Vacancies

Are you looking for a great way to give something to your community? Safe Steps is an Essex domestic abuse support organisation for adults, young people and children.

Who we are

Safe Steps, established in 2018, is a forward-thinking charity that works with and for all survivors of domestic abuse, across Southend-on-Sea and in the wider Essex area. Each year we support approx. 5000 people through our helpline, community support services, specialist children’s services and safe accommodation.

The role:

We are seeking to recruit committed people to become Trustees, with a passion for our cause, to our Board. Playing a vital role in the governance of the charity to ensure we are in good financial health, meeting our intended aims and objectives, allocate resources and generally hold ourselves and the organisation accountable.

As well as growing the size of our Board, we want to build a diverse trustee board; one that informs better decision making, improves the quality of our work and makes meaningful impact on improving the lives of individuals impacted by domestic abuse.

It is not necessary to have had previous trustee or board experience. We are looking for people who have something to offer in the following areas.

Person specification – essential skills:

• A commitment to the organisation and a passion for the mission
• Knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse and its impact
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent, balanced judgement
• Good communication
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a trustee.

In addition, some specific expertise in one or more of the following areas would be desirable:

• Business/commercial/financial
• Human Resources (HR)
• Marketing/communications
• Professional knowledge of VAWG/policing/criminal justice
• Commissioning/Local Authority contract management
• Understanding of the charity/voluntary sector
• Lived experience of domestic abuse.

Time Commitment:

• Average 4hrs a month to include bi-monthly meetings, AGM, annual away day
• Can commit to a minimum of 12-18 months
• Willing to attend ad-hoc fundraising or special events.

Safe Steps are looking to recruit additional staff to its services for survivors of domestic abuse in Southend, Rochford and Castle Point.

The ideal candidate will need to be highly motivated and committed to making a difference to the safety and promotion of healthy relationships.

Main Duties

To provide a high-quality specialist frontline domestic abuse service to victims of domestic abuse, delivering a service to those at risk by assisting them to access services to support and keep them safe.  To work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference), Police and local partnership responses to domestic abuse.

• Identify and assess the risks and needs of domestic abuse victims using an evidence-based risk identification checklist, providing timely assessment within contract timescales.
• Prioritise high-risk cases and provide a proactive crisis intervention service through individual safety planning and personal support.
• Work with victims of domestic abuse to help them access services to keep them and their children safe.
• Continuous Review all cases to mitigate risks and monitor their safety and support needs.
• Advocate for victims with agencies who can help to address the domestic abuse by:
  1. Understanding the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how your role fits into them.
  2. Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including legal options, housing, health, and finance.
• Work within a multi-agency setting to address the safety of high-risk victims and ensure that their safety plans are coordinated particularly through the MARAC.
• Understand the multi-agency partnership structures and work within these settings including proactive participation in the MARAC.
• Establish ongoing multi agency connections and relationships.
• Manage a case load ensuring each service user receives a responsive and appropriate service individual to their needs.
• Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation and help them regain control of their lives.
• Represent Safe Steps in working with external organisations as requested.
• Maintain timely, accurate and confidential case management records and contribute to monitoring information for the service.
• Participate in regular case management reviews with your Line Manager based on a review of risk and abuse which feeds back into action planning to further progress, signpost, or close cases, and provides feedback to your clients/agencies and informs future case management.
• Contribute to data and written reports with effective case data input and through the provision of case studies to illustrate the impact of the service for domestic abuse victims.
• Support colleagues and partner agencies, through awareness raising, providing training and institutional advocacy.
• Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the service works in and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of service users ensuring the service is accessible to all.
• Remain up to date and compliant with all organisational procedures, policies, and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.
• Support the attainment and maintenance of quality standards.

We offer:

• Access to Safe Lives IDVA Accreditation
• Flexible home working policy
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, additional annual leave for long service
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme and Clinical Supervision

Due to the nature of the role, this vacancy is open to women only.

Occupational requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies

For further information and an application pack, please contact hr@safesteps.org