Domestic Abuse Practitioner – Safe accommodation
Women only occupational requirement: This post is open to women only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. Due to the nature of the role and the needs of the survivors we support, Safenet considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational requirement for this position.
About Safenet Safenet delivers domestic abuse services across the North West, including refuges for women and children, safe houses for men, and community-based support.
We provide trauma-informed, survivor-led services and work with partners to help people stay safe and rebuild their lives.
What you’ll need
We are particularly interested in applicants who can demonstrate experience of supporting people affected by domestic abuse, has a sound understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and safety planning; and the ability to work confidently in a busy refuge setting while maintaining professional boundaries.
Essential:
- Experience providing emotional, practical or welfare support to people affected by domestic abuse, trauma, homelessness, safeguarding concerns or other complex needs.
- Understanding of domestic abuse, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding adults and children, risk assessment and safety planning.
- Ability to build trusting, professional relationships with survivors and provide non-judgemental, person-centred support in a busy refuge setting.
- Confidence holding a caseload, completing support plans, risk assessments and case notes, and managing competing priorities effectively.
- Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to liaise with residents, colleagues and external agencies clearly and professionally.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure, de-escalate tense situations, follow procedures and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, anti-racist practice and survivor-led support.
Desirable
- Women’s Aid, Respect-accredited, SafeLives IDVA, DASH risk assessment, trauma-informed care or domestic abuse awareness training.
- Experience working in refuge, supported accommodation, housing, outreach, community support or another frontline safeguarding environment.
- Experience supporting people to navigate legal systems, access benefits, resolve housing issues or engage with multi-agency risk processes such as MARAC.
- Experience delivering group activities, drop-in sessions or wellbeing work that reduces isolation and supports recovery.
About the Role
As a Domestic Abuse Practitioner in safe accommodation, you will play a vital role in supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse to feel safer, heard and empowered. Working within a busy refuge environment, you will provide trauma-responsive, survivor-led emotional and practical support from the point of arrival through to recovery, resettlement and independence. You will hold a caseload, complete risk assessments and support plans, develop safety and recovery plans, and work closely with partner agencies to ensure residents receive coordinated, inclusive and responsive support.
Key responsibilities
- Provide compassionate, trauma-responsive emotional and practical support to women and children living in refuge, helping residents feel safe, respected and in control of their next steps.
- Hold a caseload and deliver regular one-to-one key working sessions, co-producing support plans, risk assessments and safety plans that reflect each resident’s needs, strengths and goals.
- Assess and respond to risk, safeguarding concerns and changing circumstances, using professional curiosity and agreed procedures to support safe decision-making.
- Support residents to access housing, health, legal, welfare, education and community resources, advocating alongside them where needed and promoting independence.
- Work collaboratively with external agencies including police, MARAC, social care, health services, housing and legal professionals to coordinate holistic support.
- Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case notes, handovers, risk assessments and records in line with safeguarding, data protection and organisational requirements.
- Contribute to a welcoming, inclusive and safe refuge environment, recognising and responding to additional needs linked to language, culture, disability, health, faith or identity.
- Participate in team meetings, multi-agency discussions and wellbeing activities, and support Safenet’s Live Chat service when required.
How to apply
When applying, please use your supporting statement to show how your experience, knowledge and values meet the essential criteria above. You may wish to give brief examples from paid work, volunteering, training or lived experience where relevant.
Apply via: Calico Careers page
For an informal chat about the role, contact Cheryl Allwood on [email protected]
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of adults, children and young people. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice.
