Caseworker in Aylesbury

Location: Aylesbury (Hybrid)

Hours: 37.5 hours a week (5 days)

Salary: £28,000 – £30,000 (FTE) per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hope After Harm is an established, registered charity, delivering a range of support services to those who are vulnerable or at risk of exclusion. We want to see a society where everyone feels safe and can thrive, regardless of who they are and where they come from. We enable adults and young people in their journey to recover from harm and trauma. Through support, advocacy and education we empower people to rebuild their lives and reclaim their future. And we inspire others to do the same, creating safer, more inclusive communities.

The Family Matters team provides emotional support, information, and guidance to the families (e.g. partners, parents, adult children, grandparents) of those under investigation for online child sexual abuse offences. They are often the hidden victims of crime, facing multiple problems and isolated from sources of help and support. This role provides one to one support to family members over the phone, supporting clients with attending Court hearings, liaising with relevant professionals, and advocating for clients where necessary.

Responsibilities:

• To work as a member of the Family Matters Team to deliver outcomes for the Family Matters Programme as agreed with The National Lottery Community Fund.
• To provide information and Trauma informed support at a time of crisis to service users.
• To manage a caseload of complex adult client cases, providing client centred, practical and emotional support.
• To conduct risk assessments / case management.
• To offer information and support to family members regarding the Criminal Justice process during investigation, court hearings, sentencing and beyond.
• To help family members remain informed regarding Child in Need and Child Protection processes.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Essential:

• Experience in direct support work with victims or other vulnerable people including providing emotional and practical support.
• Excellent Caseworker with good assessment, motivational and empowerment skills.
• Organising, prioritising, risk management and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of working cooperatively and effectively in a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including presentation skills.
• PC literate (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work in diverse settings and with people with diverse needs.
• Good knowledge of a full range of civil, criminal and practical options available to service users.
• Knowledge and skills to operate within a trauma-informed approach.
• A clear understanding of the gendered nature of some crime types, and a clear understanding of how different crime types disproportionately affect different groups of people.

Desirable:

• Ability to determine strategies, outcomes and opportunities to develop the role.
• Experience and knowledge of exploitation and modern-day slavery, sexual violence and other complex issues.
• Experience of working with diverse groups with multiple complex needs.
• Mental Health Awareness including the impact on an individual and the services available.
• Knowledge of domestic abuse.

Other Essential Requirements:

• Required to travel within and outside of Thames Valley on occasions.
• Be free from any criminal conviction which would conflict with the responsibilities of the post.
• Be able to deal with all information on a confidential basis.
• To have Citizenship of the UK or have entitlement to work in the UK.

Thames Valley Partnership t/a Home after Hope is an equal opportunities employer. The aim of our policy is to ensure no job applicant, employee or worker is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability. We do not disbar applicants with criminal convictions and are mindful of the requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974.