JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Turning the Spotlight Adolescent / CYP caseworker
Salary:
£20,110
Hours:
37.5 hours per week
Location:
1 post to cover Cumbria
Duration:
To 30th Sept 2017
Reporting to: Operations Manager
This post is part of a new project, funded by the Cumbria Police & Crime Commissioner,
which aims to manage abusive domestic situation by including the perpetrators of domestic
violence and abuse in the support process. A pilot programme, “Turning the Spotlight”
operated in the South of the County is to be extended to provide support throughout the
County. A caseworker is now required to cover the County and to manage delivery of
support programmes to Adolescent Perpetrators and Young victims and family members in
an abusive domestic situation.
A programme of activity will be offered to Perpetrators aimed at modifying behaviour of
individuals but it is recognised that for every DVA offender there is a victim and often a
family containing young people. The aim of the Turning the Spotlight Programme is to
provide support to all involved in the abusive situation, particularly for this post, adolescents
involved in abusive relationships and young people who may be direct or indirect victims of a
family structure affected by domestic violence.
Aims of the project
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To reduce levels of reoffending from perpetrators of domestic violence ;
To reduce the number of repeat victims of domestic violence via informed referral
processes;
To increase access to support services for victims and perpetrators of DVA;
To reduce the fragmentation of the family structure during the resolution of the DVA
incident or situation.
Purpose of the job
 Coordinate activity delivered to Adolescent Perpetrators and the support delivered to
young victims of DVA. ( NB. This post will not require, in general, the delivery of
perpetrator programme activity which is delivered by a specialist Partner
organisation);
 To engage with Adolescent Perpetrators of DVA, to encourage involvement in
programme activity;
 To monitor the impact of the project and the interventions offered;
 To develop and enhance local stakeholder relationships with a view to enhancing
partnership working;
 Maintain and enhance Victim Support service delivery standards and effectiveness;
 To engage with young family members and to deliver ‘ Risk, Protective & Resilience
(RPR) ‘ safeguarding processes to reduce the impact and vulnerability of the family
structure.
Main Duties
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To establish relationships with referral bodies from within Police and Criminal
Justice, Health , Local Authority and Third Sector sources to develop a referral
base for adolescent Perpetrators to populate the programme;
To initiate and support assessment and referral to the most appropriate part of the
Programme or to other specialist support;
To collate and manage confidential data from partnership organisations;
To develop a programme of peer mentoring groups in a CYP community setting;
To work with CYP victims and family members to develop safety plans and introduce
risk reduction behaviour strategies;
To integrate the programme activity offered to Perpetrators the support offered to
Victims and families, by liaison with VS victim services staff and volunteers, as
appropriate.;
Ensure the safety and security of victims within the planning of Perpetrator activity;
Engage in activities to increase general awareness of the Perpetrator Programme;
To maintain appropriate performance management information, produce reports and
lead in the evaluation of the project.
Generic responsibilities
 Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, regulatory and social requirements
 Manage personal resources and own professional development
 Ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes Victim Support’s
equality and diversity policies
 Promote and contribute a health and safety culture within the workplace, observe all
health and safety rules and procedures and all attend training
 Ensure essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to or
discussed with inappropriate persons in accordance with the Data Protection Act
Travel
The project is being extended from its pilot phase to cover the whole of Cumbria. This post
will be based in one of the Victim Support offices (Carlisle, Kendal, Barrow, Workington) but
there will be a requirement to travel throughout Cumbria . There may be a requirement for
occasional travel to other VS or PCC offices and more rarely to VS training facilities outside
Cumbria.
Unsocial hours
There will be a rare requirement to work unsocial hours
This Job Description serves to illustrate the type and scope of the duties currently
required for the above post and to provide an indication of the required level of
responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied
from time to time. They will not, however, change the general character of the job or
the level of responsibility entailed.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Turning the Spotlight Adolescent / CYP Caseworker Cumbria
Qualification
Essential
 Relevant professional qualification (Social Work/ teacher/youth worker/IDVA/ ISVA )
and evidence of successfully delivering projects for vulnerable people.
Desirable
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Evidence of Continuous Professional development and willingness to engage in
further CPD.
IDVA or ISVA training
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
o Understanding/awareness of domestic abuse (S)
o Experience of delivering/managing sensitive information (S)
o Experience of working with Children and Young People (S)
o Experience of delivering / developing support services (S)
o Knowledge of assessment/ evaluation processes (S)
o Experience of partnership working and co-ordinating service accesses (S)
o Experience of producing reports (S)
o Understanding and knowledge of the requirement for confidentiality and safe
working practice, and maintenance of records in accordance with the Data
Protection Act and other legal requirements
o Experience of promoting services to partnership organisations. (S)
Desirable
 Experience of working independently and as part of a team;
 Experience of working with the police, statutory agencies and third sector
organisations;
 Knowledge of specialist areas of domestic violence.
 Experience of managing community volunteers.
Skills & Abilities
 Ability to work without direct supervision, prioritise work and deal with competing or
conflicting demands/ needs and interests in an organised and methodical manner
 Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively both verbally and in writing with a
wide range of people
 Ability to demonstrate empathy and to build and sustain relationships
 Ability to gather, analyse and use information and evidence from different sources,
solve and resolve problems
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Ability to think and plan operationally, and to lead and manage change
Experience of generic IT applications
Desire to promote the work of Victim Support
Awareness to recognise own strengths and address weaknesses
Ability to build and develop effective teams