Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable children and young people? Do you have experience of the dynamics, impact, and scale of gender-based violence, especially in relation to them? Could you advocate for children and young people?

We are looking for a Children & Young People Domestic Abuse Support Worker, with a childcare qualification, to provide practical and emotional support programmes for children and young people who are referred to Inverclyde Women’s Aid. The successful applicant will develop and deliver age-appropriate support programmes for children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse.

Women only need apply. The post is covered by a Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.

Who we are

For nearly 40 years, Inverclyde Women’s Aid (IWA) has been providing vital support services to women and children across the Inverclyde region. These are free, impartial, and confidential services, focused on providing a safe space away from abuse, violence, and oppression. Our team of support workers offers housing advice, counselling, signposting, and employability as well as financial and practical support for women and families to build brighter futures for their lives.

Who we are looking for

You’ll have experience of providing support and information to vulnerable children and young people. This will include emotional regulation, domestic abuse, crisis intervention, assessment of risk, safety planning, carrying a caseload, multi-agency, advocacy, and information. Any recognised childcare qualification or equivalent, as listed on the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) website, is essential.

You will understand the dynamics, impact, and scale of emotional dysregulation, domestic abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence, especially in relation to children and young people. Experience of supporting children and young people in an education setting or community organisation is vital for this role, as is liaising with agencies and advocating on behalf of service users.

You will bring to the post:

• Creativity in developing support programmes for children and young people
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise under pressure
• A non-judgmental and empathetic approach
• The ability to anticipate problems and to identify solutions
• Flexibility of hours and days of work
• Ability to manage change and adapt to new ways of working
• First class communications skills
• The ability to manage personal wellbeing in a challenging work environment.

There is a requirement to work variable shift pattern which may include evenings and weekends. You will have a full driving licence and access to your own transport and be willing to travel throughout Inverclyde, business insurance would be required.

What you will be doing

You will provide practical and emotional support programmes for children and young people who are referred to us through schools, education and other agencies and complete and maintain all relevant paperwork. You will also develop and deliver age appropriate support programmes for children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse, as well as early intervention and prevention, emotional regulation programmes in educational or community settings for young people at risk of being excluded from mainstream education. Maintaining the confidentiality of those accessing the service is vital, as is ensuring that all confidentiality agreements are signed. There will be occasions when you will be called upon to prepare relevant reports for Children’s Panels, court proceedings or case conferences.

During the course of your work, you will promote the service to community groups, youth organisations and education providers to support and encourage children and young people to use our services. You’ll work on your own initiative but liaise closely with team members to ensure all aspects of the service are covered, which requires flexibility to meet the needs of the service.

Promoting effective partnership working and developing strong links with professionals from external agencies and the community are essential to maximise the support available for children and young people. Promoting our work, and the rights and needs of women who experience domestic abuse, to service providers and policy makers is also part of the role.

What you will get

The salary for the role £15.90 ph. You will get 42 days annual leave including public holidays. There’s a pension contribution, enhanced sickness pay and access to private healthcare. There will be opportunities for your own learning and development and coaching/mentoring will be available.

A PVG check will be undertaken as part of the selection process. Only women need to apply under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

This role requires an experienced, pro-active, diplomatic, values driven and trauma informed professional who can coordinate, develop, create, and deliver specialised services as well as undertake effective stakeholder and external relations duties. Joining an established team of Service Managers, the post holder will lead the operational delivery of specialist services for survivors and assume responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of relevant aspects of the business plan, risk registers, budgets, and staff compliance with operational standards, processes and policies. The role will have an important responsibility to access, strengthen, and develop the relationships between our services, local/national government, and third-sector partners, and to monitor and build the data and evidence needed to secure the right investment needed to meet the needs of survivors in our areas. The role will have delegated responsibility to contribute to GCRC strategic priorities, which also includes supporting campaigning, policy and lobbying work.

ABOUT YOU

You will be a compassionate, determined, motivated, and experienced operational services leader, with a track record in developing and sustaining specialist services. You will be able to demonstrate your commitment to GCRC feminist values and positions, and your ability to work within a culture where change is routine, and workforce engagement and nurture is a priority. Ideally, you will have this experience from a current senior operational manager role of at least 5 years.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To lead the team who deliver specialist services in the areas of support, triage assessments, help and advice and advocacy at our head office and all community bases.
2. To implement and monitor the service annual business plan ensuring all services are well led, adhering to national service standards, of high quality, and are monitored and evaluated robustly.
3. To secure and sustain effective stakeholder and funder relationships of relevance to the service areas.
4. To ensure the delivery of high-quality and survivor informed services through effective leadership, supervision and support, workload, and performance management of team members.
5. To work with the Deputy Director, and management team to maintain and improve the overall financial position of the organisation and drive business development.
6. To contribute to the development and maintenance of suitable and accurate information and communications materials required for the services.
7. To contribute to the coordination and delivery of staff and volunteer training and development programmes.
8. To lead on the development of funding and grant applications of relevance to the remit of the postholder.
9. To ensure full team compliance with all monitoring and evaluation, financial/budget and reporting requirements.
10. To implement and monitor required risk management processes to support the safe and effective operation of our services.
11. To showcase a culture of improvement, led by survivor needs at local and central levels.
12. To ensure compliance with GCRC policies and procedures, legal regulations, and safeguarding responsibilities by all services staff.
13. To maintain oversight of operational budgets, as set and delegated by the Director/s.
14. To support the Deputy Director and Service Management Team colleagues in their governance reporting duties, and in both presenting and liaison with GCRC Board of Trustees.
15. To represent GCRC in relevant strategic, funding, partnership, and government forums and networks.
16. To ensure the provision of promotional information on survivor services, ensuring their accessibility and accuracy in materials for our external audiences via printed materials, website, and social media.
17. To provide support to other service areas to cover planned and unplanned periods of absence at management levels.
18. Participate in regular support and supervision sessions with the Director/s.
19. Participate in an ongoing programme of training and continuing personal development to ensure that skills, knowledge, and working practices and skills are up to date.
20. To undertake any other duties as directed, and relevant to the level of this post.

Inverclyde Women’s Aid’s vision is where women, children and young people are free from the threat of abuse, violence or oppression.

Inverclyde Women’s Aid is a charitable organisation dedicated to working towards ending domestic and sexual abuse. We offer a confidential service across Inverclyde to support women, children and young people who are or have experienced domestic and /or sexual abuse.

Role:

Are you passionate about helping women, children and young people in Inverclyde? Inverclyde Women’s Aid [IWA] are looking for Trustees to join its Board.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our feminist governance team supporting and overseeing the development of the organisation to ensure the continued delivery of high quality, responsive services to vulnerable women, children and young people in our area. You do not need to know everything there is to know about domestic and or sexual abuse, but you will need to prove that you are interested in our work, be reliable, action focussed and committed to our principles and values.

We are keen to here from women, and in particular those who may have experience or skills in the areas of Fundraising, HR, IT, legal, women services or care and charity governance.