Refuge worker jobs

We have an exciting opportunity to work for our organisation providing a high quality service as a Family Support Worker based within the Refuge to support those who experience Domestic Abuse (DA). Your role will be to support the families living in the refuge, empowering, keeping the safety of them and their children central to your interventions, helping them navigate life after leaving an abusive relationship. We are looking for an individual who is committed to working in a multi-agency setting, which is fast-paced and different everyday. You will be joining our caring, strong and hardworking team.

MK-ACT is an equal opportunities employer committed to quality, equality diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This post is subject to safer recruitment procedures and regulations and an enhanced DBS check.

Family Support Worker – Refuge

Location: MK Act Office, Milton Keynes

Hours: 21 hours per week (3 days)

Salary: £14,698.32 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Refuge Deputy Manager

Based at Milton Keynes refuges

As a Family Support Worker, you will have a caseload of women who will have support plans that you will put in place and oversee as well as working with colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the refuge. You will have the ability to keep accurate records and data and be able to work to deadlines. You will have a solid understanding of DA and its effects on victims and children, be proactive and have a person-centred approach. The post holder will be expected to drive the company vehicles and will require a full clean driving licence held for a minimum of two years (insurance requirement for use of work vehicles). You will have experience of working in a multi-agency setting and undertaking face-to-face work with clients. It is desirable but not essential that you hold either IDVA/DAPA qualification. The ability to speak a foreign language, together with a strong understanding of the needs of minoritised communities is also desirable but not essential

This post is open to female applicants only under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality act 2010.

Closing date: 27 January

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Refuge Worker to play a pivotal role in our Domestic Abuse Service in Ealing

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

We are looking for passionate individuals to provide intensive casework, support, and day-to-day guidance for women in our services. You'll play a vital role in delivering safety advice and information, including around domestic abuse and independent living, while co-producing personalised Support and Safety Plans that build on each woman's strengths and goals.

Your work will include liaising with statutory bodies such as Social Services to ensure safeguarding responsibilities are met, supporting housing needs and move-on accommodation, and facilitating empowering social activities and workshops that promote confidence, self-esteem, and assertiveness.

At the heart of this role is The Hestia Approach – a commitment to co-production and recovery. You'll work in true partnership with service users, helping them shape the support they receive, whether through peer networks, community groups, or local events.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for

Applicants should have experience supporting individuals with diverse and complex needs, including mental health issues and substance misuse. This includes delivering high-quality floating or outreach support, developing support plans, conducting risk assessments, and liaising with external professionals. Knowledge of safeguarding, welfare benefits, housing legislation, and the ability to accurately record casework using computer systems is essential. The role also requires the ability to work independently in the community and travel throughout the borough.

Please note: This role is open to female applicants only, in accordance with Schedule 9 (1a) of the Equality Act 2010.

When will I be working?

You will be working between the hours on 9am - 5.18pm, Monday to Friday 

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Female Refuge Support Worker to join our Homelessness and Complex needs Service in Tower Hamlets.

£11,200.00 per annum, working 16 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Are you looking for a rewarding role working with families who have fled domestic and sexual abuse? We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our refuge team.

We work with a trauma-informed, survivor led framework with intersectional feminism at the core.
The Tower Hamlets Domestic Abuse Service provides emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic and sexual violence. As a refuge support worker you will provide emotional and practical support, such as legal options, housing, benefits and signposting.
You will risk assess and develop safety and support plans with survivors at the centre.
The role is 16 hours per week

Due to the Client and the nature of this role, this position is for Women only.

This is a fixed term contract until May 2026 with possibility of extension

What you'll do:
* Manage customer referrals, completing Dash Risk Assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork
* Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere.
* Oversee On Track implementation from an operational perspective during the initial upload of cases to ensure that any issues are highlighted to management.
* Conducting regular Keyword sessions with each survivor.
* Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Knowledge of the impact of domestic and sexual abuse on women and children
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Experience conducting risk assessments and safety plans
* Ability to keep on top of casework admin and prioritise tasks.
* Works within an anti-discriminatory and intersectional feminist framework

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Experience working with survivors of domestic abuse
* Understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on survivors and their children
* A trauma-informed approach to support
* Experience conducting risk assessments and producing person-centred safety and support plans

Desirable:
* Experience of working in a residential setting
* Experience of delivering domestic abuse recovery programmes
* Experience of coproducing delivery outcomes and gathering evidence in accordance with them
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient female Refuge Children's Worker to join our Homelessness and Complex needs Service in Tower Hamlets.

£14,000.00 per annum, working 20 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Are you looking for a rewarding role working with families who have fled domestic abuse? We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our refuge team.

This is a fixed term contract until May 2026 with possibility of extension

What you'll do:
* To ensure that the needs of children and young people in the refuge are assessed as part of admission and the duration of their stay
* To plan and implement a programme of therapeutic and recreational activities for children and young people living both at the refuge and in the community, as well as play-work and activity trips
* To provide individual, age-appropriate key working sessions for children of all ages. With a focus on safeguarding, including risk and safety planning, emotional & physical health & wellbeing, education and social & family networks
* To encourage and support mothers to build loving and consistent relationships with their children

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Flexible
* Open to feedback and self-development
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments Mission & Values 'Working with people to make choices, achieve goals and take control of their live through high quality care, support and housing'

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* A recognised qualification in childcare such as NVQ level 3, NNEB/DCE,
* Experience of working with children of all ages
* Experience of working with children who've experienced domestic abuse
* Ability to communicate effectively with children of different ages and backgrounds, and help them communicate their experiences
* Experience of planning, facilitating, evaluating and recording group play
* Experience of writing Reports
* Ability to work flexibly around working hours

Desirable:
* Experience of working with children in a residential setting
* Experience of delivering domestic abuse recovery programmes
* Experience of coproducing delivery outcomes and gathering evidence in accordance with them

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description

For nearly 50 years, nia has provided high quality, women-led services across North and East London. nia has three main aims: to provide services for women, children and young people who have experienced male violence, working to end men’s violence against women and girls, and to inform and influence policy and public awareness.

nia’s values, and our commitment to upholding them, set us apart. We put women first – always and without hesitation: we believe women, we are run by women, for women. We leave no woman behind: we challenge inequality and discrimination and believe that uniting women of all backgrounds is essential to ending the sex-based oppression of women.

The Emma Project, Daria House and Jan’s Place are specialist services providing refuge and support services to women who have been subjected to domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse, including women who have been sexually exploited, including through prostitution and who also use substances problematically.

This post is currently funded until 31st March 2027 with a possibility of further extension.

Job Ref: nia 198

Hours: 35hrs/week working across Camden, Haringey and Islington

You will support women living in nia’s refuges to move on into accommodation and support them to resettle and build resilient support networks. We’re looking for a highly organised and self-motivated woman who is passionate about ending violence against women, girls and children. You’ll have a ‘can-do’ approach and demonstrable commitment to nia’s approach to Prioritising women, upholding and promoting feminist, trauma-informed and anti-racist practice

CV’s will not be accepted. 

Closing date: 10am, 19 January 2026

Interview period: 26 & 28 January 2026

 The post is subject to an enhanced vetting and barring check and open to women only. Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work; Exceptions), Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies