DA Refuge Practitioner Loughborough (Leicestershire - covering Loughborough) Part-time - 18.5 hours per week Shift Pattern: Monday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Friday Permanent Salary: £12,602 per annum About the Role We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Domestic Abuse (DA) Refuge Practitioner to join a specialist women's refuge service supporting BAME women and their children. This is a rewarding frontline role where you will provide safe accommodation, emotional support, and advocacy to individuals experiencing domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence, and other forms of harm. You will play a vital role in helping women rebuild their safety, independence, and wellbeing, while working within a supportive, culturally responsive team environment. What You'll Be Doing Refuge Support & Casework Manage referrals, admissions, and risk/needs assessments Provide 1:1 emotional and practical support, including safety planning Support women to access housing, benefits, legal advice, health, and education services Advocate for residents and attend key appointments (e.g. court, housing, GP) Culturally Sensitive Support Deliver culturally appropriate support to BAME women Understand and respond to issues such as patriarchy, racism, and community pressures Provide interpretation/translation where needed Support complex cases including immigration and NRPF Support Planning Develop and review personalised support plans Monitor progress and outcomes Support move-on and resettlement into independent living Refuge Operations Help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming refuge environment Facilitate house meetings, activities, and community engagement Support day-to-day running of the refuge Safeguarding & Partnership Working Safeguard children and vulnerable adults Work with agencies such as Social Care, MARAC, Police, and Early Help Identify risks and take appropriate action On-Call & Emergency Support Participate in out-of-hours rota (including evenings/nights) Respond to emergencies and new referrals when required Administration Maintain accurate case notes, risk assessments, and records Ensure compliance with GDPR and confidentiality standards What We're Looking For Essential Experience supporting BAME women affected by domestic abuse / HBV / forced marriage Minimum 2-3 years' experience in a support, safeguarding, or social care setting Ability to speak at least one BAME language (e.g. Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Somali, etc.) Strong communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills Ability to manage complex cases and work under pressure Good IT and organisational skills Flexible approach (including on-call work) Commitment to equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice Empathy, resilience, and a non-judgemental approach Enhanced DBS (or willingness to obtain) Desirable First Aid qualification Experience in the voluntary sector Knowledge of BAME cultural needs in domestic abuse contexts Experience supporting complex needs (mental health, substance misuse, NRPF) Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle Why Join Us? Make a real difference in the lives of women and children Be part of a supportive, values-driven team Work in a role that is meaningful, impactful, and rewarding Opportunities for training and professional development Apply Now If you are passionate about supporting survivors and creating safe spaces for women and children, we would love to hear from you.