DOMESTIC ABUSE SAFE ACCOMMODATION OUTREACH SERVICE

Description

The Safe Accommodation Outreach Service is available for all genders aged 18+ living in Bracknell Forest. The service will provide high quality support, risk assessment, information and advocacy to survivors who have experienced domestic abuse and encourage and support victims and their children to regain control of their lives and move forward in a positive way. This will include the following activities: • Provide risk assessment, safety planning and support to survivors of domestic abuse referred by the Council’s Housing Service or referred via another pathway but identified as eligible for this support, providing a full initial assessment to identify their needs and ensuring they are linked with ongoing support services. • Provide appropriate crisis support to Safe Accommodation Outreach Service Users, completing in-depth assessments of risk and undertaking high quality safety and support planning, signposting and referring clients to external agencies and other specialist services as required. STANDARD CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT: SERVICES • Support Service Users to access other services including specialist legal, financial, and welfare benefit services and other support services provided by local community and third sector organisations. • Provide emotional support, advice and ensure that Service Users are supported to access appropriate support and counselling services in relation to their mental health and wellbeing. • Provide support in signposting or referring Service Users to help them make social contacts and access activities, peer support and befriending. • Provide support in signposting or referring Service Users to services which help them to develop domestic/practical life skills and help clients maintain their home or tenancy. • Work in partnership with voluntary and statutory organisations, maintaining good working relationships with external agencies and keeping up to date with local resources and services available to clients. • Work proactively with housing officers and the domestic abuse housing officer, offering advice and guidance on individual cases, pathways for survivors and housing policies and procedures. • Represent the Service and advocate for domestic abuse survivors at key housing meetings. • Attend meetings as and when necessary to support Service Users with Child Protection processes, housing needs or the criminal and civil justice systems. • Help settle Service Users into safe accommodation and assist with transport for Service Users and their children, either via statutory services or the Rail to Refuge Scheme where applicable. • Keep up to date on local and national changes and best practice when supporting Service Users and issues that affect them. • Ensure that the needs of all Safe Accommodation Outreach Service Users are respected, especially those who face barriers to accessing services because of ethnicity, sexuality, disability or other hard to reach groups. Contract is an initial 3 years, with an option to extend for an additional one year (3+1) Contract variation document has been attached, Keywords: domestic abuse, safe accommodation