SARC Coordinator - Horizon

Main Responsibilities

SARC Coordinator - Horizon

Location: Horizon SARC, Walsall

Salary: £22,000 per annum

Monday to Friday - Days, 40 hours per week, full time 

Horizon Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides people who have experienced rape and sexual assault within the West Midlands with support and advice to assist in their recovery. Horizon SARC is a dedicated service available to everyone; women, men, children and adolescents and covers the area of the West Midlands including Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell, Dudley, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton and their surrounding areas.

The SARC Coordinatior’s role is to assist and support the administration and coordination of the delivery of the SARC Service in accordance with National Guidance and NHSE Service Specification. A Sexual Assault Referral Centre is a dedicated centre providing a comprehensive service to men, women, and children who have suffered sexual assault, both for those who wish to involve the Police and those who self-refer.  Utilising a multi-disciplinary team of Doctors, Nurses, Crisis Workers, ISVA’s, Police Officers and support staff the SARC will provide crisis support, appropriate facilities and trained staff for completion of forensic medical examination, provision and advice regarding aftercare including emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, as well as facilitating counselling and ongoing support via Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and partner agencies.

They must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and they must have the ability to work effectively under pressure.

They will have Safeguarding skills and knowledge and understand confidentiality.

As the role involves an emotive subject, the applicant must be willing to debrief after every case and ensure that they partake in peer supervision sessions and relevant training courses.

Job Outline: The SARC Coordinator will be the first point of contact for users of the service. The post holder will assist with the administration and management process of victims (women, men and children) attending the SARC, provide support to the SARC Manager with the day to day running of the SARC and provide a crisis worker role within office hours when required

Key Responsibilities:

• To assist with the administration and management of clients accessing the SARC service
• To provide advocacy support and telephone support to callers in the context of a sensitive and non-judgmental service, using effective communication skills.
• To provide information to enable clients to make informed decisions in relation to the self-referral option, medical care, forensic examination, making a police report and onward referrals.
• To offer a welcoming environment to the service users and all visitors upon their arrival at the SARC.  Act as a first point of contact, in the absence of the SARC Manager.
• To ensure a high standard of DNA decontamination between forensic cases. 
• To assist with the collection of forensic samples, ensuring continuity and chain of evidence are maintained.
• To document clearly any safeguarding concerns, complete any relevant risk assessments and liaise with the Sexual Offence Examiner, police officer and SARC office team.
• To feedback any issues or clinical incidents to the SARC Manager
• General administrative support and organisation, maintaining files and other data recording systems, producing monthly data reports.
• Ordering stationery, stock and equipment and monitoring orders and stock levels.
• Responsible for recording all staff sickness, training and leave records with liaison with HR.
• To maintain their SARC Training Matrix by attending peer supervision, appraisals, undertaking reflective practice and completing mandatory training

•  To operate within the equality and diversity framework ensuring all staff / patients receive equal   treatment at all time
•   Understands all company policies and procedures, delivers contractual obligations, quality audits  and compliance to areas of responsibilities

• To build relationships and links with partner agencies, deliver presentations about the SARC service, and ensure referral pathways are seamless.
• Undertake duties at any location outside of the SARC, in order to meet service needs – e.g. Hospital, prison, nursing home, etc.
• Along with SARC Manager and SARC Administrator, responsible for ensuring Contractual Obligations are reached by aiding with occasional nights and weekends Crisis Worker shifts to ensure there are no gaps in provision of service.
• Assist the SARC Manager with the interview, training and induction of new Crisis Workers. 
• Participate in developing, monitoring and evaluating the service provision of the centre
• To adhere to policies and procedures produced by G4SFMS and the SARC

The Ideal Candidate

Essential:

• Previous experience of working with vulnerable people.
• Access to own vehicle. 
• Strong communication skills both written and oral.
• Competent Computer Skills 

Desirable:

• Experience of working with victims of sexual assault.
• Relevant qualification in supporting victims of sexual abuse and/or physical abuse. 

Please note, this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.