3 Caseworker jobs in Manchester, Greater Manchester

Please note:  Applications are to be made using the application form on our website. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT CVs or APPLICATIONS THROUGH CHARITY JOB.  Thank you

ABOUT SAFETY4SISTERS

Safety4Sisters (S4S) is a specialist Black and minoritised by and for women’s organisation based in Manchester. Our aim is to promote the human rights of migrant women experiencing a spectrum of gendered violence by providing a trauma informed, specialist, holistic and integrative programme of support to Black and minoritised survivors with NRPF. Support is underpinned by the following strands of services and activities; culturally competent advocacy, welfare and destitution support, a specialist refuge dedicated to migrant women with NRPF, therapeutic activities, groups and training, social activities, a helpline for both professionals and women, grassroots campaigning, and strategic advocacy.

Abonsh House is our specialist refuge based in Greater Manchester, providing short-term accommodation for up to four single migrant women with no recourse to public funds, who are experiencing gender-based violence.

This includes single migrant women who have overstayed their visa conditions and those who are undocumented. We only accommodate single migrant women, as migrant women with children are eligible for support from the Local Authority under Section 17 of the Children Act.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide information, advice, support and advocacy to the women living within our refuge and support the smooth running of the building.  You will be responsible for providing women with continuous one-to-one support, practical advice and advocacy and ensuring that the women receive comprehensive support that addresses their physical and mental health, social care, housing, immigration and benefit-related needs.  You will be the main contact for the day to day operations of the refuge and its maintenance. 

 MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To have key responsibility in the referral and reception of women into the refuge. 

2. To provide one to one emotional support to women in the refuge, with the specific aim of encouragement and empowerment to enable survivors to make informed choices in their lives. 

3. To ensure the provision of caseworker support services for women seeking refuge accommodation. 

4. Participate in the refuge on-call rota, providing out-of-hours support and responding appropriately to emergencies and urgent issues to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.

5. To deliver a high standard of care planning and casework for women at the refuge. 

6. To provide survivors with all necessary and relevant information on policies and procedures of the refuge, such as confidentiality/licence agreements/house rules/aims and objectives of S4S etc. 

7. To support the Refuge Manager in the day to day running, maintenance, H&S and overall upkeep of the refuge premises, ensuring a clean, comfortable, and welcoming space.

8. To take responsibility for the provision of all aspects of casework support.  This includes advising on and assisting with obtaining funding/ benefits, injunctions and other legal remedies, immigration rights, children and contact issues, police escorts, health housing and move-on accommodation, training/education matters, and other relevant areas. 

9. To ensure completion of all necessary forms including NRPF funding application forms or housing and welfare benefit forms. 

10.  To represent women and advocate on their behalf when dealing with outside agencies such as the Police, DSS, Solicitors, Social Services, Health Professionals, Housing, and all other relevant agencies. 

11.  To offer a programme of resettlement support to women/families moving out from emergency accommodation to independent living.  At a practical level this will include assistance with claiming relevant benefits, connection of gas and electrical services, budgeting etc.  At an emotional level this will include providing one-to-one support for personal development and independence.

12.   Assist  in  developing  and  meeting  quality  standards  in  relation  to  advice  and  casework.  This  includes  administration  and  IT  systems  for  advice  and  casework. 

13.  Support women to access Safety4Sisters groups and other external wellbeing activities in the area.

14.   To  publicise  and  provide  S4S  services,  and  attend,  contribute  and  represent  the  organisation  at  relevant  local  meetings  or  initiatives. 

GENERAL  DUTIES  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Contribute  to  the  smooth  running  of  the  project  and  activities 

2. Assist in maintaining high standards in all aspects of the organisations work; including conduct with colleagues, external agencies and service users.

3. Comply and promote issues of confidentiality, equal opportunities and other policies and procedures of the organisations.

4. Attend supervision, training and staff, management and team meetings when required.

5. Promote equality and diversity in all aspects of Safety4Sisters work.

HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Be fully compliant with all Health and Safety legislation. 

2. Ensure that your work area is maintained in a clean, safe and tidy manner, all equipment is used safely according to instructions, and work is carried to ensure no risk to yourself, other employees and visitors.

FLEXIBILITY CLAUSE

In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the job at the appropriate grade.

This job description will be subjected to review with the post holder, to ensure that it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post. The aim is to improve the quality of service for Black and minoritised women and all matters relating to their well-being.

When necessary, the post holder may be expected to work evenings and weekends. This time can be claimed back as TOIL.

This post is:

· subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure

· subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.  It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.

· open to women* only (*exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1).

Children’s Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA) 

Women only occupational requirement: This role is restricted to women under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010. The nature of the work involves providing support to women who have experienced domestic abuse, and Safenet considers it a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a woman. 

About Safenet 
Safenet delivers domestic abuse services across the North West of England, including refuges for women and children, safe houses for men, and community-based support. We provide trauma-informed, survivor-led services and work with partners to help people stay safe and rebuild their lives. 

About the role 
We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and trauma-informed practitioner who can provide high-quality support to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The successful candidate will have strong safeguarding knowledge, experience of working with children, young people and families, and the confidence to manage risk, complete assessments and work effectively with partner agencies. They will be child-centred, inclusive and reflective in their practice, with the ability to build trust, advocate for children’s voices and support safe, positive outcomes for children, young people and non-abusive parents/carers. 

As a Children’s Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA), you will safeguard and support children and young people affected by domestic abuse across the Continuum of Need, including Child Protection. You will deliver child-centred 1:1 and group interventions, complete child-focused risk assessments and safety plans, and ensure children and young people’s voices shape the support they receive. Working with partner agencies (including through MARAC), you will contribute to coordinated responses that improve safety, wellbeing and long-term resilience. 

Key responsibilities 

• Provide emotional and practical support through 1:1 sessions and groupwork using trauma-informed approaches. 

• Complete child-focused risk assessments (including SafeLives DASH RIC) and contribute to dynamic safety planning. 

• Represent children and young people’s needs in MARAC and other multi-agency forums, ensuring their voice informs decisions. 

• Work with social care, education, health and criminal justice partners to coordinate support and reduce barriers to access. 

• Help children and young people understand the impact of abuse, build resilience and develop age-appropriate healthy relationships. 

• Work with non-abusive parents/carers to strengthen safe relationships, attachment and recovery. 

• Identify and act on safeguarding concerns, including self-harm or suicidal ideation, and refer via appropriate pathways. 

• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and monitoring information in line with organisational and funder requirements. 

• Model inclusive, culturally sensitive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in all work. 

What we’re looking for 

Essential 

• SafeLives CHIDVA qualification (or working towards) and/or a relevant children and young people qualification (or working towards). 

• Experience supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse, trauma or adversity. 

• Experience managing a caseload and delivering consistent, high-quality support to children, young people and families. 

• Experience working in multi-agency settings (e.g., social care, education, health, criminal justice). 

• Strong safeguarding knowledge (including Children Acts 1989/2004 and Domestic Abuse Act 2021) and confidence escalating concerns. 

• Ability to build trust and communicate effectively with children/young people and professionals, adapting to age and need. 

• Strong record-keeping skills and a commitment to confidentiality and data protection. 

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, including anti-racist and intersectional practice. 

Desirable 

• Women’s Aid or Respect accredited training (e.g., DAPA) and/or Paladin Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC). 

• Level 4 Diploma in Domestic Abuse; DASH risk assessment; trauma-informed care training. 

• Experience supporting children and young people with complex needs (including self-harm or suicidal ideation) and knowledge of referral pathways. 

• Knowledge of culturally specific forms of abuse and barriers to access for ethnic minority and migrant survivors (e.g., HBV, FGM). 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of adults, children and young people. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice.