Multiple Disadvantage Worker

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Multiple Disadvantage Worker at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm caused by gender-based violence. Our aim is to prevent violence and abuse, as well as provide services that meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Ella House supports women facing multiple disadvantages and intersectional challenges, including homelessness, substance misuse, contact with the criminal justice system and mental ill health. These women can fall through the gaps between services and systems, making it harder for them to address their challenges and lead fulfilling lives. At Ella House, the goals are to support clients with multiple and complex needs, recognising the emotional and compound trauma that can accompany and, in many cases, precede homelessness, and to co-produce, co-ordinate and deliver support.

Ella House provides support by empowering women through independence, inclusion, peer support and wellbeing, bringing together diverse expertise and approaches.

The service delivers holistic support, where people are seen for their full combination of strengths, capacities, and experiences. We recognise how women, as individuals, want to be supported to define and work towards their goals. This looks different for everyone and will require staff to be patient, observant, creative and committed to trying a range of approaches.

About the Role

Multiple Disadvantage Workers provide support services to women affected by multiple disadvantages, who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence and who have mental ill health and/or use substances.

You will ensure the smooth running of the refuge, including processing and admitting new referrals, ensuring rent and personal charges are paid, preparing rooms, overseeing general housekeeping, organising repairs and responding to crisis situations. You will work with women to devise a Support Plan that meets their immediate practical and emotional needs and starts the process of recovery, linking women to more specialist support services where required. You will work in a trauma-informed way and ideally have a background in supporting people with significant mental ill health and/or substance use issues.

About You

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of multiple disadvantages and their impact on women, as well as experience of providing emotional and practical support to clients experiencing homelessness, substance misuse, contact with the criminal justice system and mental ill health.

You will have experience of managing risk and following case management procedures to meet the needs of the client group, as well as the ability to work with women to help them understand their needs, assess risk, develop safety plans and link with other agencies.

You will have a working knowledge of the available legal remedies, housing and welfare benefits, as well as experience of providing workshops.

In addition to case management, you will be required to undertake housing management responsibilities, including health and safety and maintenance of the accommodation. You will have excellent administrative and time management skills.

Additional Information

The postholder will be based at our Haringey service, working full-time from Monday to Sunday on a shift rota basis and providing on-site support to survivors. Given the nature of this role, we are unable to offer hybrid working for this position.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits, and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. If you require any support to apply for this role, please contact us.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. Section 7(2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.