Closing Date: 19/09/2025 at 5:30pm
Job Title: Trainee Domestic Abuse Practitioner
Location: Sites across Hertfordshire
Salary: £24, pa. Plus on call payments
Report to: Service Manager
Have you always thought about a career in support work and want to make a difference. If you are interested in an exciting and rewarding opportunity to develop your skills and be part of a supportive team, we would like to hear from you
Main Purpose:
You will work as part of a team in with qualified practitioners delivering specialist high quality, effective support to women, men and their children who are either living in Safer Places safe accommodation or resettling or in the community having been a victim of domestic abuse. You will also receive the training to enable you to gain the expertise and skills required to have a career in this field.
Key Responsibilities:
1. To maintain and demonstrate a commitment to the Organisation's vision, values and strategic aims and objectives.
2. To maintain high standards of professionalism and keep abreast of current legislation, standards, best practice and maintain a focus on continuous improvement.
3. To maintain knowledge of the Organisation's operating environment.
Main Tasks
You will work with a qualified practitioner and initially assist in the delivery of the listed tasks but as your skills and competency grow you will begin to undertake these tasks independently. At the point when you have completed your formal training successfully and demonstrated competency in all the areas listed you will become a qualified practitioner and be paid at the qualified rate:
1. To accept referrals allocated by the service manager or senior DAP and commence an initial need and risk assessment with the client within the specified timescales initiating plans to manage and address risks, needs and immediate safety
2. Planning and delivery of support to clients and their children with a structured plan that is driven by the risks posed to the client and the needs/preferences of the individual client. This will be regularly reviewed with the client and line manager to ensure it reflects their current situation and priorities, using mandated best practice tools.
3. To ensure clients have in place, and continuously review with them and the line manager, robust risk management plans to support them living safely and ensure that they have 24-hour access to support in the event that a crisis arises, and they need to be made safe using additional support.
4. To work closely with external partner agencies, advocating on behalf of the client to meet their individual support needs in particular where those needs are specialist e.g., mental health, substance misuse, legal etc.
5. To ensure you work in close partnerships with other professionals and organisations in the locality effectively integrating with their services where this enables us to reach visible and hidden clients
6. To ensure that all Safeguarding measures are delivered in respect of the client and their children and that you strictly adhere to Safer Places policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding adults and children at all times.
7. To support clients to improve their resilience and prospects by encouraging engagement with various programmes and opportunities offered within the service such as, Triple R, improving numeracy and literacy, ESOL, Employability and other programmes provided in house or by other community partners.
8. Ensure that all monitoring information is delivered on time and that KPI's are met
9. Working as part of a team for the day-to-day running of the service and ensuring that all health and safety requirements are managed appropriately, and the facilities are clean, welcoming and resourced at all times.
10. To maintain confidential records and ensure that consistent and accurate monitoring systems are maintained.
11. To act in a professional manner at all times, communicating effectively with colleagues and partners. Building and sustaining effective and appropriate relationships with clients, colleagues and partners.
12. When working with those resettling in the community, support clients and families to access all resources available to make a home. Support clients in building social support networks and accessing all local services.
General
1. The role holder will be expected to perform any other duties that may reasonably be asked of them.
2. To participate fully in "on call" on a rota basis or as required in the delivery of out of hours service.
3. The role holder will be able to work within the Safeguarding arena following organisation policies and procedures, be able to Recognise; Respond to; Report and Record Safeguarding issues and understand and make quality Safeguarding Referrals.
4. Comply with data protection legislation, information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work. Act in a manner which preserves the confidentiality of all stakeholders.
5. Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the services work and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of survivors ensuring the service is accessible to all.
6. Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.
Knowledge and Experience
Have an understanding of how experiencing domestic abuse might impact upon a victim and their children - Essential
Experience of managing your time effectively - Essential
Experience of working with people in a support or service role - Desirable
Experience of working within a team - Desirable
Have some knowledge through- theory or practice of the other agencies such as the police, the courts, the health services and social care may be involved with victims of domestic abuse - Desirable
Have an understanding of Data Protection Legislation and Confidentiality - Essential
Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity in policy and practice - Essential
Have an understanding of Health and Safety at Work -Essential
SKILLS
Have computer literacy skills - Essential
Have excellent communication, both written and verbal- Essential
Have good record keeping skills - Essential
QUALIFICATION
Minimum educational attainment GCSE or equivalent score - Essential
OTHER Subject to Enhanced DBS Essential
Ability to work outside the normal office hours to cover call on a rota basis.
Car driver with access to a vehicle
Benefits
* Competitive salary
* 28 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays. Pro-rata for part-time employees
* Pension scheme
* Occupational sick pay (on completion of probation)
* Access to Bupa Health Minds Support Service
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to women 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.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £24,644.50 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Sick pay
Licence/Certification:
* Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: TDAPH 211024