareness of the intersection between severe and multiple disadvantage and VAWG, and a strong understanding of how the intersection of these issues can make it difficult for people to engage with support

Knowledge of the particular needs of women from diverse communities and the barriers to accessing support faced by women from Global Majority communities

An understanding of the impact of trauma on women

A resilient and assertive approach to reaching out to and building trust and positive relationships with women who are experiencing multiple disadvantage and who may present as reluctant to engage and/or may be presenting in crisis

Ability to provide solution focused advocacy and support

Ability to advocate successfully within a multi-agency framework

Ability to critically reflect on own practice and performance and make use of clinical supervision

Excellent organisational and IT skills including the ability to be self-servicing, use relevant IT packages and maintain an efficient case recording and data reporting system

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Qualifications

Degree level education and/or IDVA or DAPA qualification (or equivalent experience)