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Women’s Aid is now seeking to employ a full time outreach support worker for one to one support services.

Published: Monday, January 27, 2014

Women's Aid is a leading national organisation that has been working in Ireland to stop domestic violence against women and children since 1974.  We provide support and information through our National Freephone Helpline and one to one support services to women experiencing emotional, physical, sexual or financial abuse by a current or former husband, partner or boyfriend.
Women’s Aid is now seeking to employ a full time outreach support worker for our one to one support services.  

The pay scale for this post is at Project Leader Scale, and the post is for one year from start of contract.

Applications for this post must be made on the application form, and the closing date for applications is 5 pm on 10th February. 

Applications received after this time will not be considered, and CV’s will not be considered.

Please e-mail your completed application form to paula.farrell@womensaid.ie

To download the full job description and competencies and application form, please see Women's Aid website.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND COMPETENCIES
OUTREACH SUPPORT WORKER


Purpose of the Post
To provide support, information, court accompaniment and an advocacy service to women who experience or have experienced abuse by an intimate male partner.
To contribute to the co-ordination and development of strategies to combat domestic violence at a local level in order to effect political, social and cultural change.

Main Duties
• To work with women at a variety of agreed locations offering support and information. This includes meeting with women at our Headquarters in Dublin 2, and working off site, alone with women at outreach locations.
• To provide a court accompaniment service.
• To advocate on behalf of women.
• To liaise and develop links with appropriate agencies for the purpose of referral, information and support. E.g. Gardai, Health Service workers, the Legal Profession.
• To participate in internal organizational and team meetings, as a member of the services team.
• To work closely with the services manager and the outreach senior project leader in the development of Women’s Aid services.
• To maintain records and case files
• To attend monthly support and supervision sessions.
• To perform other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time.

Occasional Duties

• Contribute to the strategic planning of the organization
• Attend internal training as requested
• Attend dept. planning sessions and maintain and utilize own work-plans
• To participate on multi-disciplinary groups and with local agencies in an awareness raising and influencing capacity.
• To write reports, and prepare statistics as required.

Experience and skills
Essential
• Internal candidates must have completed Women’s Aid helpline training and have at least two years experience working on the helpline.
• For external candidates a minimum of two years working in the sector and having taken a lead role in service delivery is essential.
• A feminist analysis of Domestic Violence.
• Experience in assessing risk with women and safety planning.
• Knowledge of family law, and legal options for women, and court procedures.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work on own, and to seek support and guidance when needed.

Highly Desirable
• Experience in court accompaniment
• Experience advocating on behalf of women
• Experience working co-operatively with other services, and in relationship building
• Understanding of housing policy and services
• Understanding of Child Protection responsibilities

Women’s Aid is keen to progress this work quickly and an induction will be carried out with the successful candidate.
Internal candidates are welcome to apply and flexibility will be considered regarding the successful applicant’s current role and duties.

Competencies:
COMMUNICATION
• Written and verbal ideas and objectives clearly expressed
• Actively listens to ensure clear understanding
• Asks for input from others to ensure clear understanding
• Acknowledges and addresses issues in an honest and non-judgemental way
• Comfortable with IT systems of communication
• Responds to external queries and forwards relevant information
• Liaises with manager and team members as necessary

TEAMWORK
• Attends team and organizational meetings as required
• Works actively with team members to accomplish results
• Listens and responds respectfully to members of the team

SUPPORT, SUPERVISION and TRAINING
• Attends monthly support and supervision sessions
• Maintains the confidentiality of the session as required
• Responds constructively to suggestions
• Maintains a written account of the session as required
• Implements actions agreed at the session
• Provides support and supervision of other staff members as requested
• Identifies training needs and attends relevant training programmes

PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION
• Strategizes with members of the team for the development of outreach, the services department and the organization.
• Draws up, and works from team and personal operational plans
• Plans for the effective and efficient use of time
• Works to deadlines as required
• Establishes priorities and allocates time and effort accordingly.
• Demonstrates good-time keeping practices

FLEXIBILITY / WILLINGNESS TO ADAPT TO CHANGE
• Views change as an opportunity not a problem
• Actively seeks out new approaches to presenting issues

DECISION MAKING
• Makes prompt, timely, prudent decisions after considering all relevant factors and evaluating probable outcomes of alternatives.
• Within defined limits uses own discretion to evaluate whether consultation with colleagues and manager is necessary.
• Takes appropriate action when confronted with new, difficult or complex situations.
• Seeks out new and / or additional duties.
• Demonstrates ability to generate new ideas and acts on them accordingly.
• Supports the delegation of decision making.

PROBLEM SOLVING
• Resolves problems with reference to relevant team members
• Transfers knowledge from previous experiences to new situations
• Develops and shares innovative solutions to problems

KNOWLEDGE
• Maintains, reviews and implements relevant systems appropriate for the smooth administration of the Outreach Service
• Develops knowledge of difficulties experienced by all women in abusive relationships.
• Keeps accurate records of visits and provides statistics as required
• Keeps up to date with legal, social and all relevant information
• Works in a non-judgemental and calm manner with women
• Maintains a level of self-awareness, particularly in relation to personal boundaries

PROFESSIONALISM
• Works in accordance with the ethos and principles of the organization
• Maintains confidentiality about the organization, colleagues and clients
• Maintains appropriate boundaries with colleagues and clients
• Works to promote the strategic goals of Women’s Aid

INITIATIVE
• Seeks out new and / or additional duties