Domestic Abuse Worker

This role has a starting salary of £31,262 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Domestic Abuse Worker to join our fantastic Family Safeguarding team based in Guildford.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

At Surrey, the Family Safeguarding model brings together all necessary professionals under one roof to aid children. This innovative approach, successful elsewhere, is now being pioneered by Surrey, the first council in the South East to adopt it. The model encourages collaboration among professionals, combining children's social workers with experts in domestic abuse, family support, recovery, mental health, and psychology. This holistic approach enables intensive support for parents, addressing issues like substance misuse, mental health, and domestic abuse, ultimately safeguarding children and improving family outcomes.

About the role

This role sits within the Family Safeguarding teams across the County and provides practical and emotional frontline support, advice and guidance to victims of domestic abuse to enable them to live safely. Typical tasks may include but will not be limited to safety planning to allow those experiencing domestic abuse to access and maintain safe accommodation, undertaking motivational interviewing to obtain information to support them, and look at the impact of domestic abuse on their children.

You will be required to ensure case records are accurately maintained in line with procedural and legislative requirements. You will also be required to deliver domestic abuse group work programmes.

Working closely with an allocated Social Worker, as well as other specialist workers, you will support the planning, running and review of cases within the team, contributing to case discussions and exchanging information where appropriate. You will liaise with a broad network of partners such as probation, mental health services, housing and the voluntary sector to ensure that a multi-agency approach is applied to the way that cases are managed and services are delivered.

This role will require you to be able to quickly establish effective relationships with colleagues, partners, children and families, working respectfully in a way which encourages them to recognise what help they require and empowering them to develop strategies to support their needs. You will be operating in sometimes challenging and emotionally charged situations therefore you must have the ability to communicate clearly, remain calm under pressure and deal with each request confidentially, applying a discreet and sensitive approach to all that you do.

To be shortlisted for this role you will:

• Have a good understanding of Domestic Abuse
• Be a skilled listener with high level verbal and written communication skills
• Have an understanding or awareness of the relevant legislation
• Have previous experience of working with children and families
• Have successfully collaborated with partners to effectively deliver work
• Have the ability to plan your work using your own initiative
• Have proven IT skills

If you are passionate about making a difference and have the skills we are looking for then we would love to hear from you!

Contact Us

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 13th May 2024 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.