Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the position of Staying Home Leaving Violence Worker (SHLV). This package contains the information you require to apply for the position including a job description, selection criteria and Penrith Women’s Health Centre (PWHC) overview.
POSITION DETAILS
Salary:
Positions:
Hours per fortnight:
Employment status:
Funding body:
Transitioning from SACS Award Grade 4 to SCHADS Award Level 5
(Car & Salary Packaging available)
1
56 hours (8 day fortnight)
Fixed Term until June 30 2017 then reliant on further funding
NSW Department of Family & Community Services
HOW TO APPLY
Your application should include a covering letter and a resume. The covering letter needs to state:

the position you are applying for

your current contact details

contact details for 2 professional referees (at least one current or previous line manager)

how your skills and experience relate to ALL of the essential and desirable criteria
Your resume should detail your employment history and include a brief statement of duties for previous roles and your education history.
Expressions of interest due Friday March 13 2015 via post or email to PWHC Manager Jane Gold
Post: PO Box 4094 Penrith Plaza Penrith 2750; or
Email: jane@pwhc.org.au
Please note that you MUST address all of the essential and desirable selection criteria or your application will not be considered.
SELECTION PROCESS
A selection panel, comprised of the PWHC Manager, a PWHC Management Committee member and at least one other person will assess your application. Applications will be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria.
Should you be selected for an interview, you will be contacted by phone and advised of the date, time and place of the interview. We ask that you bring to the interview proof of identification and originals of all documentation submitted with your application.
Following the interview, the panel will select a preferred applicant and contact that person’s referees.
The preferred applicant will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and Criminal
Record Check in accordance with Health Department policy at your own cost. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised in writing at the conclusion of the recruitment process.
If you have any further questions please contact Jane on 4721 8749 or jane@pwhc.org.au
Regards
Jane Gold
Manager
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Position Title:
Reports To:
Staying Home Leaving Violence Worker
PWHC Manager
Salary Range: SACS Grade 4 transitioning to SCHADS Level 5
Hours: 56 hours per fortnight
Term: June 30 2017 and further funding permitted
PROJECT:
Casework and community development model enabling women (and children) ending a violent relationship to remain in their own home. Through supporting women who choose to stay in their home this project will assess safety needs, seek to improve social, health, economic and legal outcomes for families, reduce homelessness and promote accountability for offenders of violence.
RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Case Management

Project Management

Networking and Relationship Building

Influencing Systems Change
ESSENTIALS

High level understanding and commitment to a feminist, social justice analysis of wome n’s health and issues of Family and Domestic Violence (FDV)

Relevant Tertiary Qualifications and/or Professional Development and prior work experience
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Minimum 2 years experience working with women who are impacted by domestic violence
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Demonstrated understanding and experience in case management of people with complex support needs including outreach and advocacy

High level understanding of legal and court issues involving FDV

High level understanding of lethality and comprehensive risk assessment and safety planning for women separating from a violent partner
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Demonstrated high level communication skills including conflict resolution, group facilitation and public speaking
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Experience in program evaluation and report writing
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Experience networking with multidisciplinary services and building relationships with them
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Knowledge and understanding of other social issues effecting women in Western Sydney

Computer and internet skills
 Current driver’s licence
DESIRABLES

The ability to work collaboratively in a strengths based framework within the service management and with our client groups
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Experience in the Non Government Sector (NGO)
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Experience in crisis counselling
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Demonstrated ability in community development and issues awareness campaigns
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The ability to work in a team
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
CASE MANAGEMENT

Facilitate a service model to support women (and their children) to safely remain in their homes following domestic violence

Provide outreach, advocacy, court support and casework services to women leaving domestic violence relationships, who wish to remain in their own homes

Liaise with Police and Courts regarding removal of the violent partner from the home

Assist clients to stabilise their personal circumstances and support them out of crisis

Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and safety audits

Implement safety strategies including provision of personal and home security devices

Assist and support women with coping skills, problem solving skills and mobilising resources
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Identify marginalised women, understand their needs and facilitate their access to support

Develop and maintain referral pathways and protocols
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Networking and partnerships

Develop and maintain networks, formalise partnerships with relevant agencies including: o NSW Police in the Local Area Commands o Housing NSW o Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services o Local Courts o Temporary Accommodation agencies including women’s refuges o Legal, health and support services

Influence and create positive change for women and children through effectively collaborating with sector stakeholders

Identify partnership opportunities with other sector stakeholders in order to assist with improving outcomes for women and children

Establish and facilitate collaborative, innovative and workable partnerships with community partners and NGOs to integrate service provision at a local level

Encourage co-operative work practices and facilitate innovative approaches to issues of common concern within the community sector

Participate in committees, forums and working groups as required by service agreement and/or
PWHC ’s priorities
QUALITY ACTIVITIES

Participate in regular reviews and evaluation of the project with the PWHC Manager and external evaluation consultants as required

Supply statistics and other related information on workloads, produce reports for the funding body and initiate/answer any correspondence as required
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Data collection and liaison with other NSW Staying Home, Leaving Violence Projects
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Participate in evaluations of PWHC products and services
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Participate in Clinical Supervision funding permitted
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Attend seminars, lectures, conferences, training and supervision as required for professional development
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
TEAMWORK

Demonstrate an active, dedicated commitment to the PWHC
’s Vision and Philosophy

Promote a positive image of PWHC

Market PWHC ’s vision to all stakeholders and share our way of working

Uphold the standards of Work, Health & Safety (WH&S) and the principles of EEO

Contribute and participate in organisational decisions involving the development of the PWHC and its services & products

Model the principles of participation, partnership, collaboration and learning
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Participate in Centre Team Meetings
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Participate in Team Development opportunities and in-service training as appropriate

Support daily routine of the PWHC facility
GENERAL

Maintain client records and other documentation as required by the PWHC
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Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with PWHC Policy

Demonstrate commitment to and comply with WH&S Policies and Procedures

Become familiar with relevant Policies and Procedures including the Keep Them Safe Guidelines

Adhere to the Policies and Procedures of the PWHC
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Observe the PWHC Code of Conduct and Ethics
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Use only the computer software supplied and not load other software onto computers owned by the PWHC
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Other duties as required from time to time
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
This project targets women and children who are experiencing domestic & family violence that live in the boundaries of Penrith and St Mary’s Police Local Area Commands.
In recent years there has been an abundance of evidence to show that women who experience family and domestic violence often have to be placed in refuge accommodation.
For some women, refuge accommodation is the best option, providing both safety and high quality support and case management services to meet their needs. However for other women this can result in homelessness, dislocating social and familial supports, increasing adverse health impacts as well as imposing economic disadvantage. In addition, data from SAAP services in 2003-2004 reported that t he “average daily turn-away rate for agencies targeted at women escaping domestic violence was 48% — that is, around 1 in 2 women who approached these agencies were unable to obtain immediate accommodation on an average day”.
1
It is recognised that it will not be safe for all women experiencing violence to participate in the SHLV
Project. The safety of women and children is paramount and this principle will inform all actions and decisions made in relation to the project. The project uses three specific forms of assessment that are all useful in maximising women’s safety, including lethality assessment (to identify women who may be at risk of lethal violence should the perpetrator have continued knowledge of their whereabouts), risk assessment (clarifies the nature and extent of the violence, legal factors, perpetrator behaviour, and the potential for further violence should a woman remain in her home) and safety assessment (from which an individualised safety plan is developed).
SHLV is about providing choices for women.
BACKGROUND 2
The SHLV qualitative research study commissioned by the Australian Domestic and Family Violence
Clearinghouse in 2004 3 aimed to explore the question of how women and children leaving a domestic violence relationship could remain safely in their own homes (without the violent partner).
The study conducted face-to-face in-depth interviews with twenty-nine (29) women, all of whom had left a domestic violence relationship, from three locations in NSW (South East Sydney, Western
Sydney and the Bega Valley). Between them the twenty-nine women had a total of seventy-eight children. The study questioned the often-held assumption that leaving a domestic violence relationship also meant having to leave your home. The study was firmly based on the principle of improving choices for victims of domestic violence, and therefore the option of remaining safely in one’s own home should be available to women should they wish to follow this pathway.
The research study identified four overarching themes from the interview analysis. These, listed below, form the practice components of a Staying Home Leaving Violence framework:

Removal of the violent partner from the home

Keeping the violent partner out of the home, over time

Immediate and longer term safety issues for the woman and her children, and

Longer term support for the woman and her children, and the prevention of further violence.
1 Female SAAP clients and children escaping domestic and family violence 2003-04 Bulletin Number 30, 2005. Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare
2
Staying Home Leaving Violence Issues Paper, July 2006, Robyn Edwards, NSW Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women
3 The full report can be downloaded from http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/SHLV.pdf
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
THE FIRST PILOT PROJECTS
Based on recommendations by the Staying Home Leaving Violence Report, the WASH House in Mt
Druitt commenced a 2 year pilot in October 2007 to test and evaluate a casework model enabling women and children to remain in their own homes. The pilot project concluded in December 2009.
Through supporting women who choose to stay in their home the pilot project aimed to assess safety needs, promote accountability for offenders of violence and seek to improve social, health and economic outcomes for families. The project has utilised a variety of strategies to provide a comprehensive model of service delivery aimed at building capacity for individuals, families, the local community and service system. Using a collaborative approach the project works in partnership with key stakeholders to increase support, opportunities and safety for women and children who have experienced the crime of family violence.
The WASH House pilot was funded federally under the National Community Crime Prevention
Programme. At that time the NSW Government had also funded 2 pilot schemes (in Eastern Sydney and Bega).
In March 2007, the then Premier Morris Iemma announced that the NSW SHLV program would be expanded after successful pilots in Bega and Eastern Sydney. A total of 18 sites were planned for
NSW, including the 2 original pilot sites. 6 new sites were funded in the 09/10 financial year and one of those was ‘Blacktown’ encompassing Mt Druitt and Blacktown Local Area Commands.
PWHC was successful in acquiring the auspice of the SHLV program funded by Community Services in 2010. This was a welcome addition to Western Sydney Women’s Domestic Violence Court
Assistance Service also auspiced by PWHC. The Bridges Project (Yellow Cards) made the Centre very well versed in supporting and managing family and domestic violence interventions and the
‘Hub” atmosphere at the Centre is a very supportive environment for workers.
ACTIVITIES
The project employs 2 (part time) case workers who provide
1. Direct Service Delivery

Information and referral: resource for women and service providers.

Integrated Case management: including case work, advocacy, risk assessment and safety planning, court support and case coordination. Flexible service delivery will include centre based drop-in service as well as outreach and home visiting.

Brokerage: to enhance personal and home security measures for families including installation of technologies identified in the safety plan including personal alarms, home alarms, mobile telephones, changing of locks, security doors, lighting etc.
2. Community Development

Service network improvements: including advocacy, consultation and training to address unmet needs and reduce structural barriers as well as strategies to improve coordination and communication.

Education & Awareness Raising : to develop and deliver programs that promote access to the service for local women as well as increase the capacity of local service providers to respond to family violence and sustain service network improvements.

Resource development: including information and promotional material as required.
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Penrith Women’s Health Centre is committed to providing holistic health services within a feminist, social justice view of Women’s health. We aim to provide services which foster wellbeing and make these services accessible to all Women in a safe environment with opportunities for participation in the life of the Centre. We acknowledge and respect diversity among Women and will actively address social injustices and promote the rights and choices of Women in our community.
We define Women’s health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being - not merely the absence of disease.
We believe that Women’s health is determined by a broad range of social, environmental economic and biological factors.
We seek to link individual Women’s experiences and their health needs to this overall social and cultural context.
We challenge sex-role stereotyping, discrimination, racism, homophobia and all factors that may limit well-being.
We aim to facilitate the empowerment of Women through a strengths based philosophy which values and builds on an individual’s existing skills knowledge and experience.
We believe that information sharing, consultation, advocacy and community development are important elements in positive health outcomes for Women.
We work with Federal, State and Area Health Services on prioritised health needs for Women and seek to increase access and equity to health care for all Women.
We work within a state-wide network of twenty –three Women’s health services that seek to offer a broad range of services within a feminist, preventative, holistic framework…..for Women...by Women.
Feminism is a range of philosophies which has at its core the premise that women are not treated or viewed as equal citizens within our society or in the broader global context. This inequality demands on-going monitoring and analysis of the status of women and direct action to redress the discrimination and abuse of women’s rights.
One of the ways to do this analysis is through a gender framework. Gender is used to describe those characteristics of women and men which are socially constructed, that is, learned behaviours. While sex refers to those characteristics which are biologically determined – the physical body. People are born female or male but they learn behaviours of being a girl or boy and later, women and men. This learned behaviour makes up gender identity and determines gender roles. By using a gender analysis, it is possible to identify a range of health issues that affect women only or some that are more common in women than men and special conditions that are related directly to gender roles:
Some health issues that affect women only: menstruation, pregnancy, complications of pregnancy menopause & gynaecological cancers.
Some health issues more common in women: heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis depression, hypertension & arthritis.
Social conditions related to gender role that affect women’s well-being: sexual abuse, domestic violence, sex role stereotyping, body image, anorexia/bulimia nervosa, effects of prostitution and conditions related to poverty - particularly for single parents and older women and women as carers.
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Social View of Health
In a social model of health, importance is placed on understanding and reflecting on the broader environment in which a woman lives
— her family, community, workplace — and her ability to access health care services and other service systems. As explained in the NSW Women’s Health
Outcomes Framework, use of the social health model: ‘demonstrates that a broad range of environmental, socioeconomic, psychological, and biological factors impact on health. To a large extent, it is the conditions and experiences of everyday life that determine good or poor health outcomes for women at all ages.
The Canadian Women’s Health Strategy developed a list social determinants for their framework, including: gender, income and social status, employment status, education, social environment
(including social support and social exclusion), physical environment (including access to food, housing and transport), healthy childhood development, personal health practices, coping skills, access to health services, social support networks, biology/genetic endowment and culture.
Penrith Women’s Health Centre supports the position of a social view of health. The Centre works towards achieving good health outcomes within client relationships and also within community development, health promotion and social change activities - to more fully bring about an increase in women’s overall wellbeing.
Strengths Based Approach
A strengths based approach is a philosophy of work practice. It emphasises women’s ability to be their own agents of change by creating conditions that enable them to control and direct their process of change. A strength based approach focuses on the strengths and resources that women already possess which can be directed towards their problems/issues. This is versus a focus on deficits and what they lack in terms of skills and resources. Women remain the authors of their own lives and harness their inner abilities and strengths to drive changes in their own lives.
A strengths based approach believes that change is always possible. This approach is flexible, responsive and empowering. It relies on maintaining a positive attitude about women’s dignity, capacities, rights and uniqueness. It assumes there will be mutual learning between service user and the service provider and it maintains a focus that the issue is the problem - the woman, herself, is not the problem.
Women Only Space
The Women Only Space principle is based on the reality that women often experience oppression, violence and abuse at the hands of men in society. This principle is an acknowledgement of the unsafe and vulnerable feelings that may be present for some women who visit the Centre and the
Women's Only Space policy is a proactive measure to provide a safe place for women and children.
As a service for women by women, a safe space is created that helps women speak more freely - without fear and without the dominance of men. We don’t allow men to go into appointments with women or to wait for women in the Centre. Supportive male partners are welcome to wait for their partners on seating provided outside of the Centre or the men can go to the local shops for coffee or wait in their cars. If necessary, a couple can be referred to other community services that see both men and women together.
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Penrith Women’s Health Centre
Outcomes are another name for targets or those things that the organisation hopes to achieve with its work and service delivery. Strategies are developed to achieve the stated outcomes of the Centre.
Evaluation is undertaken to endure that the strategies – the work of the Centre – are meeting the outcomes. Strategies and outcome change according to arising needs of the community, funding requirements and available resources.
Client Outcomes
Increase women’s knowledge and skills regarding their own health and healthy lifestyle choices.
Increase women’s awareness and use of services and resources within the community that supports their own health / wellbeing and/or the health / wellbeing of those close to them.
Ensure that violence issues for women are addressed as core business at PWHC.
Quality Outcome
Ensure that the provision of services takes place within a holistic, social feminist view of women’s health.
Ensure services are provided in a framework that is respectful, reflective and strengths based.
Ensure that PWHC promotes Access and Equity at all levels.
Ensure that PWHC responds to the priority needs of the community.
Organisational Outcome
Ensure that PWHC maintains a team approach to organisational management that embodies collaboration and participatory decision making.
Ensure PWHC is an accountable and cohesive Organisation with a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
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