Southwark Expect Respect Caseworker Ref: ERC-223

 Are you a proactive, compassionate and highly organised individual with extensive experience of working with young women with complex needs who are also vulnerable in a community setting?  Do you have a proven ability of assessing clients’ needs?

If so, join St Giles Trust as Southwark Expect Respect Caseworker, where you will join the Southwark CHEH multi-disciplinary team to work on our pioneering Expect Respect project, supporting young women who are involved in, or at risk of, substance misuse, mental health issues, gang activity, knife crime, exploitation, abuse, sexual violence and vulnerability.

An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others. 

Expect Respect offers practical and emotional support to vulnerable young women aged 18-25 from LB Southwark of all backgrounds who are at risk or have been involved in crime, gangs, exploitation and violence. The project aims to identify and support young women who are affected by criminal or sexual exploitation through a range of referral routes including probation, health services and social care. 

As our Expect Respect Caseworker, you will support an active caseload of up to six clients/families at any one time who are affected by domestic violence, CSE, CCE, Mental health, grooming and exploitation.  You will complete initial needs assessments with clients and support them to develop individual action plans and regularly review to assess progress, plus carry out risk management plans with each client and their family, ensuring each family member has an age-appropriate safety plan.

We will also count on you to provide a client-led support service that responds to individual’s needs, including supporting with housing, finances, substance misuse, parenting, health and wellbeing, ETE and criminal justice, while developing and maintaining relationships with other agencies and promoting inter-agency collaboration in the assessment, planning and delivery process are also key elements of the role.

What we are looking for

• Strong experience of working with young women involved in or at risk of gang and serious youth violence
• Proven record of recruiting, engaging and keeping the target client group motivated
• An excellent understanding of providing support, advice and advocacy
• Experience of networking and developing positive links with other agencies to further a project’s aims
• A sound understanding of local authority housing, benefits, and social care structures
• Impressive interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, both verbal and written

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, access to clinical supervision flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much more.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

As an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be DBS checked.

Fixed-term until 31st October 2022 with the possibility to extend subject to funding