Refuge Support Officer Apprentice

Summary

Join Our Team as a Refuge Support Officer Apprentice! Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Gain hands-on experience while providing essential support to individuals and families seeking refuge. Apply now to be part of a team dedicated to creating positive change in Luton.

Wage

£15,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The apprentice will receive additional payments when participating in the out of hours on call rota.

Training course

Domestic and sexual abuse support worker (level 4)

Hours

The working hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. The apprentice will also be required to participate in the out of hours on call rota.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 1 April

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

To provide individual support to women in refuge who have experienced domestic abuse. Your responsibilities include managing a caseload, conducting admissions and inductions, and ensuring residents understand their rights and health and safety requirements. You will conduct regular key-working sessions, maintain accurate records, and complete necessary risk assessments and safety plans.
You will facilitate referrals to other services, support engagement, and share knowledge with the WAL team. Collaboration with other agencies is essential, providing support and advice to adult victims and witnesses of domestic abuse. Safeguarding issues must be raised promptly, and you may attend court and social services case conferences.
You will offer advice on housing, education, health, employment, and benefits, empowering service users to access wider support networks. Delivering development programs to service user groups and working closely with partner agencies is crucial. You will facilitate house meetings and support service users in preparing for independent living.
During the resettlement period, you may provide remote support and signposting. Attendance at team meetings, training sessions, and clinical supervision is required. Participation in the out-of-hours emergency services rota and covering the helpline when necessary is also part of the role.
You will collect rent/service charges and support access to emergency funding. Ensuring service users adhere to their license agreements and conducting daily health and safety inspections are key tasks. Building relationships with appropriate agencies and promoting awareness of domestic abuse and WAL services in the community is vital.
You will engage in developing improved working practices and new developments within WAL, working in partnership with other agencies to promote awareness and support service development across Luton.

Where you’ll work

32-42 DUKE STREET

LUTON

LU2 0HH

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

PIER TECHNOLOGY LTD

Your training course

Domestic and sexual abuse support worker (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents

Recognise crisis situations and respond within the required timescales in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Carry out risk assessments, safeguarding and safety planning using risk assessment tools.
Assist and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence who may have experienced inequality, discrimination and or forms of injustice.
Engage with survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence from marginalised and disadvantaged groups and diverse social backgrounds and identities in ways that respond to their individual identities.
Challenge intersectional gaps in service provision and or redress them.
Raise awareness about the intersections of multiple forms of disadvantage and their relevance to domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use own organisation’s case management systems in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Use information sources to advise survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence on protective sanctions, orders and remedies they can access through court processes and or refer them to appropriate specialist advice.
Support survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence through police investigations and or court processes within the context of own role.
Act as an independent advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Adapt your communication method and style to meet the needs of the survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use communication aids to meet survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence’ specific needs.
Facilitate or assist in running programmes to aid recovery and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use trauma-informed and needs-led approaches when assisting survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to participate in service provision activities.
Raise awareness of the importance of accountability of perpetrators’ actions.
Refer and signpost survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to other relevant voluntary or statutory multi-agency partners.
Reflect on own practice and access available supervision and case management support.
Maintain own continuous professional development and revise practice based on feedback received.
Work within the boundaries of legislation and organisational policies and procedures and apply these to the responsibilities of own role.
Establish, develop and manage professional relationships with survivors of sexual violence, setting out the boundaries of the relationship within own area of competence.
Recognise the importance of self-care, taking appropriate action when required.
Empower survivors to contribute to the co-design of services and provide them with a safe environment to do so.
Support survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to access safe and permanent accommodation and advocate for their rights.
Secure specialist legal and financial advice for survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Support survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to be more aware of their rights and options and support with applications through child maintenance services when required.
Work with survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence who are not British citizens to access relevant help and support for themselves and or their families including those with no recourse to public funds.
Advocate for healthcare provision for all survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence, including those with no recourse to public funds.
Use a range of interventions to support and promote the safety and wellbeing of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Explore the emotional and practical needs of children and young people to support and help them to recover.
Act as an institutional advocate for survivors of different forms of sexual abuse.
Promote the empowerment of survivors of sexual abuse to identify barriers to disclosure and work with them to over-come the barriers.
Communicate with children and young people using technology to meet their needs and situations.
Enable children and young people to co-design and adapt activities in a safe environment.
Support and involve survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence in their role as parents when undertaking work with their children and young people.
Develop and carry out preventative work and activities to support other professionals who work with children and young people in different contexts.
Support and empower survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence and their children and or young people to ensure their voices are included within local and national responses and or processes related to domestic violence and or sexual abuse.
Collaborate with different agencies when dealing with safeguarding children and young people.
Work within the empowerment model to ensure that the service is client-led and recognises the impact of the victims and or survivors’ experiences of sexual abuse.
Provide client-led practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Recognise the impacts of child sexual abuse and or child sexual exploitation on children and or young people and the longer-term impacts of child sexual abuse and or child sexual exploitation on adult survivors.
Provide emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence experiencing impacts of child sexual abuse and or child sexual exploitation.
Provide services that reflect the specific needs of both children and young people and adult survivors of sexual violence.
Assist survivors of sexual violence with the referral processes of external support agencies.
Support survivors to access specialist information to raise their awareness of their rights and options.
Recognise crisis situations and respond within the required timescales in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Carry out risk assessments, safeguarding and safety planning using risk assessment tools.
Assist and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence who may have experienced inequality, discrimination and or forms of injustice.
Engage with survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence from marginalised and disadvantaged groups and diverse social backgrounds and identities in ways that respond to their individual identities.
Challenge intersectional gaps in service provision and or redress them.
Raise awareness about the intersections of multiple forms of disadvantage and their relevance to domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use own organisation’s case management systems in line with organisational policies and procedures.
Use information sources to advise survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence on protective sanctions, orders and remedies they can access through court processes and or refer them to appropriate specialist advice.
Support survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence through police investigations and or court processes within the context of own role.
Act as an independent advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Adapt your communication method and style to meet the needs of the survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use communication aids to meet survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence’ specific needs.
Facilitate or assist in running programmes to aid recovery and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
Use trauma-informed and needs-led approaches when assisting survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to participate in service provision activities.
Raise awareness of the importance of accountability of perpetrators’ actions.
Refer and signpost survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to other relevant voluntary or statutory multi-agency partners.
Reflect on own practice and access available supervision and case management support.
Maintain own continuous professional development and revise practice based on feedback received.
Work within the boundaries of legislation and organisational policies and procedures and apply these to the responsibilities of own role.
Establish, develop and manage professional relationships with survivors of sexual violence, setting out the boundaries of the relationship within own area of competence.
Recognise the importance of self-care, taking appropriate action when required.
Empower survivors to contribute to the co-design of services and provide them with a safe environment to do so.

Your training plan

Apprentices will be allocated a qualified tutor from Pier Training to support the full completion of the apprenticeship and prepare them for the end-point assessment (sometimes 2 tutors will be required at different times for teaching different elements).
The tutor will undertake engaging and interactive teaching, learning and support sessions with the apprentice on a regular basis (at least every 4-5 weeks) remotely via Teams or in the workplace if appropriate to conduct teaching, learning and assessments. These will be planned with the apprentice and employer.
The tutor will manage a portfolio of evidence using an Online system called OneFile and give regular updates about progress. Apprentices can contact their tutor inbetween visits to discuss any aspect of their qualification and will be able to access their online portfolio 24/7.
On-programme assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours will lead to the final synoptic end-point assessment.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Grade 4/C)
Maths (grade Grade 4/C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Driving License& Access to car

Other requirements

Due to the sensitive nature of this role, we will be considering female applicants only in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, pursuant to schedule 9 part 1)

About this company

Women’s Aid in Luton is a specialist domestic abuse organisation, operated by women for women and children. We have developed psychological and trauma informed services to meet the needs of women and children who are survivors of domestic abuse over the past 50 years. Our vision is for all women exposed to gender-based violence and exploitation, and their children, to be safe and have access to appropriate intervention, support, and advice to live free from fear and harm. Our aims are to provide: •Refuge accommodation where women and children may feel safe and receive protection from abuse and persecution. •Support to access medical care, advice and treatment, legal advice and counselling for adults and their children who have suffered injury or impairment to their physical or mental health or have been seriously threatened with the same. •Community support via our Domestic Abuse Helpline and resettlement services. •Training and education opportunities for survivors of domestic abuse. •A peer volunteer programme to recruit and train volunteers that are survivors themselves. •Campaigns to raise the profile of the impact of domestic abuse and highlight the need for further support services.

http://www.womensaidinluton.org (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

We provide access to a Health Cash Plan including dental, optical, and practitioner services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic; access to clinical supervision, an Employee Assistance Programme and a monthly paid wellbeing hour.

After this apprenticeship

To progress to a Domestic Abuse Support Officer position

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WOMENS AID IN LUTON

Gaby Price

gaby@womensaidinluton.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000298534.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 14 February at 11:59pm)

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