DA Refuge Practitioner
Find out more about the daily tasks, overall responsibilities, and required experience for this opportunity by scrolling down now.
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 xsngvjr 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.