Domestic Violence Advocate

Victim Support; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization dedicated to victim support in Greater London seeks an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate to provide frontline services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse. The role involves high-quality support through risk assessment, advocacy, and guiding clients in accessing necessary services. Applicants should demonstrate significant understanding and experience in dealing with sensitive issues related to domestic violence, along with strong communication and crisis management skills. This position offers flexible working options.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave

Birthday leave

Pension plan

Enhanced allowances

Exclusive discounts

Financial wellbeing support

Wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Knowledge about legal remedies for domestic abuse victims.
• Experience working with drug, alcohol, and mental health issues.
• Understanding of benefits, housing, and homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Assess risks and needs using evidence-based checklists.
• Provide tailored support and information to high-risk victims.
• Deliver advocacy on legal, housing, health, and financial options.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records.

Skills

Understanding of domestic and sexual abuse

Proficiency in English

Crisis management skills

Effective communication

Ability to manage complex caseloads

Job description

What we offer

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the Role

As an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate you will provide pro‑active, high‑quality, frontline service to victims of domestic and sexual abuse through on‑going risk assessment, providing individual safety planning, trauma‑informed support, guidance, information, and advocacy and enabling victim/survivors to access the services they need in the aftermath of the abuse and trauma they have experienced.

You will work within a hospital setting to support both patients and staff. You will make initial contact with victims of domestic and sexual abuse, explaining our services and assessing the impact of crime, or receive referrals from colleagues, in order to provide on‑going support and case management. Support could include empowering the client to report to the police, accessing Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services, and specialist support such as pretrial therapy and sexual violence counselling.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess risks and needs using evidence‑based checklists.
• Focus on high‑risk cases with short to medium‑term crisis intervention.
• Assist high‑risk victims in accessing safety services.
• Deliver tailored support and information.
• Understand legal frameworks for protecting children and vulnerable adults.
• Provide advocacy on legal, housing, health, and financial options.
• Empower clients to recognize domestic abuse dynamics.
• Participate in Multi‑Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC).
• Work with a team to deliver respectful, dignified, and sensitive services.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records.
• Comply with data protection laws and organizational policies.
• Stay updated with procedures, policies, and professional codes.

About You

Ideally, you will have knowledge about legal remedies for domestic abuse victims and have experience working with drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. An understanding of benefits, housing, and homelessness would also be beneficial.

• Strong understanding of domestic and sexual abuse and its impact.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Experience in statutory, voluntary, or multi‑agency settings.
• Competency in risk and needs assessment frameworks.
• Understanding of safeguarding issues.
• Direct service delivery experience to victims or vulnerable people.
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and prioritize work.
• Strong crisis management skills.
• Effective communication, negotiation, and advisory skills.
• Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.

About Us

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.