Position: Engagement & Support Worker
Location: Sheffield (Office based)
Salary: £24,454 Pro rata
Hours: 22.5 hours per week
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people and families affected by domestic abuse, providing compassionate, trauma-informed support while helping them feel safe, heard and empowered. The role combines direct work with children and families, advocacy, safeguarding, community engagement and creative service development, alongside close working with partner agencies to deliver meaningful support and recovery-focused interventions. You’ll play a central role within the referral and assessment service by screening referrals and liaising with referrers. You’ll also play a key role in creating inclusive and welcoming spaces, raising awareness in the community and contributing to a passionate organisation committed to children’s rights, equality and lasting positive change.
Established in 1975, Haven is an independent charity that provides specialist services in Sheffield, supporting over 500 individuals each year. Our mission is to take action and deliver creative solutions that adapt to the ever-changing needs of children and young people affected by domestic abuse. We work hard to break down barriers, intervene early and provide the necessary support, guided by a trauma-informed and child-centred approach.
Please take a look at our website to find out more about the work we do – www.havenorg.uk
“It’s a real privilege to support children and young people at Haven. Being able to make a difference in their lives makes every day at work worthwhile. And to do it with a great team of people who put them at the centre of everything we do in a trauma-informed way is amazing.”
— Ruth, Children and Young People’s Practitioner
Key areas of responsibility include:
- Providing trauma-informed support to families on the waiting list through phone and face-to-face engagement, ensuring children’s needs and voices remain central.
- Supporting referral screening, signposting and liaison with professionals, helping families at the start of their journey through the service.
- Assisting Practitioners to plan and deliver 1-1 sessions, group work and safety planning support for children and families affected by domestic abuse.
- Creating welcoming, safe and supportive spaces where children and families can express themselves, feel heard and build positive experiences.
- Completing administrative tasks including data entry, record keeping, responding to calls and emails, sending welcome packs and maintaining accurate monitoring information in line with contract requirements.
- Supporting service delivery through preparing resources, managing petty cash and travel reimbursements, and contributing to newsletters, social media and service development feedback.
Essential requirements:
- Have a passion for making a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families who have been affected by domestic abuse.
- This role requires Wednesday to be a standard working day. Evening and weekend work may be required where the needs of the children and families, or the organisation, require this.
- The appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory checks, including the right to work in the UK, a medical assessment, qualification review, driving licence check and DBS check.
Desirable:
- We deliver our services across Sheffield; therefore, driving is desirable but not essential for this role. To use your car for work, you will need to hold a clean driving licence and have business car insurance.
Job Description and Personal Specification
- Support for Children, Young People and Families
1.1 Support Practitioners to coproduce and coordinate support packages, including 1-1 and group sessions, with families and partner agencies to meet the needs of children, reduce risk, improve safety and support recovery.
1.2 Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of services and agencies across Sheffield to provide appropriate signposting and referrals (with consent) in response to individual needs, while engaging and supporting families over the phone and face-to-face as they wait to access support.
1.3 Utilise a trauma-informed approach and ensure that children and families’ voices are heard through enabling self-advocacy and co-production of support and service delivery where possible.
1.4 Assist with the planning and delivery of safety planning sessions with children and families.
1.5 Contribute to the development of new, creative and innovative responses to children and families affected by domestic abuse.
1.6 Undertake activities that support maximum participation of children and families in services e.g. telephone/text reminders, tech support for virtual sessions, supporting with transport.
1.7 Prioritise the safety and wellbeing of CYP by recognising safeguarding issues and following Haven’s Safeguarding Policy and local procedures, ensuring that children and young people have a voice in the process and that interventions are empowering and effective.
1.8 Prioritise the safety and wellbeing of CYP by recognising safeguarding issues and following Haven’s Safeguarding Policy and local procedures, ensuring that children and young people have a voice in the process and that interventions are empowering and effective.
1.9 Ensure services and support are delivered within an equal opportunities and anti-oppressive framework and are responsive to the needs of individuals from disadvantaged groups and marginalised communities.
1.10 Be responsible for petty cash and processing travel reimbursements for families.
1.11 Replenish and send (when safe and appropriate) welcome letters, welcome packs and resources to families referred into Haven’s services.
1.12 Support session delivery by ensuring resources are available and safe to use, refreshments are available, and suitable spaces feel welcoming, accessible and inclusive.
1.13 Ensure risk is assessed and that relevant risk assessments are completed prior to support being delivered to children and families, in accordance with Haven’s health and safety procedures.
- Community Development
2.1 Assist Practitioners, alongside other Haven staff, to develop and deliver awareness raising sessions and training for organisations, professionals and volunteers.
2.2 Provide support, advice and guidance to professionals and partner agencies who support children and families affected by domestic abuse.
2.3 Represent and promote Haven, and advocate for the rights and needs of children and young people, at networking events, fundraising events, professional meetings and conferences.
- General Administration
3.1 Assist with responding to and screening referrals within contracted timescales, including inputting referrals onto Haven’s secure CRM system (Oasis) and obtaining any missing information from referrers.
3.2 Attend meetings to discuss referrals, assessments and waiting list support, and provide updates on waiting list times, contract targets and safeguarding concerns.
3.3 Support the production of digital newsletters, promotional materials and social media content.
3.4 Contribute to the preparation of reports for managers, the Board of Trustees and funders by providing data required for the preparation of monthly/quarterly/annual returns.
3.5 Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation processes to assess the quality, impact and outcomes of the service for stakeholders and the broader community.
- Policies
4.1 Contribute to the review and development of policies and procedures and best practice.
4.2 Implement and adhere to Haven’s policies and procedures at all times.
4.3 Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and data protection requirements.
4.4 Comply with internal and external regulations, procedures and other requirements in relation to the organisation, its services and facilities.
- Personal & Professional Development
5.1 Attend and participate in regular team meetings, case management, supervision and reflective practice sessions.
5.2 Complete the organisation’s induction programme and participate in relevant training and continuous professional development.
5.3 Develop and maintain knowledge of safe practice, legislation and best practice relating to children’s services, domestic abuse, trauma-informed practice, family support and child protection.
- Other
6.1 Work within local, regional and national networks (e.g. WAFE) to promote and actively campaign for rights of children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
6.2 Provide day-to-day support to colleagues, volunteers and students.
6.3 Implement Haven’s philosophy of working in a cooperative, trauma-informed and empowering way, underpinned by feminist principles, equality, and children and young people’s human rights.
6.4 Undertake additional duties appropriate to the grade of the post, as required by managers or the Board of Trustees.
Person Specification
Key:
CV/CL = Cover Letter/Curriculum Vitae
I = Interview
CQ = Certificate of Qualification
SL = Shortlisting Criteria
Knowledge, Experience, Education and Training
Experience (paid or unpaid) of working directly with adults and/or CYP who have multiple needs on an individual and/or group work basis, using empathy, sensitivity, and professional boundaries. CV/CL SL
A basic awareness of equal opportunities and an ability to address discrimination. I
A basic awareness of the issues, impacts and subsequent needs of victim-survivors who have been affected by domestic abuse, including the particular issues faced by marginalised groups, e.g. disabled people, asylum seekers and refugees. CV/CL SL
An understanding of the importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. CV/CL & I SL
A basic awareness of policies and procedures required within a service that provides support to CYP and parents/carers. I
Skills and Abilities
Ability to provide trauma informed care, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to deliver support to adults and/or children over the phone and in-person. CV/CL & I SL
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a positive ‘can do’ and problem-solving approach. CV/CL & I SL
Ability to, with support from CYP Practitioners, co-produce and coordinate packages of support (e.g. 1-1 sessions or groups) for CYP and parents/ carers. CV/CL & I SL
Ability to work flexibly and effectively under pressure. I
Able to manage disclosures, maintain personal and professional boundaries and understand confidentiality. I
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office programmes, e.g. Word, Outlook and Excel. CV/CL SL
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a professional manner, ensuring records are written in a clear and accurate way. CV/CL & I SL
Personal Qualities
Compassionate, approachable, and non-judgemental manner. I
Reliable, flexible, and proactive approach to work. I
Ability to maintain professionalism and resilience when working with sensitive or challenging situations. CV/CL & I SL
Passion and commitment to making a difference to the lives of individuals impacted by domestic abuse. CV/CL & I SL
Additional Criteria
A relevant qualification in childcare, youth work, social care, counselling, family support, community work, or a related field (minimum Level 3). CV/CL & CQ SL
Hold a clean driving licence and have access to your own car for work. CV/CL & CQ SL
Application deadline: Wednesday 10th June, 5pm*
Interviews: Scheduled to take place in-person on Monday 15th June and Tuesday 16th June.
How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter, demonstrating how you meet the shortlisting criteria (see CV/CL), and explain your interest to recruitment@havenorg.uk. You can call our office to speak with our Service Manager, Lauren Busby, who will be happy to help if you would like an informal chat about the role or any further details.
* Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received. We therefore encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
