We are looking for a resilient and dedicated people to join our new specialist high risk domestic abuse service as Independent Domestic Violence Advocate's (IDVA).
The roles is full time, working a hybrid with two days per week expected to work from our centrally located office in Boscombe. Due to the nature of the role, the successful applicants would be expected to travel regularly across the Dorset county.
Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?
Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…
What we offer
At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:
- 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.
- Welcome Bonus: £500 on successful completion of probation period.
- 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 a IDVA you will provide high quality support to victims of domestic violence and abuse. You will deliver and provide support in five key areas to support victims to:
- Feel safer
- Feel informed about their rights and the criminal justice system
- Feel listened to and heard
- Be able to implement healthy coping mechanisms
- Be connected with services who are available to help them
Key Responsibilities:
- You will provide appropriate non-therapeutic support to victims of domestic abuse via their preferred contact method.
- Undertake needs and risk assessments to develop tailored individual safety and support plans to address the specific needs of the victim.
- Use a bespoke case management system to maintain accurate and confidential record keeping and contribute to the collection of outcomes.
- Liaise with the police, social services, CPS, and other agencies on the client's behalf, with the client's consent maintaining confidentiality
- Provide information to victims to enable them to make informed choices about their future options. Ensuring that the voices, needs, rights and legal entitlements of older people are heard and understood by all individuals and organisations.
About You:
Ideally, you will hold an approved and accredited IDVA qualification (or you must be willing to work towards one)
You will need:
- A strong understanding of domestic abuse and violence and the impact this has on victims.
- Experience of working with victims of crime (preferably domestic abuse) including completing risk assessments and safety planning
- Experience of managing a caseload and keeping clear case management records.
- Experience of adapting communication styles to be able to effectively communicate.
- An understanding of trauma informed practice and how to implement this within your work
- A through understanding of the criminal justice system and the Victim's Code
- An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and other legal requirements
- Good IT skills including experience with working within bespoke case management systems and using Microsoft Office Packages.
- Organised and methodical approach to work with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise workload
This role involves regular travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement. If you are unable to drive because of a disability, please indicate this in your application in your personal statement so we can explore the feasibility of alternative arrangements.
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
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Service Manager – Women’s Recovery Refuge
Location: Burnley – on site.
Hours: Full time, including participation in an on‑call rota
Contract: Permanent
Please note, this is an on-site role only. Due to the nature of our Refuges and Outreach services, it is essential that our teams are present and accessible, enabling us to provide safe, responsive and high-quality support to those who need us most.
This post is open to women only as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
About the service
Safenet delivers specialist services across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, supporting adults and children affected by domestic abuse through safe accommodation, community services, recovery support and prevention work.
This role is based at Jane’s Place which provides 24‑hour accommodation and specialist support for women who are experiencing domestic abuse and who want to address substance use, mental ill‑health, or other complex needs as part of their recovery journey.
At Jane’s Place, many of the women we support have been excluded elsewhere. We don’t see “complexity” as a problem to manage, but as a response to trauma – and recovery as something that happens in healthy relationships, community, safety and hope.
This service sits at the intersection of domestic abuse, addiction recovery and mental health, and we are proud to offer a psychologically informed, trauma‑responsive environment where women are supported to rebuild their lives on their own terms.
About the role
As Service Manager, you will lead and be accountable for the refuge and lead a skilled, compassionate team delivering round‑the‑clock support to women and their children.
You will be a values‑led leader who understands recovery, trauma and risk, and who can balance clarity and accountability with warmth, curiosity and care.
You will:
- Lead and support a multidisciplinary refuge team working with women affected by domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental ill‑health
- Create a culture of psychological safety, reflective practice and trauma‑informed care
- Oversee the safe delivery of a 24‑hour residential service, including participation in an on‑call rota
- Ensure high standards of safeguarding, risk management, and housing management
- Work in partnership with recovery services, mental health providers, criminal justice partners and local authorities
- Support staff to hold hopeful, recovery‑focused relationships with women, even where progress is non‑linear
- Use lived experience insights, feedback and data to continually shape and improve the service
This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who believes deeply in capacity for change and recovery – even in the most challenging circumstances.
We’re looking for someone who…
We welcome applicants from a range of relevant backgrounds; direct refuge experience is not essential, but you do need to bring credibility, confidence and compassion from related fields.
You might come from:
- Substance misuse or addiction recovery services
- Trauma‑informed women’s services
- Mental health or psychologically informed environments (PIE)
- Housing or supported accommodation with complex needs
You will bring:
- Experience of leading and developing staff teams in high‑pressure, emotionally demanding services
- A strong understanding of domestic abuse, recovery, and trauma
- Knowledge of harm reduction, recovery‑focused approaches and systems change
- Confidence managing risk, safeguarding and complex decision‑making
- The ability to hold boundaries without losing humanity
- A commitment to women‑only, feminist and survivor‑informed practice
For further information about the role, please visit the Role Profile.
Essential Core Skills
Health & Safety Awareness
All our employees are required to work in a safe way, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and keep themselves, other colleagues and customers safe. You will be expected to update your knowledge and skills on Health & Safety if successful in your application.
Safeguarding
We work with adults and children who may be ‘at risk’ and expect colleagues to work in a way which protects the people we support from harm. Our colleagues are expected to identify people ‘at risk’ and confidently report any Safeguarding concerns as appropriate within the service.
Digital
Across our services, we use a range of technology and systems and expect colleagues to use them effectively and safely following cybersecurity and data protection principles (UK GDPR). Full training on specific systems is provided but a willingness to learn and develop is essential.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
The Calico Group welcomes diversity and champions the rights of those in society who may be marginalised. Our employees are expected to be inclusive, embracing those from different backgrounds to develop a fairer society.
If you share our values and are ready to grow through continuous learning, development, and the support of a dedicated team, we want to hear from you!
What’s in It for You?
At The Calico Group, we value our people and offer a supportive, inclusive culture alongside fantastic benefits:
- Bravo Benefits – Exclusive discounts at popular high street brands including many retailers and restaurants.
- Westfield Health – Our company funded cash plan, with access to a Doctor 24/7 – for you and your dependents.
- Mental Health Support – Access emotional and mental well-being services through Spectrum.
- Cycle to Work Scheme – Save on commuting costs while staying active.
- Pension Options – with employer pension contributions.
- Life Assurance – Peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
- Financial Advice – Expert guidance to help manage your finances.
- Recognition Awards – Celebrate your achievements with our recognition programs.
- Meaningful learning and development programmes with regular focus on your individual growth.
- Gym Membership Discounts – Stay fit with local gym access.
- One Calico Events – Connect and unwind at our employee social gatherings.
- Paid Professional Fees – We’ll cover the cost of professional subscriptions so you can continue growing your career.
And much more! We also offer enhanced holidays, sickness, maternity, and paternity options, ensuring you feel supported when you need it most.
This post is open to women only as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
SafeNet is working towards Equal Opportunities for all and actively encourages applications from disabled, ethnic minority and LBGTQI+ women who are under-represented. SafeNet is a Registered Charity No. 1091544 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3860803.
Inclusive Hiring at Calico
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss accessibility, please let us know.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
The Calico Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our customers employees, and volunteers. Successful candidates will be subject to a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) and appropriate pre-employment checks in line with our safeguarding policies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.