We have a rewarding opportunity available for a Female Complex Needs Safe House Support Worker to join our team based in Bristol. You will join us on a full time, permanent basis working 37.5 hours per week and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of Point 12 £26,421 per annum and benefits.

Established in 1999, Next Link is the leading provider of domestic abuse services to women and children in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. At Next Link we are committed to providing holistic, empowering and personalised support and advocacy to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

In return for joining us, we will offer you:

• Up to 30 days annual leave (depending on length of service)
• 3 extra holidays including International Women’s Day
• Excellent development and training opportunities
• Employer pension contribution (minimum 5% of your gross salary)
• Mindful Employer Plus Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Long Service Awards
• Wellness Awards

About the role:

Our Female Complex Needs Safe House Support Worker will provide safe housing and support to women who have experienced domestic abuse and have complex needs. You will support to empower women with complex needs to move on to independent or lower level supported accommodation.

Key duties and responsibilities of our ideal Complex Needs Safe House Support Worker:

• Promote the service through building positive relationships with current, potential referrers and service users to ensure a steady flow of appropriate referrals.
• Sign up new licensees using the agreed licence agreement and advise on rights and obligations of the agreement and then settle into the allocated Safehouse. Complete all paperwork, photocopy and send off as appropriate. Ensure new files are set up and a handover is given to the allocated keyworker.
• Liaise closely with applicant and referral agencies and keep informed of progress and outcome.
• Advise woman on personal safety and safety procedures regarding the safe house. Complete a personal safety plan.
• Establish the need for any civil legal remedies and support to access a specialist solicitor when appropriate.
• Carry out a financial assessment for each service user assisting them to maximise their income, address debts and support them to make appropriate welfare benefit claims.
• Complete sign up paperwork, including welfare benefits claims ensuring they are accurately complete and promptly submitted.
• Take primary responsibility for the collect of rent and other charges payable. Work closely with the resident and Finance Department to minimise and manage arrears.
• This is not an exhaustive list of your duties and outlines the general ways in which it is expected you will meet the overall requirements of this post.

What we are looking for in our ideal Female Complex Needs Safe House Support Worker:

• Numeracy and literacy to GCSE level/NVQ 2 or equivalent
• Ability to maintain accurate and up‐to‐date records of contact with service users, other support /housing related information and to communicate with colleagues and stakeholders using common Microsoft Office packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook and other IT software
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues, barriers and support needs of women experiencing domestic abuse, homelessness, mental health and complex needs face in accessing and sustaining accommodation
• Knowledge of domestic abuse civil legal remedies
• Knowledge of Domestic Abuse risk assessment tools including DASH and the MARAC process
• Proven experience of working with women who have survived domestic abuse
• Proven experience working with people with mental health needs, or people with complex needs
• Proven experience working in homelessness/supported housing sector providing support in shared or self-contained accommodation
• Experience of working with women with multiple needs (e.g. mental health, homelessness, alcohol/drug dependency, self‐harm behaviours)
• A current, full driving licence and access to an appropriate vehicle

If you are motivated, resourceful and passionate about empowering female victims of domestic abuse, please
apply now to join us as our Female Complex Needs Safe House Support Worker to contribute to the valuable
work Next Link and its wider services, delivering hope and support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse.