Women’s Support Worker

Motherwell & District Women's Aid; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Motherwell & District Women's Aid is seeking a Women’s Support Worker to provide confidential emotional and practical support to women experiencing or recovering from domestic abuse. You will carry out risk assessments, safety planning, MARAC referrals, information provision, housing support, and advocacy with partner agencies.

The role is based at the MDWA Office in Motherwell and in refuge settings, with 35 hours weekly in a permanent post subject to funding.

Qualifications

• SVQ 3 Health and Social Care qualification or willingness to work towards the qualification.
• Knowledge of domestic abuse and gender-based violence.
• Knowledge of Adult Support and Protection.
• Knowledge of Child Protection.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to support women with varying and complex needs.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills and data handling ability.
• Ability to prioritise, work on own initiative and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide confidential emotional and practical support to women and accompanying children to ensure safety.
• Conduct risk assessments and prioritise high-risk cases for safety planning and MARAC referrals.
• Offer information and guidance to access welfare rights, housing options, and legal procedures.
• Advise and signpost to relevant services and advocate with agencies when needed.
• Assist with refuge applications, housing support, and post-housing follow-up.
• Support with budgeting, benefits, and financial coercion issues related to domestic abuse.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries; ensure safety within MDWA premises.
• Deliver domestic abuse awareness sessions and contribute to data collection and reporting.

Education

SVQ 3 Health and Social Care qualification or willingness to work towards the qualification

Job description

To provide and facilitate confidential emotional, and practical support. Undertaking risk assessments and where required providing crisis intervention. As a Women’s Support Worker, you will provide a front-line high-quality service to women experiencing or recovering from Domestic Abuse via the Motherwell Women’s Aid support line, in refuge, in our main office and face to-face in the community.

Job Title: Women’s Support Worker

Responsible To: Services Manager

Work Base: MDWA Office in Motherwell, Refuge accommodations and the Motherwell District community.

Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent [subject to funding]

Core Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To respond appropriately to women who are emotional or in a distressed state and provide an empathetic approach, assessing the situation and identifying the needs of both the women and any accompanying children to ensure the women’s safety and to enable the women to make informed choices.
• To complete risk assessments and ensure that women who are identified as high risk of harm are prioritised for safety planning, MARAC referrals, and joint working with partner agencies to reduce the risk of harm to them and their children at the earliest opportunity.
• To provide information and guidance to individuals and professionals to enable access to the correct support service.
• To advise and signpost women for information on their welfare rights, legal rights, housing options or Child Support procedures and, if appropriate, advocate for women with other agencies and professionals.
• To complete applications for refuge accommodation where required and to provide housing support for refuge occupants.
• To provide women with financial support in relation to benefits assistance, budgeting and financial coercion through domestic abuse.
• To assist women with follow on support after they have been successfully housed in new accommodation and are moving on from MDWA refuge.
• To maintain the security and well-being of survivors of domestic abuse and their children within MDWA premises, and to communicate immediately with the line manager any breaches of safety and security, house rules or occupancy agreements especially where there is a concern in regard to safety.
• To control access to the refuge when on duty and remind residents to keep the building secure when staff are not present.
• To maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries and security, when working with residents, staff and external agencies.
• To develop domestic abuse information resources as required.
• To maintain accurate manual and computer-based client records (in accordance with GDPR regulations).
• To deliver domestic abuse awareness raising sessions as facilitated groupwork for women.
• To provide support with administration duties, data collation, evaluations, and data and reports.
• To assist with the running of our service by being flexible in your approach to this post and carrying out other duties as requested by management that are consistent with this post.
• To maintain professional boundaries when working with service users, staff, and external bodies, working within MDWA and SSSC Codes of Conduct.
• As an expert on coercive control, you will be proactive about sharing best practice and building awareness with other professionals on the frontline.
• Support the promotion of MDWA’s public and media profile.
• Participate in wider forums and events on behalf of MDWA.
• Contribute to local and national campaigns that influence policy, practice and legislation relating to women, children, and young people.
• Develop and maintain good public relations out-with the organisation.
• To follow MDWA policies and procedures.

This list is not exhaustive; you may be asked to undertake other duties which are relevant to this post and the running of the service.

Essential Specifications

• SVQ 3 Health and Social Care qualification or willingness to work towards the qualification
• Knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse and gender-based violence
• Knowledge and understanding of Adult Support and Protection
• Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection
• Understanding of trauma informed practice
• Evidence of ability to support women with varying and complex needs
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally
• Ability to actively listen to others and to challenge others constructively
• Good IT skills appropriate to role
• Ability to prioritise, and work on own initiative, and within a team towards achieving organisational objectives
• Demonstrate a positive person-centred and team working approach
• Demonstrate values of trust, empowerment, empathy and equality
• Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
• Membership of PVG Scheme and Registration with SSSC

Desirable Specifications

• Experience of working within Gender Based Violence Service
• Full Driving Licence and access to own vehicle
• Experience of working / engaging with survivors who have been subjected to domestic abuse
• Knowledge of Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment Risk Identification Checklist [Safe Lives] [DASH RIC]
• Experience of, and commitment to building and working in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of service and needs of women
• Ability to facilitate groupwork and deliver presentations
• Able to work flexibly and do occasional evening and weekend work

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the scope of the post. The post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with the duties as detailed above.

The post holder will be required to register with SSSC and adhere to the SSSC code of conduct.

To carry out any other duties and responsibilities which may be reasonably determined by the Management Team and/or Board of Directors. The above post is subject to a successful application to the PVG scheme

membership to carry out regulated work with adults and children.

Female applicants need apply under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 197.

It is essential to hold a full driving licence and have access to a car. Business Insurance is essential and is at your own expense.