Job Description & Person Specification >
Are you passionate about supporting children, young people and families affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence?
Torbay Children's Services is seeking an experienced and motivated Domestic Abuse Worker to lead and strengthen our response to domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) across Children's Services. This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice, shape service development and work alongside professionals across a wide range of agencies to improve outcomes for children and families.
About the Role
As our Domestic Abuse Worker, you will provide specialist expertise and guidance to social care and Family Help teams, ensuring that children experiencing domestic abuse receive a safe, informed and child-centred response. You will play a key role in developing best practice, supporting risk assessment and safety planning, delivering training and representing Children's Services at Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC).
You will also:
- Provide specialist advice on domestic abuse and sexual violence cases across Children's Services.
- Support practitioners with risk assessments, safety planning and interventions.
- Lead the development of domestic abuse-related quality assurance, auditing and performance reporting.
- Deliver training, advice sessions and practice development opportunities for staff.
- Build strong relationships with partners including Police, Probation and voluntary sector organisations.
- Contribute to strategic projects and service developments that improve outcomes for children and families.
About You
We are looking for someone with substantial experience of working with children, young people and adults affected by domestic abuse and controlling behaviours. You will be confident working collaboratively with multiple agencies and able to provide specialist advice, challenge and support to practitioners.
You will have:
- Experience of assessment, risk assessment, safety planning and risk management.
- A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and practice.
- Knowledge of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people.
- Experience of delivering training and supporting professional development.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building and influencing skills.
- A relevant qualification in Social Work, Health, Education, Youth Work or a related field.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the
full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/domestic-abuse-worker/
For an informal chat please contact Ellie Clark on 01803 208628 or [email protected].
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 31st August 2026.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Essential:
- Excellent communication skills with young people (groups & individuals).
- Effective communication skills with other professionals and an ability to maintain composure under pressure and to ensure that appropriate strategies are adopted to ensure personal resilience and a professional client-led service is delivered.
- Sensitivity, empathic understanding and diplomacy in all interpersonal relationships.
- Able to motivate individuals and other agencies to move through courses of action and decision making processes and taking proactive action.
- A methodical, organised approach to work, self-motivation and personal drive to complete tasks to the required quality and within timescales.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Essential:
- A sound understanding and application of the legal framework relating to the protection of children and vulnerable adults as well as associated safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of working with multi agency/ multi-disciplinary teams.
- Extensive knowledge of the impact of witnessing domestic abuse as children on neurological development.
- Extensive knowledge of the impact of abusive and controlling relationships on young people.
- Awareness of Sexual Health issues affecting children and adults.
Essential:
- Qualified to at least Diploma level or equivalent qualification in either one of the following: Education, Health, Social Work, Youth Work or related field.
- CAADA/YPVA/ IDVA training certificate, or a relevant degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, and/or be willing to undertake relevant study.
- Commitment to undertaking professional in-service training.
- Experience of working with children, young people and adults involved in controlling and or abusive relationships.
- Experience of working with vulnerable children and adults with multiple and complex needs.
Please review the available pages within the careers site.
A list of employer benefits can be found here.
