Live Night Support Worker

Job Posted:

14th February 2024

Role: , 37 hours.

Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services is a domestic violence support service. We provide a wide range of support services that include emergency refuge accommodation, outreach support, psychotherapy and counselling service, educational programs, and a specialist children’s programme. We have worked in the community for over 30 years and have a strong record of supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to fulfil our mission statement and seek innovative responses to domestic violence in Co. Meath.

Role: Live Night Support Worker, 37 hours.

Purpose: To work as a Live Night Refuge Support Worker (NSW) for the delivery of support services to women and children in the refuge, one to one and group settings.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Running of refuge support services in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures. 
Manage the helpline, providing information, taking referrals for refuge, and referring to internal services and external agencies where appropriate.
Ensure electronic and paper records and reports relating to your work is of a high standard, and compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Provide support to the Key Workers & Residents by taking on tasks relating to the Residents Support Plan as requested. 
Provide support, information, and advocacy to residents and helpline where needed.
Ensure the environment of the refuge is maintained to a high standard in line with health and safety policies and performing housekeeping duties in relation to same e.g., in hygiene, accommodation standards, fire hazards in line with the organisation’s procedures and policies etc.
Conduct and report security checks, including property checks, fire safety checks, occupancy checks, welfare checks, and room checks.
Conduct light cooking/baking activities as needed. 
Complete Esafe administrative quality control tasks as requested.
Complete GDPR quality control tasks as requested.

Liaise with the Night Support Worker (sleeping) for support as situation requires.
Maintain an ongoing level of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in line with upcoming CORU regulations. 
Highlight and participate in Quality Improvement initiatives within MWRSS to ensure we are providing the best service possible.
Attend and participate in team meetings, reviews, and organisational planning events. 
Provide support to new, or temporary staff as required. 
Work a variety of overnight shifts to include weekdays and weekends.
Undertake other related tasks that may be assigned to you by your line manager.

Essential Criteria:

Relevant Level 7 NQF relevant qualification and minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience /has a minimum of 2 years’ work experience in a domestic violence organisation. 
Displays evidence of relevant training and/or professional or voluntary experience e.g., domestic violence theory, practice and legislation, child protection training, GDPR, Trauma Informed Care, Quality Improvement, Motivational Interviewing, Counselling Skills and/or First Aid Training.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. This includes MS Office and experience of using Client Record Management (CRM) program for record keeping and data collection. 
Has experience of working both in a team setting and on own initiative, strong self- motivation, and is dependable, a strong decision maker, and flexible in work practices as well as being a strong team player. 
Has the ability to work in a calm manner during crisis situations seeking support of relevant colleagues’ external agencies as and when required in line with organisational policies and procedures. 
Holds the ability to assess the needs and risks to women experiencing domestic abuse in crisis situations and act appropriately and professionally, using problem solving processes, which meet the needs of women. 
Has a willingness to participate in continuous professional development, in line with CORU recommendations and a willingness, when applicable, to register and comply with their Code of Ethics.
Works from the perspective that the woman is the expert in her own life and has a commitment to the equality and human rights of women, children, and young people. 
Has the capacity to hold strong boundaries, ability to identify quickly if they have been compromised and ability to complete reparative work.

Understands the importance of health and safety within a residential work environment.

Desirable Criteria: 

Experience of collaborating with people experiencing crisis situations.
Experience of lone working. 
Knowledge of the importance of strong boundaries, experience of implementing them, and reparation work when they have been breached.
Experience of managing and prioritising your workload  
Experience of interagency work and joint service provision. 
Experience of facilitating programmes e.g., residents’ group.

Working Hours:

The Night Support Worker role is a full-time position.
The hours will be from 11.30pm – 8.30am (9 hour waking shifts). The normal hour rate is €18.23 per hour. Saturday and Sundays are time and a half.
NSW will be paid at the normal hourly rate for meetings they attend outside of their core hours.
Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services staff handbook contains further details on the employment practices of the organisation. 
The Live Night Support Worker Employee Contract will reflect the key duties and terms and conditions relevant to the role.

Application Process

Please send your CV and a cover letter to niamh@dvservicesmeath.ie before the deadline on Thursday, 29th February at 1pm, 2024. Interviews will take place from the week of the 4th of March 2024.

Please include job title in the subject line of your email application.

If you are successful, it is expected that the new role will commence at the end of March/ start of April (pending the outcome of Reference checks and Garda Clearance). Please have references available for us to contact. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services is an equal opportunities employer.