Domestic Abuse Support Officer (Tenancy Sustainment)

4Recruitment Services Ltd; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

4Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking a compassionate Domestic Abuse Support Officer (Tenancy Sustainment) for a local authority in Maidstone, Kent. You will provide person-centred support to service users in supported housing and temporary accommodation, helping them maintain tenancies and access appropriate services.

You'll collaborate with Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse teams, police and partner agencies to deliver effective interventions, promote safety and prevent homelessness.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting vulnerable adults, including individuals with complex needs and those experiencing challenging or difficult circumstances.
• Understanding of domestic abuse, safeguarding and housing, including the risks and challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse and homelessness.
• Experience supporting adults and children affected by domestic abuse, providing appropriate support, promoting safety and wellbeing, and working with relevant agencies and services.
• Experience providing housing advice and support to adults, including assistance with housing options, tenancy sustainment, homelessness prevention and access to appropriate accommodation and support services.
• Enhanced DBS check

Responsibilities

• Deliver a reactive and proactive service to those who have experienced domestic abuse and/or stalking throughout the borough.
• Undertake work out of hours, including weekends and evenings, using your own transport, ensuring your own personal safety at all times.
• Collaborate in partnership with stakeholders to offer a range of interventions, including supporting the wider family.
• Identify the complex needs of highly vulnerable and high-risk clients, including high-risk relationships, substance misuse, mental health issues, offending and violent behaviour, and refer to services.
• Maintain accurate records detailing interventions, including staying safe plans, support plans and needs assessments.
• Produce high-quality casework management forms co-produced with clients.
• Provide a multi-agency response and communicate information between agencies to reduce reoffending and improve access to support services.
• Assist in developing best practice in homelessness services and solutions to homelessness.
• Support and promote programmes and campaigns aimed at domestic abuse and stalking.
• Facilitate reconnection of individuals with their home areas when safe to do so.
• Ensure lone working policies and procedures are followed at all times.
• Assist Housing Advisors to gather evidence and information as part of homeless assessment enquiries and work with colleagues to prevent and relieve homelessness.

Job description

4Recruitment Services are seeking a compassionate, proactive and dedicated Domestic Abuse Support Officer (Tenancy Sustainment) to join our client, a local authority based in Kent. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is passionate about supporting vulnerable people and helping individuals and families rebuild their lives following experiences of domestic abuse and stalking. You will provide tailored, person-centred support to service users living in supported housing and temporary accommodation across Maidstone. Your primary focus will be to help individuals maintain their tenancies, develop independent living skills, access appropriate support services and move forward positively within their communities. Working closely with the Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Coordinator, the police, Victim Support and other partner agencies, you will play a key role in delivering effective interventions, promoting safety and preventing homelessness. The role will involve face-to-face work across a variety of accommodation settings, including the new Community Hub at Trinity in central Maidstone.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

• To deliver a reactive and proactive service to those who have experienced domestic abuse and/or stalking throughout the borough.
• To undertake work out of hours, including weekends and evenings, using your own transport, ensuring your own personal safety at all times.
• To work in collaboration and partnership with stakeholders to offer a range of interventions to the cohort, and this will include supporting the wider family.
• Identifying the complex needs of often highly vulnerable and high-risk clients, which will include high-risk relationships, substance misuse, alcohol dependence, mental health issues, offending and violent behaviour, anti-social behaviour and individuals involved in the sex trade, and making appropriate referrals to services.
• To maintain accurate records detailing your interventions, including completing staying safe plans, support plans and needs assessments.
• To produce high-quality casework management forms which have been co-produced with clients.
• To provide a multi-agency response and communicate information between all agencies in order to reduce the likelihood of returning to the perpetrator and increase access to support services.
• To assist in developing best practice in providing homelessness services and solutions to homelessness.
• Support and promote the provision of programmes and campaigns aimed at domestic abuse and stalking.
• Facilitating the reconnection of individuals with the areas in which they are from if they wish to return and it is safe to do so.
• To ensure lone working policies and procedures are followed at all times.
• As and when required, assist the Housing Advisors to gather evidence and information as part of their homeless assessment enquiries and work with colleagues to prevent and relieve homelessness.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience supporting vulnerable adults, including individuals with complex needs and those experiencing challenging or difficult circumstances.
• Understanding of domestic abuse, safeguarding and housing, including the risks and challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse and homelessness.
• Experience supporting adults and children affected by domestic abuse, providing appropriate support, promoting safety and wellbeing, and working with relevant agencies and services.
• Experience providing housing advice and support to adults, including assistance with housing options, tenancy sustainment, homelessness prevention and access to appropriate accommodation and support services.
• Enhanced DBS check

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.