Applications and interviews will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The post will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is appointed, so early application is encouraged.
Wea re looking for candidates with 2 years or more experience of working in a domestic abuse support related role
Application process; for information on the job role see below https://www.mdvs.org/current-vacancies/ Please submit a covering letter and send it with a CV to [email protected] . Please direct any queries to [email protected]
About Merseyside Domestic Violence Service,
MDVS has been serving some of the most vulnerable people in Liverpool for almost 25 years, building one of the most dynamic domestic abuse organisations in Liverpool. Grounded in strengths-based, anti-oppressive values, we work with survivors, families, and perpetrators to end abuse and build safer futures.
Our services stretch across stalking response, child-to parent violence and abuse (CAPVA), perpetrator interventions (MASC and MAC), and our nationally recognised ANCHOR Project, which prevents unnecessary fleeing by keeping women and children safe in their homes.
We recently won the prestigious King's Award for Voluntary Service and exciting new roles funded across Merseyside, including leading the first stalking response across the region. This is a pivotal time to join our team!
The Role: Domestic Abuse Independent Practitioner FEMALE
(exemption from the Equality Act 2010 applies for this role )
£28, 300 35 hours a week
Contract Type Permanent
Location: Liverpool and some work to be carried out across Merseyside
1. Role Purpose
The DAIP is responsible for delivering MDVS’s multi-agency, survivor-centred ANCHOR response designed to provide support that allows survivors to remain safely in their homes if that is their preferred and safest option.
This role integrates specialist survivor support, actions that reduce a perpetrator’s opportunity to cause harm, increase accountability, and strengthen survivor safety through coordinated multi-agency information sharing and monitoring, safety planning, and friends & family engagement, delivering a coordinated community response that reduces risk and improves long-term outcomes for survivors and children.
The postholder will:
- The postholder must demonstrate confident decision-making around adult and child safeguarding thresholds, and escalate appropriately, including when cases do not meet statutory thresholds, but risk remains significant.
- The role requires confident lone-working, appropriate boundary management, and consistent use of supervision and reflective practice to support safe and autonomous decision-making
- Provide rapid intervention for survivors of domestic abuse, including coercive control, post-separation abuse and stalking.
- Deliver specialist safety planning that is trauma-responsive, culturally competent, and aligned with best-practice risk tools (SASH, MeRit, DASH).
- Coordinate multi-agency actions focused on understanding perpetrator behaviour, sharing intelligence appropriately and disrupting harm.
- Strengthen survivor support networks through our existing Friends & Family initiative, CALL (Creating A Life Line) model.
- Contribute to ANCHOR’s data collection, performance framework
2. Key Responsibilities
Survivor-Led Support & Case Management
- Provide specialist one-to-one support to survivors at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse, post-separation abuse, stalking, or coercive control.
- Conduct robust risk assessments using MeRit, SASH, professional judgement, and multi-agency triangulation of information.
- Develop personalised safety plans that reduce the need to flee and prioritise staying safely at home and/or within their community wherever possible.
- Support survivors during high-risk transitions (separation, court processes, child contact, stalking escalation).
- Advocate for survivors within MARAC, with police, social care, and other statutory partners.
- Promote accountability through partnership working, evidence-gathering, and proactive challenge.
- Actively contribute and share relevant information through internal weekly case management and line management discussions.
Friends & Family Support (CALL Model)
- Engage, train, and guide safe friends and family members to support survivors and strengthen safety networks.
- Assos with delivery of CALL sessions within communities and develop personalised community safety plans for affected friends and family members.
- Improve community intelligence around perpetrator behaviour.
Data, Reporting & Quality Assurance
- Ensure data integrity and contribute to continuous learning through reflective practice, case audits, and performance monitoring
- Maintain accurate and timely case notes within our case management system, OASIS and other internal systems.
- Produce high quality quantitative and qualitative data to ensure the required outcomes as set out in our ANCHOR performance framework are achieved and maintained.
- Contribute to quarterly and annual report writing for funders, including qualitative and quantitative outcomes.
Partnership & Multi-Agency Coordination
- Work closely with police, children’s services, adult safeguarding, housing, legal services, healthcare, and VAWG partners.
- Attend multi-agency meetings including MARAC, police stalking panels, risk meetings, and child protection conferences.
- Present cases effectively using structured curiosity, professional judgement, and systemic insight.
Professional Development & Organisational Responsibilities
- Attend supervision, reflective practice, and team meetings.
- Ensure compliance with MDVS safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, and risk management policies.
- Contribute to service development and continuous improvement of ANCHOR.
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Domestic Abuse Independent Practitioner (Safety & Home Stability)
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Assessment Method (MDVS)
Qualifications & Training
Relevant training or qualification in domestic abuse, safeguarding, social care, criminology, or related field
ISAC/IDVA, SASH, SRP, or specialist stalking training; trauma-informed/trauma-responsive training
Application form, certificates, interview
Experience
Experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse, coercive control, or stalking
Experience working with perpetrators; experience delivering Friends & Family support models or similar
Application form, references, interview
Risk Assessment Skills
Ability to complete robust risk assessments using tools such as SASH/Merit/DASH, or professional judgement
Experience using stalking-specific risk tools
Interview scenario, case test, application form
Autonomy & Self-Management
Proven ability to work independently, manage lone-working responsibilities, and act as a self-starter
Experience leading case discussions without daily supervision
Interview, scenario, application form
Specialist Knowledge
Understanding of perpetrator behaviour, escalation patterns, coercive control, and stalking indicators, homicide and suicide prevention strategies.
Knowledge of child contact risk, MARAC processes, and civil orders (NMO, Occupation Orders, SPOs)
Interview
Perpetrator Disruption & Multi-Agency Coordination
Experience working with police, safeguarding, or multi-agency partners to reduce risk and increase survivor safety and autonomy
Experience contributing to intelligence-sharing, scrutiny panels, or coordinated community responses
Interview, written task
Survivor-Centred Practice
Demonstrates trauma-responsive, culturally sensitive, and autonomy-respecting practice with survivors
Understanding of intersectionality and expertise with marginalised communities
Application form, Interview, written task
Communication & Advocacy
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to advocate on behalf of survivors professionally and assertively and clearly articulate risk
Experience writing reports for statutory agencies
Application form, Interview, written task
Case Recording & Data Management
Ensure data integrity and contribute to continuous learning through reflective practice, case audits, and performance monitoring. Maintain accurate case management notes
Experience using cloud-based case management systems or similar platforms
Application form, interview
Problem-Solving & Initiative
Ability to think creatively, make informed decisions under pressure, and respond proactively to risk
Evidence of improving systems or contributing to service development
Interview, written task
Professional Curiosity
Demonstrates a strong ability to remain curious, question information, challenge minimisation, and identify patterns of harm even when not immediately visible. Shows confidence exploring risk indicators, triangulating information, and maintaining a ‘thinking mindset’ when working with survivors and perpetrators.
Experience applying professional curiosity within multi-agency systems; understanding of structured curiosity, disguised compliance, and procedural drift
Scenario-based interview questions, case study exercise
Commitment to Quality Practice
Commitment to going beyond minimum outcomes, using initiative to deliver exceptional survivor-led outcomes
Experience in quality assurance or reflective practice groups
Interview, references
Safeguarding Knowledge
Strong understanding of adult and child safeguarding, thresholds, and escalation processes
Multi-agency safeguarding recognised qualification
Interview, application
Flexibility & Responsiveness
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, urgent risk escalations, and dynamic caseloads
Interview, case study exercise
Values & Professional Integrity
Demonstrates MDVS values: autonomy, accountability, collaboration, survivor-led practice, and anti-racist/EDI principles
Experience influencing systemic change
Interview, case study exercise
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £28,300.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- do you have 2 years or more experience of working in a domestic abuse support related field
Experience:
- Domestic Abuse support: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
