At a Glance
- Tasks: Support residents affected by domestic abuse to access safe housing and improve their lives.
- Company: Southwark Council, dedicated to creating safer communities.
- Benefits: Permanent contract, 36 hours a week, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Other info: Join a supportive team focused on meaningful change and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of those affected by domestic abuse.
- Qualifications: Experience with domestic abuse, strong communication skills, and a passion for prevention.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Could your expertise help prevent homelessness, improve safety and transform the way housing services respond to domestic abuse? If yes, we have an exciting opportunity for you! Southwark Council is seeking an experienced and passionate Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer to help shape a safer, more effective housing response for residents affected by domestic abuse.
About the Role: This is an opportunity to use your specialist knowledge to influence practice, support colleagues, strengthen partnerships and improve outcomes for survivors. Based within Housing Needs and Support, this role plays a key part in delivering Southwark’s prevention-focused approach - ensuring residents receive the right support at the right time and have access to safe and sustainable housing solutions. This specialist role focuses on early intervention, prevention, and service improvement. You will work across all housing tenures, collaborating with Housing Associations, private rented sector landlords, internal teams and specialist agencies to reduce the risk of homelessness and support residents to achieve safer housing outcomes. Rather than managing a large ongoing caseload, you will provide targeted specialist advice and intervention at key points of risk. You will also contribute to wider service improvement by developing guidance, improving processes and building confidence across housing services.
What You'll Be Doing As the Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer, you will:
- Provide specialist housing advice, guidance and support to residents affected by domestic abuse, helping them access safe and appropriate housing options.
- Support residents to remain in their homes where it is safe and appropriate, using effective safety planning and risk management approaches.
- Work with Housing Associations and private landlords to negotiate solutions, prevent homelessness and challenge inappropriate housing decisions where required.
- Provide specialist advice on complex and high-risk situations, supporting risk assessments, safeguarding responses and coordinated interventions.
- Identify opportunities for early intervention and prevention, reducing the likelihood of homelessness linked to domestic abuse.
- Support tenancy sustainment through practical solutions such as security measures, tenancy changes, managed moves, or alternative accommodation where remaining in the home is not safe.
- Advise housing colleagues on responding appropriately to domestic abuse within tenancy management, enforcement, arrears and decision-making processes.
- Develop and improve procedures, guidance and tools to strengthen the Council’s response to domestic abuse.
- Support training and learning opportunities that increase staff confidence in identifying and responding effectively to domestic abuse.
- Work in partnership with statutory services, specialist domestic abuse organisations, and housing providers to achieve positive outcomes for residents.
What We're Looking For We are looking for someone who is committed to improving the lives of residents affected by domestic abuse and understands the critical role housing plays in creating safety and stability. You will have:
- Experience of working with people affected by domestic abuse, safeguarding concerns, homelessness, housing insecurity, or complex needs.
- Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, risk assessment, safety planning and appropriate support responses.
- Experience providing specialist advice, advocacy, or professional guidance.
- The ability to assess complex situations, identify solutions and influence positive outcomes.
- Strong partnership-working skills, with the confidence to collaborate with and challenge landlords, agencies and colleagues where necessary.
- Experience of developing guidance, improving services, or supporting changes in practice.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with residents, professionals and partner organisations.
Most importantly, you will be someone who believes in prevention, understands the impact of domestic abuse, and is motivated by creating meaningful change.
Contact Information: To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our dedicating Housing Needs inbox via email at HNASapplications@southwark.gov.uk
Additional Information Working hours: 36 hours per week Location: 25 Bournemouth Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4UJ Type of contract: Permanent
Domestic Abuse Liasion Officer employer: Southwark Careers
Southwark Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to creating a safer and more supportive environment for residents affected by domestic abuse. With a strong focus on employee growth, the council offers opportunities for professional development and collaboration with various housing partners, ensuring that staff can make a meaningful impact in the community. Located in Peckham, London, the council promotes a diverse and inclusive work culture, actively encouraging applications from underrepresented groups to enhance its workforce.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Domestic Abuse Liasion Officer
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Southwark Careers.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Southwark Careers!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Southwark Careers, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Southwark Careers or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Domestic Abuse Liasion Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Southwark Careers:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southwark Careers! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southwark Careers
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
