Refuge worker jobs in london
About the organisation
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.
About the post
nia’s Specialist Refuge service holds the Women’s Aid Quality Standard mark. The refuges team provides specialist accommodation and support services to women who experience multiple disadvantage including involvement in prostitution and other forms of sexual violence and exploitation, domestic violence, and problematic substance use.
The post is currently funded until March 2026.
About you
We’re looking for a highly organised and self-motivated woman who is passionate about ending violence against women. You’ll have a ‘can-do’ approach and demonstrable commitment to nia’s feminist approach to supporting women and girls.
CV’s will not be accepted.
Closing date: 10am, 18 November 2025
Interview date: 28 November 2025
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.
Delivering cutting edge services to end violence against women and children.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Refuge Worker
Location: This is an on-site role, located within the London Borough of Hillingdon, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hounslow.
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, inclusive of London weighting allowance if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.
The post holder will provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. This includes safety planning and enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits, and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.
As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.
Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 10 November 2025
Interview Dates: 18 and 19 November 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Refuge Worker
Location: This is an onsite role, located within the London Borough of Hounslow, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Salary: £17,314.27 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location)
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent
Hours: 22.5 hours
Are you passionate about supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse? We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Refuge Worker to join our team, providing vital support in a safe and secure environment for those in crisis. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals when they need it most.
As a Refuge Worker, you will be responsible for delivering practical and emotional support to residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing while they rebuild their lives. Key duties include conducting risk assessments, safety planning, supporting access to benefits and housing, liaising with external agencies, and maintaining accurate case records. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, resilient, and highly organised, with experience of working in a support or advocacy role, ideally within the domestic abuse or safeguarding sector.
This is a rewarding role where your work has a direct impact every day. In return, we offer a supportive team environment, opportunities for training and development, and the chance to be part of a cause that truly matters.
As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.
Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 14 November 2025
Iterview Dates: 24 and 25 November 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Refuge Worker
Location: This is an onsite role, located within the London Borough of Hounslow, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Salary: £28,857.12 (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location)
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours
Are you passionate about supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse? We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Refuge Worker to join our team, providing vital support in a safe and secure environment for those in crisis. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals when they need it most.
As a Refuge Worker, you will be responsible for delivering practical and emotional support to residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing while they rebuild their lives. Key duties include conducting risk assessments, safety planning, supporting access to benefits and housing, liaising with external agencies, and maintaining accurate case records. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, resilient, and highly organised, with experience of working in a support or advocacy role, ideally within the domestic abuse or safeguarding sector.
This is a rewarding role where your work has a direct impact every day. In return, we offer a supportive team environment, opportunities for training and development, and the chance to be part of a cause that truly matters.
As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.
Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 19 November 2025
Iterview Dates: 2 and 3 December 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Refuge Worker
Location: This is an onsite role, located within the London Borough of Hounslow, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Salary: £28,857.12 (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location)
Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (until March 2026)
Hours: 37.5 hours
Are you passionate about supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse? We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Refuge Worker to join our team, providing vital support in a safe and secure environment for those in crisis. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals when they need it most.
As a Refuge Worker, you will be responsible for delivering practical and emotional support to residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing while they rebuild their lives. Key duties include conducting risk assessments, safety planning, supporting access to benefits and housing, liaising with external agencies, and maintaining accurate case records. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, resilient, and highly organised, with experience of working in a support or advocacy role, ideally within the domestic abuse or safeguarding sector.
This is a rewarding role where your work has a direct impact every day. In return, we offer a supportive team environment, opportunities for training and development, and the chance to be part of a cause that truly matters.
As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.
Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 17 November 2025
Iterview Dates: 27 and 28 November 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are recruiting for a Children's Support Worker to join our team in Southwark; the scope on this job involves….
Job Title: Children's Support Worker
Location: Southwark
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5
We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Children Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.
This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing date: 9.00am on 7 November 2025
Interview date: 17 November 2025
Benefits
Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.
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 Children and Families Lead Manager to play a pivotal role in our Domestic Abuse Services across London.
At Hestia, we know that children are not just witnesses to domestic abuse they are survivors in their own right. We are looking for an experienced and passionate leader to join us as Children & Families Manager, shaping and driving the support we provide to children and their families across our domestic abuse refuges in London.
Sounds great, what will I be doing?
This is an opportunity to make a profound impact. You will lead on designing and delivering a transformative strategy for our children and families' services, ensuring that every child we support has the chance to feel safe, to recover, and to thrive. Working at both a strategic and operational level, you will bring together the voices of children, the expertise of our Children & Family Workers, and the knowledge of in house and external mental health specialists to deliver holistic, trauma informed support.
Your leadership will be central in strengthening outcomes for families, embedding best practice, and ensuring our services respond to complex safeguarding needs with confidence. You will also play a key role in supporting and developing our frontline teams, helping them to remain resilient and equipped to deliver life changing work. As deputy child safeguarding lead for the organisation, you will bring authority and assurance to our safeguarding culture, ensuring we meet the highest standards of care and protection
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
We are seeking a qualified social work professional with strong expertise in child safeguarding (Level 4). The ideal candidate will bring experience in child-focused practice, trauma and crisis response services, and proven leadership as a Safeguarding Lead. You will have a track record of effective multi-agency working, developing protocols and referral pathways, and delivering training to upskill teams. With in-depth knowledge of child and contextual safeguarding, childhood development and the impact of trauma, you will be skilled at working with children and families in a user-led, strengths-based way to achieve the best outcomes.
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 deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.



Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Please note, due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.
Job Title: Support Mentor
Location: West London (Unfortunately, this premises has no step free access)
Salary: £27,000
Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (One Saturday once every 3 months instead of a Friday) on a rolling rota including 07:30 - 15:30, 09:00 - 17:00 and 11:30 - 19:30
About the Role
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Support Mentor. We are looking for someone who really cares about the rights of women and their children to join our service in West London. This is an opportunity to support within a refuge accommodation for women and children surviving domestic abuse, many of whom are living with trauma. As a Support Mentor, you will support in providing a much needed safe space and support for women, for them to feel empowered in their healing journey and feel secure in their independence, strengths, and skills.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support residents/participants to achieve their desired goals/outcomes in various ways
- Ensure all residents/participants understand their rights and responsibilities, and have access to the right tools, resources, and networks to support them in achieving their goals.
- Develop, participate in, and encourage residents/participants to participate in the running and development of various projects and activities.
- Empower residents/participants to make decisions to take control over their lives, by creating an enabling environment.
- Provide advice, information, guidance, and life skills training to residents/participants as required.
- Recognise signs of deteriorating mental health, physical health, or other health implications and initiate appropriate interventions to prevent crisis or other risks.
About You
Our Refuge works to support women with complex and enduring needs and women who experience domestic abuse to reclaim their power and find their voice. We are passionate about working in a supportive, solution focused and trauma informed way to support our residents and participants to make and sustain positive change. The successful candidate will work as part of a team to deliver exceptional support to women and children at a particularly challenging time in their lives. We are looking for passionate, motivated and proactive individuals who are dedicated to making a positive difference.
- Due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act.
- Experience of working with people of complex backgrounds and/or a good understanding of the sector, particularly around multiple and complex needs
- Ability to show empathy and compassion to our residents, and different challenges they face
- Experience working with, or a strong understanding of, domestic abuse and the systemic barriers faced by women.
- Ability to use, learn and adapt to IT at an intermediate level, including Microsoft and other software programs
- Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
- Ability to promote the service and provide outreach-based provision, with an ability to liaise and work effectively in partnership with stakeholders
- Understanding of the different needs people with multiple and complex needs have and be aware of the social marginalisation that can be attached to people who face personal challenges
- Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency
Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.
What we Offer
- 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
- Employer Pension Contribution
- Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
- Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
- Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
- Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
- Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Annual Staff Awards
- EDI Ambassador programme
About Social Interest Group (SIG)
SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change.
We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.
Additional Information
Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.
Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.
Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.
Empowering independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital and off the streets
Location: Camden/Haringey
Salary: £40,326 - £42,978 per annum
(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week(Required to work some weekends and shift work)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Wednesday 5th November 2025
Closing Time: 00:00am
Interview Date: Friday 14th November 2025
Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Service Manager at Solace Women's Aid.
You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.
Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.
About the Service
Our 24 hour specialist supported accommodation service provides support for women affected by any form of violence, including domestic abuse and/or sexual violence who are experiencing poor mental health and/or problematic use of substances, to build towards an independent future. This service is a high needs service.
The team delivers one to one support in the form of weekly keywork sessions working within a psychologically informed framework to create support plans with residents and build on skills and competencies. We use a strengths-based approach in the hope that service users can move on into the community or a lower needs service to live a better quality of life whatever that may look like for the individual.
In addition, the team is responsible for the building management including Health and Safety, void turn over, financial management, the repairs and living environment.
About the Role
As the service manager you will oversee the following areas of work of which there is more info in the job Description.
- Operational management of the service
- Lead and develop a staff team
- Manage staff & Service Performance
- Promote Solace and build relationships in the borough
- Ensure Financial accountability & compliance
- Be part of an On-Call Rota
- Corporate Responsibilities
About You
If you demonstrate commitment, innovation, passion, non-judgemental attitude and collaboration, you’ll thrive in our diverse feminist team of professional women.
Ideal candidates will have:
- Sound understanding of practical, emotional, social and economic issues affecting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
- In-depth knowledge advising on a range of options including safe housing, criminal justice, civil remedies and risk management.
- Demonstratable knowledge of adult and children safeguarding
- Experience managing staff
- Experience managing a project
- Have Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work well under pressure, prioritising workload and crisis management
- Sensitive and non-judgemental approach when working with vulnerable clients
- Experience in risk assessment, management and safety planning
- Willingness to work some weekends to cover the rota
What we can offer you
We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:
- Flexible working
- Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Employer pension contribution
- Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
- Access to Inclusion Networks
- Daily clinical debriefing
- Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
- Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
- Flow & Restore yoga classes
- Meditation sessions
- Cycle to Work Scheme
How to apply
When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement/Expression of Interest how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:
- Values, Behaviours & Competencies
- Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.
No agencies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job title: Admissions Officer
Reports to: Head of Language Programme
Location: Hybrid work with 40% from Breaking Barriers’ office in London, Manchester or Birmingham
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), part-time considered. Open to flexible working.
Contract: Permanent
Overall purpose
The Programme Admissions Officer will be responsible for processing client applications, including conducting initial calls, checking eligibility and signposting where applicable. They would then flag new applicants with the relevant team/programme. This role is the gateway to accessing our services and plays a critical role in providing a positive and seamless client experience. As we enter a new and exciting stage of strategic development, this role has the potential to grow and develop in line with our evolving service model.
To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accesible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.
Other considerations
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As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
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We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.
Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
How to apply
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
- Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role)
Closing date for applications is Sunday 16 November at 11:30pm. Please note, interviews will be held online on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supportd organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and / or are from a refugee background.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for independent and confidential support with your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach to HR Manager, Caroline Meechan for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert but you can find contact details in the recruitment pack).
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
- Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role).
Breaking Barriers exists so that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.