Refuge Manager

Brook Street Social Care; Leicester Forest East; On-site; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A women's charity is seeking a Refuge Manager to lead their Leicester-based team. The role involves managing refuge houses and ensuring high-quality support for women affected by domestic abuse. Essential qualifications include managerial experience, senior on-call expertise, and the ability to communicate in at least one BME language. The manager will play a crucial part in risk management, staff leadership, and supporting residents to access necessary services. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Excellent benefits

Clinical supervision

Qualifications

• Managerial qualification is essential.
• Requires senior on-call experience.
• Experience in domestic abuse services is strongly preferred.
• Must speak at least one BME language.
• Ability to lead and support staff in a refuge environment.
• Strong cultural awareness and understanding of diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small team of 3-4 staff.
• Oversee the work of the IDVA.
• Manage 4 refuge houses offering 18 bed spaces.
• Ensure safe, high-quality support within refuge accommodation.
• Lead safeguarding, risk management, and crisis intervention.
• Support residents in rebuilding their independence.

Skills

Managerial skills

Crisis-management

Excellent communication

Cultural awareness

Education

Managerial qualification

Job description

Refuge Manager – Leicester (Women's Charity)

Salary: £30,868 per year

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (37.5 hours)

Benefits: 28 days annual leave + excellent benefits + clinical supervision

A long-established women's charity with over 45 years of service is seeking a Refuge Manager to lead their Leicester-based team. The organisation provides specialist support to women affected by domestic abuse, offering both refuge accommodation and community outreach services. They support single women as well as women with children, helping them regain independence and rebuild their lives.

This is a women-only organisation dedicated to supporting and employing women. They have a strong focus on BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities, so cultural awareness and the ability to speak at least one BME language is essential.

The charity operates across three offices, including Coventry, Leicester, and Leicestershire, and also provides access to in-house legal support such as immigration advice for service users with complex needs.

About the Role: Refuge Manager (Leicester)

The Refuge Manager will play a key role in leading the operational delivery of the Leicester service. Responsibilities include:

• Managing a small team of 3-4 staff (both full-time and part-time)
• Overseeing the work of the IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate)
• Managing 4 refuge houses offering 18 bed spaces
• Ensuring safe, high-quality support within refuge accommodation
• Leading safeguarding, risk management, and crisis intervention
• Supporting residents to access appropriate services and rebuild independence
• Attending occasional weekend events such as International Women's Day and community activities

Role Requirements

• Managerial qualification (essential)
• Senior on-call experience (essential)
• Experience within domestic abuse services (strongly preferred)
• Ability to speak at least one BME language (required)
• Strong cultural awareness and understanding of diverse communities
• Ability to lead, support, and develop staff in a specialist women's refuge environment
• Excellent communication, safeguarding, and crisis-management skills