Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor in Southend-on-Sea

Role: Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor (DAHA) – Remote

Pay: £14 PAYE / £18 umb, Start Date: ASAP, Duration: Temporary until the end of June 2026, Hours: Full‑time 37.5 hrs covering 8 am–8 pm weekdays, 8 am–1 pm weekends and bank holidays on a shift rota‑based system.

The client is a national Domestic Abuse charity seeking Helpline Advisors to provide advice, assessment and referral services to survivors of domestic abuse and to perpetrators seeking support, ensuring adults and children affected can access appropriate services.

• Provide a high‑quality frontline service to all survivors of domestic abuse.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of the risk to and vulnerability of survivors, ensuring appropriate referrals.
• Provide a high‑quality, non‑judgemental frontline service to perpetrators seeking support for their behaviour, undertaking comprehensive assessments and referrals.
• Liaise with partner agencies including referrals to MARAC, Children's Social Care and Adult Community Services.
• Understand the role of all relevant statutory and non‑statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how to access them.
• Provide advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims regarding legal options, housing, health and finance.
• Handle sensitive calls, deal with crisis intervention situations and consult with Police and emergency services where appropriate.
• Be aware of the boundaries of the service and remit for cases and direct service users to and/or locate appropriate resources in response to their needs, including signposting to alternative sources of support if necessary.
• Work and liaise effectively with EViE partners, other domestic abuse providers, perpetrator pathways providers, statutory and non‑statutory agencies.
• Support the empowerment of the client, assisting them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and helping them regain control of their lives.
• Represent the organisation in working with external organisations or co‑locating as requested.
• Maintain timely, accurate and confidential case‑management records using the OASIS Case Management System and contribute to monitoring information for the service.
• Participate in regular case‑management reviews with your Line Manager based on a review of risk and abuse, feeding back into action planning to further progress, signpost, or close cases.
• Ensure that all safeguarding measures are delivered in respect of the service‑users and their children, and that at all times you adhere strictly to policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding adults at risk and children.
• Contribute to data and written reports with effective case data input and through the provision of case studies to illustrate the impact of the service for domestic abuse victims.
• Support colleagues and partner agencies through awareness raising, providing training and institutional advocacy.
• Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the service works and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of service users, ensuring the service is accessible to all.
• Remain up to date and compliant with all organisational procedures, policies, and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice.
• Support the attainment and maintenance of quality standards.
• Participate in the out‑of‑hours on‑call rota to deliver telephone and call‑out support in the case of emergencies.
• Participate as required in the delivery of contingency plans outside of the normal shift pattern and service department.
• Show willingness to work outside normal working hours, including evenings and weekends, and to participate in promotional, fundraising and income‑generating events, activities and any other duties reasonably required by the organisation.

• In‑depth knowledge and understanding of the issues facing women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse and/or sexual violence.
• Understanding of the impact of multiple, intersecting oppressions (e.g. sexism, racism, homophobia, ableism) and the consequent barriers for some survivors accessing services.
• Knowledge and understanding of trauma and trauma symptoms.
• At least two years’ experience working within the domestic abuse sector (desirable).
• Experience in conducting needs and risk assessments.
• Experience in providing needs‑led support to clients with a variety of support needs.
• Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with other agencies.
• DBS dated within the last six months or on the update service.