04th September, 2026
Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist
Location: Manchester
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience (£29,000 per annum upward)
Contract: Permanent, 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: Flexible working, including evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays as required
About the Role
- We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist to join a new dispersed safe accommodation service supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse with complex and intersecting needs, and their children where applicable.
- This is an exciting opportunity to join a new service providing safe, short-term accommodation alongside intensive specialist support, safety and recovery work, and practical assistance to help residents move towards greater independence and sustainable accommodation.
- You will work directly with victims and survivors who may be experiencing a range of additional challenges, including mental or physical ill health, substance use, homelessness, disability, deprivation, social isolation and other barriers to safety and recovery.
- Using a strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed approach, you will build trusting relationships, complete dynamic risk and needs assessments, develop personalised safety and support plans, and provide practical and emotional support.
- You will also play an important role in helping residents navigate housing, welfare, health, legal and community services, while working closely with specialist domestic abuse and statutory partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Build safe, respectful and trusting relationships with victims and survivors using trauma-informed, psychologically informed and non-judgemental approaches.
- Complete comprehensive assessments and develop personalised, outcome-focused support plans.
- Undertake and regularly review DASH risk assessments, safety plans and risk management arrangements.
- Provide intensive one-to-one support, advocacy, practical assistance, group work and appropriate signposting.
- Help residents understand domestic abuse, coercive control, healthy relationships, personal safety and the impact of abuse on children.
- Support individuals experiencing complex and intersecting needs, including substance use, mental ill health, trauma, homelessness, disability and social isolation.
- Use harm-reduction and recovery approaches to support residents whose engagement or wellbeing may fluctuate.
- Maintain appropriate persistence and assertive engagement while respecting survivor choice, autonomy and boundaries.
- Support residents to access criminal, civil and family law remedies and specialist domestic abuse, health, mental health and community services.
- Maintain high standards of safeguarding for adults and children, responding appropriately to emerging and high-risk concerns.
- Contribute to MARAC referrals, meetings and actions, including repeat and high-risk cases.
- Respond appropriately to serious incidents, emergencies, missing persons, unplanned moves and other significant risks.
- Maintain accurate, timely and auditable case records, assessments, support plans and outcome information.
- Manage an allocated caseload dynamically, prioritising work according to risk, need, engagement and outcomes.
- Begin move-on planning at an early stage and support residents to secure safe, sustainable onward accommodation.
- Provide practical housing advice, including property searches, applications and exploration of social and private rented sector options.
- Help residents overcome barriers relating to identification, benefits, debt, affordability and tenancy readiness.
- Support residents to develop independent living, financial, digital, literacy, numeracy and social skills.
- Support access to education, employment, training, volunteering, peer support and meaningful community activities.
- Assist residents with Housing Benefit, welfare entitlements, budgeting and rent-related matters.
- Undertake accommodation, welfare and health and safety checks and report repairs or property concerns.
- Help maintain the security and confidentiality of dispersed safe accommodation.
- Develop effective relationships with domestic abuse services, local authority teams, police, health, housing, children's services and voluntary-sector organisations.
- Advocate confidently for residents and coordinate multi-agency support.
- Contribute to supervision, reflective practice, case reviews, training, audits and service development.
- Support opportunities for residents and people with lived experience to influence service delivery and improvement.
About You
- Demonstrable experience supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, or closely related experience supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage and complex needs.
- Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, including coercive control, trauma and the impact of intersecting needs and protected characteristics on risk and access to support.
- Experience completing DASH assessments, safety planning and contributing to MARAC processes.
- Experience managing or contributing to high-risk domestic abuse and safeguarding cases.
- Experience delivering strengths-based, person-centred and trauma-informed support and casework.
- Experience safeguarding adults and children and responding appropriately to serious or escalating concerns.
- Experience within accommodation-based support, housing management, welfare benefits and move-on/resettlement.
- The ability to engage effectively with people whose participation may fluctuate, using empathy, persistence, professional curiosity and appropriate boundaries.
- The ability to work confidently with multi-agency partners and advocate effectively on behalf of residents.
- Excellent written, verbal and digital communication skills, with strong attention to detail in case recording.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, survivor choice, confidentiality and culturally competent practice.
- The ability to work flexibly across dispersed accommodation and agreed service hours.
- A full driving licence and access to a vehicle may be required depending on the role's operational requirements.
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge of Manchester's domestic abuse, housing, homelessness, safeguarding, health and community support networks.
- Experience delivering group work, peer support or co-production.
- Experience involving people with lived experience in service development.
- Knowledge of psychologically informed environments, reflective practice or evidence-based approaches.
To apply for this role, please apply through the website or call Nathan Jackson on 0117 923 9100.
Domestic Abuse Complex Needs Specialist in Manchester employer: BRC Recruitment
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