Safer Communities Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Project Officer PO1

Job Category : Public Health

Location : Holbeach Office, Lewisham Council

Start Date : immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:00

Salary: £24.35
Experience of coordinating and administrating partnership projects particularly dealing with vulnerable groups/VAWG victims e.g., MARAC. 

Experience of administering meetings, including taking minutes, in particular DV MARAC minutes or other similar case conference minutes. 

Substantial experience of partnership working with stakeholders across voluntary, statutory, community and business sectors specifically in the domestic abuse/Violence Against Women and Girls field S

Experience of multi-agency project management and using diplomacy to reconcile the interests and concerns of different organisations and individuals   

Experience of monitoring, maintaining and interpreting data as well as developing and maintaining  data recording systems 

Experience in keeping records, writing correspondence, compiling and maintaining statistics to a high standard of accuracy and time.

Main Purpose of The Job

• The Safer Communities Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Project Officer role will support the work of the Violence Against Women and Girls programme and work as part of the wider Safer Communities Team, acting as the designated point of contact for the Domestic Abuse Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (DA MARAC) process, its administration, and contribute towards its development in Lewisham.

• The VAWG Project Officer will also be responsible for maintaining and developing systems for project control, assisting with events and consultation, and carrying out project-based tasks as required. This post will support the implementation of Lewisham’s responsibilities under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, working in partnership with key Lewisham stakeholders to ensure compliance with, and effective delivery of the duty requirements. The post will also support the Safer Communities Service with the delivery of the Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2021 – 2026, and all associated Strategies with a particular focus on Community Engagement and Partnership. To coordinate and administrate the Lewisham DA MARAC in order to ensure the effective operation, performance, and delivery of the process, in partnership with key Lewisham stakeholders. 

• To support the Violence Against Women and Girls Team with the delivery of the Lewisham 2021-2026 Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, with a particular focus on the coordination of a multi-agency response to high-risk victims and survivors of violence against women and girls.

• To contribute to the strategic aim of reducing rates of domestic abuse in Lewisham.

Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:

1.         To coordinate and administrate the Lewisham DA MARAC, ensuring its effective operation, performance and delivery.

2.         To work closely with core MARAC partners to ensure that all relevant staff members are familiar with the MARAC process and their roles and responsibilities within it and receive appropriate training as necessary.

3.         To develop and deliver training and briefing sessions to a range of internal and external practitioners on the MARAC process and how to effectively respond to high-risk victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual exploitation and harm including appropriate risk assessment and emergency response.

4.         To facilitate referrals to Lewisham DA MARAC, using the agreed common risk identification tool and referral form

5.         To prepare and circulate a list of the referred cases to the DA MARAC to the relevant attendees via secure email or through the use of the agreed case management system within eight working  days prior to the DA MARAC meeting

6.         To refer all DA MARAC cases ahead of the DA MARAC meeting to the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) service (to be completed as referrals are received).

7.         To prepare the DA MARAC agenda ensuring that cases are reviewed in the most time effective manner and that any specialist attendees are invited. 

8.         To prepare clear, accurate, factual minutes of the meeting, setting out agreed actions in accordance with the MARAC guidelines.

Knowledge

•          A comprehensive knowledge of current legislation, policy and practice developments relating to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), as well as working knowledge of the Lewisham 2021-2026 DA and VAWG Strategy.

•          An excellent working knowledge of the needs and experience of victims of VAWG and of related service delivery. S

•          Excellent knowledge of IT systems, including Microsoft Office Excel Word, Outlook.

Experience

•          Experience of coordinating and administrating partnership projects particularly dealing with vulnerable groups/VAWG victims e.g. MARAC. S

•          Experience of administering meetings, including taking minutes, in particular DV MARAC minutes or other similar case conference minutes. S

•          Substantial experience of partnership working with stakeholders across voluntary, statutory, community and business sectors specifically in the domestic abuse/Violence Against Women and Girls field S

•          Experience of multi-agency project management and using diplomacy to reconcile the interests and concerns of different organisations and individuals  S

•          Experience of monitoring, maintaining and interpreting data as well as developing and maintaining  data recording systems S

•          Experience in keeping records, writing correspondence, compiling and maintaining statistics to a high standard of accuracy and time. 

Skills

•          Ability to interpret data and evaluate trends in relation to domestic abuse S

•          Ability to produce reports to a high standard within timescales where necessary  S

•          Ability to implement change through innovation when needed

•          Ability to work efficiently, taking ownership and meeting or exceeding objectives 

•          Ability to support the delivery of Key Performance Indicators as set out by the VAWG Programme Manager and the Crime and Violence Reduction Service Manager.

•          Excellent time management and organisation skills including  the ability to meet tight deadlines  S

•          Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both in written and oral form, conveying written information clearly and accurately and of a high standard to a wide range of recipients, taking into account the needs of the target audience and speaking confidently, conveying clear messages to a wide range of listeners. S

General Education

•          Degree in any discipline or significant relevant experience S

•          Awareness of PRINCE2 or other Project Management processes

•          Excellent levels of literacy and numeracy

Personal Qualities

•          A strong commitment to learning/continuous professional development for self.

•          A flexible attitude to the needs of the service

Circumstances

•          Must be able to attend meetings / site visits in locations both inside and outside of the borough.

•          Must be able to work flexible hours, i.e. some evenings and weekends, and occasional meetings outside normal working hours.