Domestic Abuse Health Advocate
The closing date is 27 May 2026
We are seeking a Domestic Abuse Health Advocate (DAHA) to provide specialist, confidential and trauma‑informed support to Trust staff who are experiencing domestic abuse.
The postholder will deliver direct intervention, safety planning and advocacy for employees, working independently from HR and management structures, while contributing to the organisation's wider safeguarding, wellbeing and violence prevention agenda.
This role recognises that domestic abuse affects the workforce as well as patients, and requires a skilled, compassionate professional who can operate confidently within a complex NHS environment.
The post is a short‑term project grant funded post, which is a fixed contract over 15 months and will work within the Safeguarding Services alongside the domestic abuse health advocates who work with patients. The 22.5 hours are flexible to meet the needs of the services, based on accessibility to meet and support staff, following a disclosure or referral.
The base will be Durham Road Children Centre but there will be a requirement to work into all Trust sites.
Main duties of the job
Provide confidential, person‑centred advocacy to staff experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive control, stalking and honour‑based abuse.
Undertake risk assessment (e.g. DASH or equivalent) and develop personalised safety plans.
Deliver direct domestic abuse intervention, including advocacy, safety planning, and escalation where risk is identified.
Support staff to navigate complex systems, including police, housing, social care, MARAC, and legal remedies.
Maintain professional independence while working within safeguarding and legal frameworks.
Work closely with the domestic abuse health advocates for patients and HR managers and line managers to ensure a seamless service.
Deliver domestic abuse training to staff and line managers.
Work with current guidelines and policies and update as required.
Align the work streams with the Call it out, no excuse for abuse and freedom to speak up in the collection of data as part of the project.
About us
We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce’s health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
Job responsibilities
To provide domestic abuse health advocacy to STSFT staff and patients where required.
The post holder will be expected to be flexible to meet the wider DAHA services requirement within the commissioning arrangements as set out by North East and Cumbria Integrated Care Board and NHS Charities Together Workforce Wellbeing Fund grant for project.
Support DAHA service and work with the safeguarding team.
Provide advice and guidance to STSFT, to empower them to identify, support and signpost victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Provide training to STSFT staff in developing their knowledge and skills and to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Support the DAHA service in the development of domestic abuse and sexual violence resources, guidance and pathways which will support staff and victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Work within a multi‑agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Support STSFT staff with referrals for on‑going support to MARAC.
Support the DAHA service to review and develop referral pathways to local domestic abuse services and MARAC.
Undertake risk assessments and safety planning with victims when necessary and hand over to relevant domestic abuse service.
Provide advocacy and signposting to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
In accordance with Trust policy, provide support to STSFT staff who are victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Facilitate access to community resources e.g., refuge provision, psychological support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Support the DAHA service in the development and recording systems for collating domestic abuse activity and contribute to relevant reports, quality assured by Associate Director Safeguarding Services.
Contribute to the safeguarding dashboard quality assurance data set on compliance to relevant policies and procedures.
Comply with responsibility to safeguard children and adults, ensuring attendance at appropriate training.
Comply with all appropriate codes of conduct.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Communication / counselling skills training
* IDVA training
* ISVA training
Physical Skills
* Competent in the use of IT equipment including Microsoft packages eg Word, Excel and Outlook.
* Keyboard skills to complete patient assessment documentation/care plans and other relevant paperwork.
* Ability to maintain accurate patient records, adhering to strict patient and family confidentiality as per GDPR
Experience
* Experience of working with vulnerable people/victims of domestic abuse and or sexual violence
* Understanding of health economy
* Experience of managing a caseload
* Experience of working within a multi‑agency and legislative framework.
* Have a good understanding of domestic abuse and or sexual violence, including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children
* Evidence of practice development
* Experience of coordinating care for a caseload of patients
* Experience of working in a health care setting
Skills and Knowledge
* Have theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge of civil and criminal justice support for victims of domestic abuse and or sexual violence and their children.
* Understand child and adult safeguarding and the legal responsibilities surrounding this
* Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and or sexual violence and their children.
* Understand the remits and resources of relevant statutory bodies and voluntary agencies.
* Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice.
* Analysing and communicating sensitive and complex information in relation to operational issues relating to the organisation and to partner agencies as required.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
£32,073 to £39,043 a year pro rata for part time
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