Vacancy Information
The Domestic Abuse Bill is currently going through the final stages within parliament and will bring changes to the duty placed on local authorities in relation to specialist accommodation for victims. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provide funding for local authorities to provide these services and as part of the new legislation are expecting areas to conduct thorough needs assessments of what provision is required locally.
The Role
This fixed term post will conduct, lead and co-ordinate all support to the Sussex Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support programme preparing presentations and briefings for the programme senior officer and Programme Directors who are external to the Office of Sussex PCC.
Key Responsibilities
1. To be responsible for providing a first class professional, efficient and effective programme support of the Sussex Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support needs assessment and strategy programme by carrying out tasks that are primary and secondary research, policy or administrative related to enable them to function efficiently and effectively, these will include; preparing presentations to key internal and external stakeholders, producing briefing reports, providing attendance and support at meetings.
2. To support programme communications and engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to this programme.
3. Provide a liaison service between the Programme and internal and external stakeholders, for the Sussex PCC and Local Authorities as the Senior Programme Sponsors and engage with key partners at Tier 1 (County and Unitary Council) in relation to the new domestic abuse duty and enable partnership discussions to facilitate expertise and information sharing and to help identify and address potential challenges in implementation.
4. Conduct a mapping exercise to gain a full understanding of the various types of safe accommodation services delivered in each local authority e.g. communal/self-contained refuge accommodation, dispersed safe accommodation, move on accommodation and any additional provision created during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include both commissioned and non-commissioned, and specialist services which provide tailored support to a specific cohort.
5. Engage with and co-ordinate local experts, providers and those with lived experience as part of the comprehensive needs assessment.
6. Work with Tier 2 (District & Borough) authorities in West and East Sussex to ensure clarity and agreement between Tier 1 and Tier 2 authorities over their roles under the new duty, particularly how Tier 2 (as the housing authority) will work together with Tier 1 (the accountable body) to deliver the duty effectively.
7. Lead and develop a Pan-Sussex Strategy for Safe Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse, to complement the Pan-Sussex Strategic Framework for Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse, within a Whole Housing Approach as outlined by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance.
8. Lead on the development of a multi-agency Action Delivery Plan to implement the priorities in the Pan-Sussex Strategic Framework, with reference to the findings of the Engagement Exercises undertaken in preparation for the recommissioning of specialist domestic and sexual violence and abuse services from April 2021, and the associated Equalities Impact Assessments.
9. Prepare schedules showing the critical path and key milestones of the programme and report at regular interval to stakeholders and the Programme Manager of progress against the project plan. This will include reports as necessary to the Pan-Sussex Partnership Board and to the MHCLG to assess the impact of the capacity building fund.
10. Ensure the programme is delivered on time, on quality, and to budget in accordance with best practice. Manage risks associated with the delivery, in particular risks to quality, timetable and budget.
11. Develop recommendations on the implications of the programme and devise a strategy that will include commissioning, contract monitoring and evaluation processes, to include consideration of designing commissioning processes to best enable specialist services focused on providing support to those with diverse needs, to engage.
12. Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
• Extensive experience supporting programmes and projects within an organisation including strategy development.
• Experience preparing documentation, including briefing reports, presentations for staff at an executive level
• Ability to influence, negotiate and make decisions
• Advanced organisational skills, including time management, prioritisation and delegation.
• Experienced in research
• Able to communicate clearly and with confidence at all levels, including persuading and influencing to achieve timely outcomes
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with a diverse range of people
• High level skills in diplomacy, tact and negotiation
• Excellent attention to detail
• Capable of working with a minimum of supervision and taking own initiative
• Ability to work as part of a team, including liaising with other partner organisations
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders or agencies to achieve common goals
• Demonstrates confidence, credibility and resilience;
• Knowledge and understanding of professional support services for survivors (domestic, stalking and sexual violence)
Contact Details
Susie Miller, Commissioning Project Manager - susie.miller@sussex-pcc.gov.uk
Additional Information
• The post holder must be capable of passing and maintaining the relevant Force vetting procedure
• The post holder may be subject of a vulnerable person role check or psychiatric assessment if applicable to the position – due to the distressing nature of the investigations undertaken by some teams
• Possession of current full UK Driving Licence
• The post holder will be required on occasion to work mandatory, unplanned overtime
• The post holder will be expected to represent Sussex Police and to conduct themselves at all times in accordance with our code of ethics.
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