Domestic Abuse Support Worker - Portsmouth

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Family Safeguarding Domestic Abuse Worker to join our integrated Family Safeguarding Adult Team, working closely with Family Help and Building Your Futures services.

As a Family Safeguarding Domestic Abuse Worker, you will be co‑located within the Family Help and Building Your Futures teams and work as part of a multi‑disciplinary group that includes children’s social workers, Family Help lead practitioners, and specialist adult workers such as mental health and substance use practitioners. You will be responsible for assessing, planning and delivering specialist domestic abuse interventions for parents and carers whose children are open to Children’s Social Care, including those who have experienced or used unhealthy or abusive behaviours within relationships.

You will complete specialist needs and risk assessments and ensure that individuals affected by domestic abuse receive timely, appropriate support as part of a coordinated multi‑disciplinary plan. You will provide guidance and advice to other professionals and work within a Team Around the Worker model, using strengths‑based approaches and positive risk management. You will ensure safeguarding responses are consistent and timely, in line with legislation and local and national safeguarding procedures, maintaining a focus on both child and adult safeguarding. You will deliver all direct work using restorative and trauma‑informed approaches, including Motivational Interviewing, and engage fully in supervision, reflective practice, learning and development activities. You will also contribute to quality assurance processes such as audits and learning reviews.

The Ideal candidate

• An IDVA qualification or equivalent experience in domestic abuse work (or willingness to undertake training)
• Strong knowledge of adult and child safeguarding procedures
• Experience working with families and understanding the impact of adult needs on parenting and child development
• A trauma-informed, inclusive, and strengths-based approach
• Confidence working both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of complex assessments and applying theory to practice
• Strong organisational, IT and communication skills
• An understanding of Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practice (or willingness to train)

Please ensure that you download and read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention to the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.

This role is office based; there is no Hybrid working.

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please email: Esther McGhee.

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria; however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.