Children & Family Worker (Wigan)

WHAG is a leading charity delivering quality support services to women, men and their families who are affected by domestic abuse, homelessness and young parents across the of North West England. Improving the safety and life opportunities of the people who use our services and supporting them in their recovery.

We support the people we work with to overcome the experiences they have had. We empower them to build up the skills and resources they need to take control of their own lives, access a tenancy of their own and maintain a quality of life in the long term. We give them the information they need to make positive choices about their futures.

As well as delivering courses to our staff WHAG delivers Healthy relationship training to employers and schools to assist in the education and prevention of Domestic abuse

Our Vision - To support and empower vulnerable women and those affected by domestic abuse 

Our Mission - End Domestic Abuse, Homelessness, and relationship breakdown.

Our Values - Empowerment, Choice, Change, Strength

Guiding Principles - Our guiding principles help define how we will act at all times through the development and delivery of WHAG in the future

Overall Aim

• To provide activities and support for children and young people across all Wigan DA safe accommodation including core refuge dispersed refuge, complex needs and resettlement.
• To work with families to improve parenting and parent child relationships.
• To ensure the service is delivered to a high standard following WHAG policy and procedure paying particular attention to: H&S, Child and Adult Safeguarding and confidentiality practice.

Requirements

• Relevant qualification CYP/Domestic abuse or equivalent to Diploma/ Degree/NVQ 3  or equivalent work level experience and the willingness to achieve a level 3 relevant qualification
• Ability to work across WHAG’s contract area and travel for training and meeting purposes.
• Access to a car for work purposes.
•  Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends when required..

Job Description

The list does not cover the full scope of tasks and responsibilities of Children’s Worker but illustrates some of the areas of emphasis for this post.

Key Objectives

• To be accountable and responsible to the team lead, Operations Manager and ultimately the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the effective support, empowerment and advancement of clients. 
• To ensure the working environment meets health and safety requirements.
• To ensure that the delivery of the service to clients, funders and stake holders is underpinned by a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equality of opportunity.
• To work within quality assessment frameworks, associated regulations and WHAG’s policy and procedure.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1.    To create a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for children and young people in refuge services in Wigan.

2.    To plan and provide one to one and group play sessions for children of all ages to develop the skills required to work though their experiences of domestic abuse.

3.    To take an active role in organising/ leading play activities during school holidays and after school.

4.    To provide fun and creative activities for families that nurtures the child and parent relationship.

5.    To provide childcare to enable the parent to speak openly in support sessions and protect the children.

6.    To support positive parenting by providing parenting support and programmes.

7.    To provide practical information and assistance to women about local services for children, such as children’s centres, nursery or schools.

8.    To work closely with DA Support Workers to maintain a multiagency approach to safeguarding with TAF and Children’s Social Care.

9.    To undertake risk assessment for all activities to ensure that all health and safety requirements are met.

10. To ensure that any issues in relation to safeguarding children or vulnerable adults are brought to the immediate attention of team lead and Designated safeguarding Officer.

11. To set up and maintain library of child and parenting resources to be accessed by families.

12. To support and supervise students or volunteers.

Responsibilities shared with all staff

• To ensure that the values and principles underlying WHAG’s services are maintained and developed.
• To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To work at times other than office hours to attend meetings, participate in networks, fundraising events and ensuring that the service is accessible.
• To undertake any other duties that may be required which are appropriate to your role.
• To be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.