Domestic Abuse Specialist Advisor (DASA)

This role is part of the Wiltshire Adult Domestic Abuse Team, which provides support to people and their families who have been impacted by domestic abuse.

Working within the team, you will work directly with victims of domestic abuse, providing them with support and educational sessions to increase their safety and the safety of any of their children.

Offering support to standard to medium risk victims of domestic abuse, key tasks will include:

• To provide high quality, person centred, trauma informed support to people impacted by domestic abuse.
• Being part of a team providing a whole family approach.
• Support people to increase their personal safety.
• Support people’s personal empowerment to take control of their lives.
• Undertaking risk assessments and collaboratively developing safety plans.
• Give practical and emotional support to families who are experiencing domestic abuse in the community.
• Deliver and facilitate groups for people impacted by domestic abuse, including the Inspiring Families Course (including evening delivery where required).

You will work closely with Children’s Social Care, offering professional consultation regarding domestic abuse cases and attending team meetings where required. You will work closely with local Social Workers to increase the safety and stabilisation of people, by offering specialist domestic abuse educational sessions to the non-abusing parent, either in a one-to-one or group setting.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide a high-quality, person centred, trauma informed service and empowerment to those who need it.
• Manage a caseload of standard to medium risk cases, providing virtual and face to face support.
• Complete an initial assessment of individuals’ and families' needs with corresponding support plans to meet these needs so, preventing escalation of difficulties.
• Triage new referrals, ensuring comprehensive safety and safeguarding advice and guidance on initial contact.
• Undertake regular caseload review meetings with individuals and families during home and community visits to ensure they are fully supported to meet their personal goals.
• Be responsible for running groups, adhering to a clear manual and supporting second facilitators.
• Complete pre and post group assessments.
• Attend regular meetings with Children’s Social Care and offer professional consultation to Social Workers regarding cases involving domestic abuse.
• Assess, manage and review risks to service users, colleagues and self, including the use of the DASH Risk Assessment, and professional judgement.
• Attend Children’s Social Care multi-agency meetings such as child protection conferences and core groups, offering your professional perspective and provide written reports for Child Protection proceedings.
• Work with colleagues, health and social care professionals and multi-agency networks to evaluate caseload needs.
• Improve parents' understanding of the impact of Domestic Abuse on their child(ren) and work with the parent to provide continued support to their child(ren).
• Ensure personal safety and that of service users and other staff at all times.
• Respond to emergencies and crises including access to places of safety.
• Plan and implement activities to promote self-awareness, confidence and participation for service users.
• Enable service users to participate in the design, delivery and evaluation of services.
• Utilise evaluation and monitoring systems to ensure high standards of service are consistently achieved e.g. Insights and Orchards Database.
• Assist clients in attending legal and other appointments where necessary.
• Ensure support provided is accessible to clients in terms of location and times.
• Facilitate and deliver group work to people impacted by domestic abuse, including evening groups on a rota basis.

General Responsibilities:

• Remain up to date and concordant with organisational procedures, policies and professional code of conduct, upholding standards of best practice.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings.
• Contribute to effective team working with a flexible and pro-active approach, including cover for other team members’ holidays and sickness where required.
• Undertake agreed training and keep updated on changes in legislation, policy, and best practice.
• To support additional duties at your team managers discretion.
• To cover duty in the event of emergencies or staff absence.

For a full job description/person specification and to apply, please follow the link provided on this website. There is no specific closing date for this role and this vacancy will close once a suitable candidate is found, so early applications are encouraged. 

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