Would you like to be part of our team, working with our charity to prevent domestic abuse in all its forms and to support and empower those affected by it?
We are recruiting for a Refuge Service Manager who is passionate about supporting survivors affected by domestic abuse.
At Safe in Sussex, we provide a range of practical and confidential help and support services for residents in West Sussex, including refuge accommodation for women and their children, recovery support groups, 1-to-1 guidance and advocacy, and training and support for professionals.
We are committed to providing a service that prioritises the specific needs of women and their children who have been affected by domestic abuse. We are a fast-growing, passionate domestic abuse service, putting survivors at the heart of everything we do.
As a Safe in Sussex (SIS) Refuges Service Manager your job will be to manage the refuge operation, lead the Refuge Team to deliver a safe, efficient, effective and quality service, overseeing the operation of all aspects of the Refuge service.
You will be responsible for:
- Providing leadership and line management to the Refuge team, including Children's Support Workers across all refuge locations
- Managing a service that delivers high-quality support to women who have experienced domestic abuse, as well as their children, within a refuge setting
- Supporting survivors to rebuild their confidence, regain their independence, and strengthen their awareness of personal safety and risk
- Working flexibly to meet the changing needs of the service and ensure effective service delivery.
You will work to promote the mission, core values and philosophy of Safe in Sussex, you will be an ambassador modelling a high standard of professional behaviour and always ensuring adherence to SIS policies, forging working partnerships with a range of stakeholders.
Location: This role is based across facilities in Littlehampton and Worthing and will occasionally require travel to other sites within a reasonable travelling distance, as needed.
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: £34,000-£36,500 per annum
Benefits: 5 working weeks holiday plus bank holidays
Auto-enrolment into the NEST pension scheme after 3 months’ service
Enhanced sickness pay after probationary period (4 months)
Personal and professional development opportunities
Employee Assistance Programme (24-hour access to wellbeing, legal and family support)
This role qualifies for a Blue Light Card, providing access to a wide range of discounts and offers
Your role will be busy, interesting and varied, with key responsibilities including:
- Provide line management support, supervision and case management guidance to all the Refuge Support Workers and Child Support Workers, ensuring that all activity meets the requirements of SIS code of confidentiality and standards of conduct.
- Be responsible for HR practices of the Refuge Team, including monitoring of performance, annual leave, sick leave, TOiL and recruitment.
- Enhance and develop the knowledge and skills of Refuge Support Workers by identifying training and development and other support needs, performing assessments in accordance with SIS appraisal and performance development procedures.
- Engage all members of the Refuge Team in regular service reviews, encouraging active participation and positive communication to promote best practice and continuous improvement of the refuge accommodation service, so that high-quality service delivery is maintained.
- Participate in regular meetings with the CEO to promote the planning, monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement and development of our Refuge service.
- Oversee and participate in the On-Call Rota and provide back up as part of the buddy system.
- Work with third parties/contractors to ensure that Refuge accommodation services comply with housing law and the requirements of funders.
- Manage Refuge operational emergencies.
- Manage the Refuge Team to ensure the quality and standard of Refuge accommodation remains high.
- Maintain the security and well-being of everyone in our Refuge properties and promptly communicate with the CEO any breaches of security, house rules or license agreements, especially where there is concern about safety.
- Oversee safeguarding and other risk issues on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed, and act as designated safeguarding officer.
- Ensure SIS case management systems are put into practice so that client records are professionally maintained.
- Ensure that women and children’s voices are central to our services, gathering their feedback to enable it to be acted upon.
- Attend regular supervision with the CEO, ensuring you work to meet any on-going training and development targets set to maintain and update your skills as required.
- Any other duties as may reasonably be required.
This job could be right for you if you have:
- Management skills; minimum 1-year proven experience
- A sound working knowledge of domestic violence/ abuse related issues, able to remain calm and resilient when working with individuals experiencing crisis or distress
- Working experience of housing
- Empathy, resilience, and the ability to build trust with survivors
- A flexible approach - no two days are the same
- A full driving licence and access to a car (mileage reimbursed)
- An ability to assess risk, identify support needs, and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
- An up-to-date legislative knowledge of safeguarding children
- Effective and sensitive communication skills, maintaining professional boundaries while providing empathetic, person-centred support
- Good administrative skills, including PC use for accurate record keeping and reporting
Above all else, we would like to hear from you if you are looking for a busy, varied role that allows you to utilise your skill set and become an integral part of our charity to optimise service delivery.
To Apply: Please email [email protected] your CV along with a covering supporting statement which gives examples of how your skills and experience are relevant to this role. This could draw from current or past employment, voluntary or community work, leisure activities or homebased experience, or your training and education history. Unfortunately, we will be unable to process applications that do not include a separate supporting statement.
The closing date for applications is 3rd September 2026. Interviews will be held on Thursday 10th September 2026.
Thank you for taking an interest in Safe in Sussex, and we look forward to receiving your application.
Please note that due to the nature of the work this post has a genuine occupational requirement to be open to females only and is exempt under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we actively encourage applicants from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds.
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, information provided as part of your application may be stored for reference purposes by Safe in Sussex for up to 36 months after the recruitment process has been completed. If you are appointed, such information and any supplementary papers you provide will form a part of your personnel records during your employment with Safe in Sussex and will be archived for 7 years after the end of your employment.
Worthing Women's Aid t/a Safe in Sussex is a registered charity, number 1098726.
Pay: £34,000.00-£36,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
