Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist

BRC Jobs; Manchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

BRC Jobs in Manchester is seeking an experienced Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist to join a new dispersed safe accommodation service for victims and survivors with complex needs. You will provide intensive supported housing, safety planning and practical assistance to help residents move towards independent, sustainable accommodation.

You will assess risk, build personalised plans and work with partners to access housing, welfare, health and legal services, while maintaining safeguarding

Qualifications

• Experience supporting victims or survivors of domestic abuse, or people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of DASH assessments and MARAC processes.
• Experience safeguarding adults and children and managing high-risk cases.
• Experience in housing, welfare benefits and move-on/resettlement.
• Ability to engage with multi-agency partners and advocate for residents.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, confidentiality and survivor choice.

Responsibilities

• Build safe, trusting relationships with victims and survivors using trauma-informed approaches.
• Complete comprehensive risk and needs assessments and develop personalised support plans.
• Undertake and review DASH risk assessments, safety plans and risk management arrangements.
• Provide intensive one-to-one support, advocacy and practical assistance.
• Help residents access housing, welfare, health and community services.
• Maintain safeguarding standards and coordinate multi-agency responses.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Risk assessment

Advocacy

Multi-agency collaboration

Empathy

Communication

Job description

• supported housing
• domestic violence
• support worker

Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist
Location: Manchester
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience (£29,000 per annum upward)
Contract: Permanent, 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: Flexible working, including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays as required About the Role

• We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist to join a new dispersed safe accommodation service supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse with complex and intersecting needs, and their children where applicable.
• This is an exciting opportunity to join a new service providing safe, short-term accommodation alongside intensive specialist support, safety and recovery work, and practical assistance to help residents move towards greater independence and sustainable accommodation.
• You will work directly with victims and survivors who may be experiencing a range of additional challenges, including mental or physical ill health, substance use, homelessness, disability, deprivation, social isolation and other barriers to safety and recovery.
• Using a strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed approach, you will build trusting relationships, complete dynamic risk and needs assessments, develop personalised safety and support plans, and provide practical and emotional support.
• You will also play an important role in helping residents navigate housing, welfare, health, legal and community services, while working closely with specialist domestic abuse and statutory partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Build safe, respectful and trusting relationships with victims and survivors using trauma-informed, psychologically informed and non-judgemental approaches.
• Complete comprehensive assessments and develop personalised, outcome-focused support plans.
• Undertake and regularly review DASH risk assessments, safety plans and risk management arrangements.
• Provide intensive one-to-one support, advocacy, practical assistance, group work and appropriate signposting.
• Help residents understand domestic abuse, coercive control, healthy relationships, personal safety and the impact of abuse on children.
• Support individuals experiencing complex and intersecting needs, including substance use, mental ill health, trauma, homelessness, disability and social isolation.
• Use harm-reduction and recovery approaches to support residents whose engagement or wellbeing may fluctuate.
• Maintain appropriate persistence and assertive engagement while respecting survivor choice, autonomy and boundaries.
• Support residents to access criminal, civil and family law remedies and specialist domestic abuse, health, mental health and community services.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding for adults and children, responding appropriately to emerging and high-risk concerns.
• Contribute to MARAC referrals, meetings and actions, including repeat and high-risk cases.
• Respond appropriately to serious incidents, emergencies, missing persons, unplanned moves and other significant risks.
• Maintain accurate, timely and auditable case records, assessments, support plans and outcome information.
• Manage an allocated caseload dynamically, prioritising work according to risk, need, engagement and outcomes.
• Begin move-on planning at an early stage and support residents to secure safe, sustainable onward accommodation.
• Provide practical housing advice, including property searches, applications and exploration of social and private rented sector options.
• Help residents overcome barriers relating to identification, benefits, debt, affordability and tenancy readiness.
• Support residents to develop independent living, financial, digital, literacy, numeracy and social skills.
• Support access to education, employment, training, volunteering, peer support and meaningful community activities.
• Assist residents with Housing Benefit, welfare entitlements, budgeting and rent-related matters.
• Undertake accommodation, welfare and health and safety checks and report repairs or property concerns.
• Help maintain the security and confidentiality of dispersed safe accommodation.
• Develop effective relationships with domestic abuse services, local authority teams, police, health, housing, children's services and voluntary-sector organisations.
• Advocate confidently for residents and coordinate multi-agency support.
• Contribute to supervision, reflective practice, case reviews, training, audits and service development.
• Support opportunities for residents and people with lived experience to influence service delivery and improvement.

About You

• Demonstrable experience supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, or closely related experience supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage and complex needs.
• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, including coercive control, trauma and the impact of intersecting needs and protected characteristics on risk and access to support.
• Experience completing DASH assessments, safety planning and contributing to MARAC processes.
• Experience managing or contributing to high-risk domestic abuse and safeguarding cases.
• Experience delivering strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed support and casework.
• Experience safeguarding adults and children and responding appropriately to serious or escalating concerns.
• Experience within accommodation-based support, housing management, welfare benefits and move-on/resettlement.
• The ability to engage effectively with people whose participation may fluctuate, using empathy, persistence, professional curiosity and appropriate boundaries.
• The ability to work confidently with multi-agency partners and advocate effectively on behalf of residents.
• Excellent written, verbal and digital communication skills, with strong attention to detail in case recording.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, survivor choice, confidentiality and culturally competent practice.
• The ability to work flexibly across dispersed accommodation and agreed service hours.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle may be required depending on the role's operational requirements.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of Manchester's domestic abuse, housing, homelessness, safeguarding, health and community support networks.
• Experience delivering group work, peer support or co-production.
• Experience involving people with lived experience in service development.
• Knowledge of psychologically informed environments, reflective practice or evidence-based approaches.