Outreach Domestic Abuse Practitioner/Worker

Outreach Domestic Abuse Practitioner/Worker - Coventry

Location: Coventry
Job Type: Full-Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
Salary: £26,617

About the Role

A specialist women's support service is seeking an Outreach Domestic Abuse Practitioner to deliver high-quality support to women and children affected by all forms of domestic abuse.

The role involves casework, crisis intervention, outreach support, risk assessment, and advocacy. You will work across the community, ensuring that victims can access safety, specialist services, and emotional and practical support.

You will also help improve pathways into support by delivering group work, awareness sessions, and community outreach activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Casework & Support

• Provide 1:1 practical and emotional support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
• Develop and review Individual Support Plans (ISPs) tailored to each service user.
• Carry out comprehensive risk assessments and safety planning.
• Provide advocacy on issues such as housing, benefits, legal options, health, and social care.
• Refer service users to appropriate specialist services when required.

2. Community Outreach

• Lead on referrals into the community team.
• Deliver drop-ins, surgeries, workshops, and awareness sessions across Coventry.
• Run group support sessions for survivors.
• Build strong community connections to improve access to services for women and children.

3. Multi-Agency Working

• Work collaboratively with external agencies including social care, police, housing, health services, and community groups.
• Attend case reviews, multi-agency meetings, and safeguarding meetings as required.
• Support community professionals to improve their understanding of domestic abuse.

4. Development & Service Improvement

• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practice.
• Keep up to date with legislation, local policies, and national domestic abuse guidance.
• Identify gaps in provision and opportunities to improve service accessibility.

5. Administration & Data Management

• Maintain accurate records using approved systems (e.g., OASIS or similar databases).
• Produce monthly reports, case updates, and monitoring information.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, confidentiality, and organisational standards.
• Record health and safety information and participate in audits where required.

6. Training & Professional Development

• Attend internal training, supervision, and development sessions.
• Support in organising and delivering training for service users and professionals.
• Keep knowledge updated in areas such as DA legislation, safeguarding, benefits, housing and legal frameworks.

7. Equality, Diversity & Safeguarding

• Provide a service that is inclusive, non-discriminatory and culturally sensitive.
• Support women from BME communities, those with "No Recourse to Public Funds", and women facing complex barriers.
• Follow safeguarding policies to protect children, vulnerable adults, and victims at risk.

Person Specification

Essential

• Previous experience supporting victims of domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based abuse, FGM, or similar safeguarding fields.
• Strong understanding of domestic abuse legislation, risk assessment tools, and support planning.
• Ability to provide proactive casework, crisis intervention, and advocacy.
• Experience building professional relationships with partner agencies.
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to speak at least one BME language (e.g., Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Pushtu, Somali, or African languages).
• Excellent organisational skills and competent in IT systems and data entry.
• Ability to work independently under pressure and manage a varied caseload.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Emotional resilience and a non-judgmental, empathetic approach.
• Enhanced DBS check (required).

Desirable

• Recognised counselling or relevant professional qualification (NVQ, DA training, safeguarding certificates).
• Experience delivering training or community awareness sessions.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a car for work purposes.