Address
Form of work
SalarySalary
Grade 9; £34,154 - £37,051 per annum pro rata
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Region
South
Job category/type
Housing
Date posted
28/03/2024
Job reference
001957
About the Role:
We are looking for a dynamic and passionate Domestic Abuse Support Officer who will help us develop our own specific accommodation for those who have experienced Domestic Abuse and stalking. We are hoping to create a specific and supportive DA unit in partnership with registered providers and require someone with demonstrable experience to help develop this new model, as well as supporting the residents and their children who move in.
The role may also require the post holder to offer floating support to those who have experienced domestic Abuse in the wider community including resettlement support.
This is a full time position on a fixed term contract until 31st March 2025.
About Maidstone Borough Council:
Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.
We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.
At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.
Our Offer:
Our Offer:
A range of benefits including:
- Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
- 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
- Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
- Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
- Free parking
- Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
- Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
- Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
- Annual flu vaccine
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
- Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
- A professional fee payment, if required for the role
About You:
The successful candidate must demonstrate a passion of working with vulnerable individuals and their wider families and must show a good working knowledge of Domestic Abuse services and housing accommodation projects, which offer support to survivors of Domestic Abuse. Experience of working with vulnerable people providing support, in the field of DA, housing related field or another support service is essential.
To be successful in the role you must have the ability to proactively liaise with service users and partner agencies to deliver a range of interventions and develop multi-agency work.
You must have effective communication skills, be able to flex your style to meet the needs of your audience, have a passion to help and support those survivors of Domestic Abuse who may have complex needs. The role also requires the post holder to be confident, work autonomously with minimal supervision and achieve creative outcomes.
You will be required to carry a caseload of clients.
The post holders will be required to work out of hours including some weekends, evenings and mornings to ensure the success of the service. Being a car owner/driver is not essential for this post.
We would particularly welcome applications from those who have a lived experience of homelessness, support services or Domestic Abuse.
Selection Process:
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
The Council considers that the successful applicant will have access to young people and/or vulnerable adults and it is a requirement under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 that you hold an enhanced disclosure and barring scheme check. Upon successful appointment, you will be required to provide evidence of an enhanced DBS check if you subscribe to the DBS Update Service or complete the process to obtain a DBS check.
Maidstone Borough Council has a Sponsor License which enables successful candidates in eligible roles to be sponsored for work Visa purposes.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Hannah Gaston, Housing & Inclusion Manager by emailing hannahgaston@maidstone.gov.uk
Job Description and Person Specification
Interview Date: Thursday 02nd May 2024
