_{04th September, 2026}

Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist

Location: Manchester
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience (£29,000 per annum upward)
Contract: Permanent, 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: Flexible working, including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays as required
  
About the Role

• We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist to join a new dispersed safe accommodation service supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse with complex and intersecting needs, and their children where applicable.
• This is an exciting opportunity to join a new service providing safe, short-term accommodation alongside intensive specialist support, safety and recovery work, and practical assistance to help residents move towards greater independence and sustainable accommodation.
• You will work directly with victims and survivors who may be experiencing a range of additional challenges, including mental or physical ill health, substance use, homelessness, disability, deprivation, social isolation and other barriers to safety and recovery.
• Using a strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed approach, you will build trusting relationships, complete dynamic risk and needs assessments, develop personalised safety and support plans, and provide practical and emotional support.
• You will also play an important role in helping residents navigate housing, welfare, health, legal and community services, while working closely with specialist domestic abuse and statutory partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Build safe, respectful and trusting relationships with victims and survivors using trauma-informed, psychologically informed and non-judgemental approaches.
• Complete comprehensive assessments and develop personalised, outcome-focused support plans.
• Undertake and regularly review DASH risk assessments, safety plans and risk management arrangements.
• Provide intensive one-to-one support, advocacy, practical assistance, group work and appropriate signposting.
• Help residents understand domestic abuse, coercive control, healthy relationships, personal safety and the impact of abuse on children.
• Support individuals experiencing complex and intersecting needs, including substance use, mental ill health, trauma, homelessness, disability and social isolation.
• Use harm-reduction and recovery approaches to support residents whose engagement or wellbeing may fluctuate.
• Maintain appropriate persistence and assertive engagement while respecting survivor choice, autonomy and boundaries.
• Support residents to access criminal, civil and family law remedies and specialist domestic abuse, health, mental health and community services.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding for adults and children, responding appropriately to emerging and high-risk concerns.
• Contribute to MARAC referrals, meetings and actions, including repeat and high-risk cases.
• Respond appropriately to serious incidents, emergencies, missing persons, unplanned moves and other significant risks.
• Maintain accurate, timely and auditable case records, assessments, support plans and outcome information.
• Manage an allocated caseload dynamically, prioritising work according to risk, need, engagement and outcomes.
• Begin move-on planning at an early stage and support residents to secure safe, sustainable onward accommodation.
• Provide practical housing advice, including property searches, applications and exploration of social and private rented sector options.
• Help residents overcome barriers relating to identification, benefits, debt, affordability and tenancy readiness.
• Support residents to develop independent living, financial, digital, literacy, numeracy and social skills.
• Support access to education, employment, training, volunteering, peer support and meaningful community activities.
• Assist residents with Housing Benefit, welfare entitlements, budgeting and rent-related matters.
• Undertake accommodation, welfare and health and safety checks and report repairs or property concerns.
• Help maintain the security and confidentiality of dispersed safe accommodation.
• Develop effective relationships with domestic abuse services, local authority teams, police, health, housing, children's services and voluntary-sector organisations.
• Advocate confidently for residents and coordinate multi-agency support.
• Contribute to supervision, reflective practice, case reviews, training, audits and service development.
• Support opportunities for residents and people with lived experience to influence service delivery and improvement.

  
About You

• Demonstrable experience supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, or closely related experience supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage and complex needs.
• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, including coercive control, trauma and the impact of intersecting needs and protected characteristics on risk and access to support.
• Experience completing DASH assessments, safety planning and contributing to MARAC processes.
• Experience managing or contributing to high-risk domestic abuse and safeguarding cases.
• Experience delivering strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed support and casework.
• Experience safeguarding adults and children and responding appropriately to serious or escalating concerns.
• Experience within accommodation-based support, housing management, welfare benefits and move-on/resettlement.
• The ability to engage effectively with people whose participation may fluctuate, using empathy, persistence, professional curiosity and appropriate boundaries.
• The ability to work confidently with multi-agency partners and advocate effectively on behalf of residents.
• Excellent written, verbal and digital communication skills, with strong attention to detail in case recording.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, survivor choice, confidentiality and culturally competent practice.
• The ability to work flexibly across dispersed accommodation and agreed service hours.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle may be required depending on the role's operational requirements.

  
Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of Manchester's domestic abuse, housing, homelessness, safeguarding, health and community support networks.
• Experience delivering group work, peer support or co-production.
• Experience involving people with lived experience in service development.
• Knowledge of psychologically informed environments, reflective practice or evidence-based approaches.

  
  
To apply for this role, please apply through the website or call Nathan Jackson on 0117 923 9100.

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