Eden Housing Association

EDEN HOUSING ASSOCIATION

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Women’s Support Worker

POST NO: HS/35

DEPARTMENT: Housing & Support

RESPONSIBLE TO: Neighbourhood Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Nil staff

Job Purpose:

1. To develop and deliver ongoing project and support work as directed by the Neighbourhood Manager. This will involve working one to one with vulnerable clients experiencing domestic abuse.

2. To work within and contribute to the wider homelessness, support and neighbourhood team.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate responsibilities

 Provide a positive image of the Association to its customers, stakeholders and other relevant outside bodies

 Forge and maintain strong and effective partnerships, to assist delivery of the Association’s corporate objectives

 Provide input to the Corporate Plan and Team Plans through participation in Department and Team Meetings, taking into account the ‘bigger picture’ and longer term plans of the Association.

 Provide appropriate ‘team’ cover in the absence of other staff as reasonably requested;

Specific Responsibilities  To work on project development and delivery as directed by the Neighbourhood Manager.

 To have day to day responsibility for the development and delivery of a specific

1 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 project area.

 To deliver work with women related to your specific project area which may typically include; one to one work; providing practical support and assistance; attending meetings with other agencies; training workshops; group work; activity sessions, for example. This list is not exhaustive, merely indicative.

 To develop your own knowledge, experience and skills in relation to the specific project area for which you are responsible.

 To discuss all aspects of your specific activity, potential organisational risks, planning and delivery with the Neighbourhood Manager as appropriate and when required.

 To work with other identified staff to produce, implement, monitor and evaluate your specific project area.

 To work alongside staff from Eden District Council Housing department and colleagues in the homelessness, neighbourhood and support teams to identify and support women and their families both at the Town Hall and at EHA.

 To ensure appropriate systems, procedures and record keeping are in place across your specific project area.

 To ensure effective communications between women using the Service, volunteers and other service providers within EHA.

 To promote the involvement, voice and feedback of the women using the Service.

 To contribute to publicity in relation to your specific projects area, in liaison with the Neighbourhood Manager.

 To work with a broad range of voluntary and statutory agencies and key partners in promoting and developing your specific project area, in liaison with other identified staff.

 To engage with national and regional organisations and partnerships in relation to your specific project areas, in liaison with the Neighbourhood Manager.

 To attend, supervision, staff meetings and training and development events as and when appropriate, in liaison with the Neighbourhood Manager and other staff.

 To assist with fulfilling the EDC agency agreement and with ensuring that the councils statutory obligations are met.

2 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017  To provide a high level of customer care at all times.

 To be a member of the Operations team and the wider Association team.

 Develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and with a range of key external organisations and stakeholders.

General requirements

 Consistently live the Association’s customer care code and corporate values

 Take responsibility for your own personal development including keeping abreast of emerging legislation, regulation and the external environment

 Undertake any other duties within the spirit of this role as required by the Neighbourhood Manager, the Customer Service Manager and Director of Operations

Note: No job description can cover every issue which may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document.

 To contribute to and play an active part in the overall work of the Association.

3 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 COMPETENCY PROFILE & PERSON SPECIFICATION

Women’s Support Worker

1.0 Influencing and Negotiating

 Builds positive relationships with colleagues, customers and partner organisations

 Influences internal and external customers through effective communication

 Anticipates conflict and handles it constructively

 Expresses opinions, information and key points of argument clearly

 Maintains a positive outlook at work

2.0 Interpersonal Skills

 Adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations

 Actively engages with team members and other colleagues

 Listens, consults others and communicates pro actively

 Demonstrates integrity and is respected by others

 Communicates clearly and fluently

 Demonstrates an interest in and an understanding of others

 Structures information in a way which meets the needs and understanding of the intended audience

3.0 Creativity and Problem Solving

 Analyses and interprets information logically

 Makes rational judgements from the available information & analysis

 Introduces new and creative thinking to operational issues

 Produces workable solutions to a range of problems

4 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 4.0 Embracing Change and Delivering Success

 Implements changes which improve the performance of the organisation

 Focuses on delivering clear outcomes

 Shares expertise and knowledge with others

 Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people

 Takes the initiative and works under own direction

5.0 Organising and Executing

 Plans activities and takes account of possible changing circumstances

 Identifies and organises appropriate resources

 Sets high standards for quality and quantity

 Monitors performance against deadlines and milestones

 Works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way

 Demonstrates commitment to the organisation

 Complies with statutory obligations and company policy

6.0 Customer Service

 Resolves customer enquiries promptly at point of contact and only refers to others when genuinely appropriate

 Identifies and clarifies individual customers needs consistently making decisions focussed on those needs

 Interacts well with all customers taking into account customers diverse needs

 Understands all services and accurately matches these to customer needs

 Constantly questions “How will this benefit the customer?”

 Keeps customers up to date and informed going beyond the day to day work to assist customers in a positive manner

 Deals with customers fairly and equitably

5 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 7.0 Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge

 Appreciation of and commitment to the social housing and support sector

 Experience of working in a housing/ support organisation

 A minimum of GCSE English and Maths (Grade 1, ‘O’ level equivalent grade C)

 Good degree of computer literacy, in particular Word, spreadsheet and database experience

8.0 Other requirements/circumstances

 The role may require extensive travel on a daily basis and it is therefore imperative that the post holder has access to a vehicle and the means of independent travel.

 Ability to occasionally work outside standard office hours

 The post holder will be required to deal with potentially stressful situations on a regular basis and the ability to manage this and demonstrate an appropriate level of personal resilience is essential.

6 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 PERSON SPECIFICATION – Women’s Support Worker

Essential Desirable Experience and Experience of delivering Experience of working in Knowledge a support service. a Housing Association/ Support Organisation. Experience supporting clients experiencing domestic abuse. Good local knowledge and understanding of Experience of dealing current provision for with safeguarding vulnerable women issues with women and their children. Understanding of needs of women offenders Professional experience of work relating to complex issues affecting women in the field of social work, mental health, domestic violence, sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol dependency or social housing.

Knowledge and understanding of women specific approaches

Understanding of needs of women experiencing domestic abuse

Education and Training A minimum of GCSE English and Maths Relevant Support (Grade 1 or ‘O’ level Qualification/ training equivalent grade C)

Good degree of computer literacy, in particular word, spreadsheet and database experience

7 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 Competencies Influencing and Negotiating

Interpersonal Skills

Creativity and Problem Solving

Embracing change and delivering success

Organising and executing

Customer Service

Other requirements / Flexibility to work circumstances outside standard office e.g. Driving licence/Shift hours as part of the role working etc Current driving licence or access to a vehicle and the ability to travel independently at any time on a daily basis

Resilience in stressful situations

8 L:\PERSONNEL\STRUCTURE\OPERATIONS\HOUSING\JOB DESCRIPTION – HS/35 22 Nov 2017 METHOD OF ASSESSMENT: CANDIDATE MATCH TO ROLE

Application Interview Document Form Check Experience and * * Knowledge Education and Training * * *

Influencing * * and Negotiating

Interpersonal Skills * *

Creativity and Problem * * Solving

Embracing change and * * delivering success

Organising and executing * *

Customer Service * * Flexibility * * Driving licence / * * * ability to travel Resilience * *

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