Company Overview
Merseyside Domestic Violence Service (MDVS) is a dedicated grassroots charity committed to supporting the most vulnerable families affected by domestic abuse. With a strong presence across multiple locations, we focus on education, empowerment, and prevention to create lasting change and ensure safety for women, children, and young people.
Job Summary
We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Domestic Abuse Independent Practitioner (Senior DAIP) to lead our efforts in providing expert support and intervention for individuals experiencing domestic abuse. The Senior DAIP will provide high-quality specialist advocacy to women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The postholder will work intensively to increase safety in the home and community, keep survivor voice at the heart of decision-making and focus on disrupting the behaviour and access of the person causing harm.
What makes this a senior role? This is a senior practitioner role. The postholder will not simply carry a larger caseload - they will provide expertise, guidance and practice leadership to strengthen work across the team.
Duties
Practice leadership ; Provide day-to-day practice guidance, consultation and support to colleagues.
Complex decision-making;- Use advanced professional judgement in complex, high-risk and sensitive cases.
Influence and representation;- Represent MDVS within multi-agency settings and influence coordinated responses.
Quality and improvement ;Contribute to meeting contractual expectations set by funders/commissioners, contribute to case review, audit, service development and continuous improvement.
Accountability ;Model high-quality, defensible practice and support consistent standards across the team.
Key Responsibilitie
- Manage and support a specialist DAIP caseload, including complex and higher-risk cases.
- Deliver high-quality advocacy, safety planning and professional judgement in complex cases.
- Support survivors and children through safeguarding, housing, criminal justice and family-court processes.
- Work closely with police, housing, children’s services and other partners to coordinate safe responses.
- Represent MDVS within MARAC, court processes, multi-agency meetings and strategic partnerships.
- Provide case consultation, reflective support and practice guidance to colleagues.
- Support consistent standards of recording, safeguarding, information-sharing and risk management.
- Contribute to service development, training, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Uphold MDVS values and maintain a survivor-centred, empowering approach.
Requirements
Essential; Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications
- Significant specialist domestic abuse advocacy or casework experience.
- Experience managing complex and high-risk domestic abuse cases. Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, coercive control and post-separation abuse.
- Experience of risk assessment, safety planning and dynamic risk management.
- Experience working with victim-survivors in home or community settings.
- Experience working with police, housing, children’s services and statutory agencies.
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and practice
- Strong advocacy and multi-agency working experience.
- Accredited IDVA or equivalent specialist domestic abuse qualification/experience.
Desirable; Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications
- Knowledge or experience of stalking and technology facilitated abuse.
- Experience of perpetrator-focused intervention or disruption.
- Experience of case audit, quality assurance or service evaluation.
- Experience of mentoring or coaching practitioners.
- Experience of Family Court/private law children proceedings.
- Training in domestic abuse-related suicide prevention.
- Relevant degree or professional qualification.
Essential skills and personal attributes
- Excellent professional judgement and analytical skills.
- Strong risk assessment and safety-planning skills. Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Highly effective advocacy skills.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Confidence working with police, safeguarding, housing and other statutory agencies. Ability to provide constructive professional challenge and escalate concerns where necessary.
- Ability to work independently and support colleagues with complex casework. Compassionate, empathetic and non-judgemental approach.
- Strong professional boundaries, reflective practice and commitment to inclusive practice.
Application procedure
Please send: An up to date CV (maximum 2 pages). A supporting statement (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you are interested in the role and how you meet the requirements. Email your application to: [email protected]
For an informal conversation about the role, contact us on 07802 722703 or email
[email protected]
Recruitment timeline Closing date 16th September 2026 Shortlisting From 17 th September 2026. Candidates selected for interview by 18th September. Interviews In person at a Liverpool location on 22nd and 23rd September. Interviews will last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Safer recruitment and accessibility Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, right-to-work checks and other safer-recruitment requirements. MDVS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from suitably qualified people. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
Working arrangements This role operates through a combination of community and home-based practice, work from MDVS premises, multiagency meetings and remote administrative activity where appropriate. Hybrid working may be available according to service requirements. The postholder must be able to travel independently across Merseyside and between community locations. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is desirable
Pay: £31,000.00-£33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Liverpool L1 0AB
