Domestic Abuse Service Manager (Community)

Location: Bury

Contract Type: Permanent

Please note, this is an on-site role only. Due to the nature of our Refuges and Outreach services, it is essential that our teams are present and accessible, enabling us to provide safe, responsive and high-quality support to those who need us most. This post is open to women only as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

About Safenet

We provide domestic abuse services across the Northwest of England, including refuges for women and children, safe houses for men, community support, and extra support for those facing addiction, mental health, or other issues. We understand the serious impact domestic abuse can have, especially on health and wellbeing, and provide support and guidance to help survivors live safely and securely. Safenet is part of the Calico Group.

Here’s what makes The Calico Group unique: each of our specialist companies collaborates and innovates together to have a greater impact than they could alone. Our shared vision, flexible group structure, and expanding range of services help us adapt to the fast-changing environment and times in which we work.

“A future where everyone can live safe, happy and healthy lives free from abuse, violence and exploitation in their homes, streets and communities.”

About the Role

As Service Manager – Community Services, you will lead the operational delivery of community-based domestic abuse services, including IDVA, triage and outreach support for adults, children and young people. Working closely with the Area Operational Lead and as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strong, values-led leadership to frontline teams, drive service performance, and ensure delivery is safe, responsive, trauma-informed and survivor-led. You will also play a key role in strengthening partnerships, supporting service development and ensuring services remain compliant, effective and sustainable.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the day-to-day operational delivery of community domestic abuse services, ensuring support is safe, timely, trauma-informed and survivor-led.
• Provide effective leadership, supervision, reflective practice and case management oversight to staff, supporting wellbeing, accountability and professional development.
• Oversee referrals, allocations and case progression to ensure survivors receive an appropriate, equitable and responsive service, with risk managed effectively.
• Monitor service quality, performance and outcomes through audits, data, survivor feedback and reporting, and use this insight to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, legal, contractual and organisational requirements, maintaining accurate oversight of governance and risk.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to strengthen referral pathways and improve outcomes for survivors.
• Support service planning, workforce coordination and cover arrangements to ensure safe staffing and consistent service delivery across periods of leave and absence.
• Contribute to strategic development, identifying emerging needs, supporting service growth and helping to shape high-quality, inclusive responses for diverse communities.

What we are looking for:

We welcome applicants from a range of relevant backgrounds; direct refuge experience is not essential, but you do need to bring credibility, confidence and compassion from related fields. You might come from:

• Substance misuse or addiction recovery services
• Trauma‑informed women’s services
• Mental health or psychologically informed environments (PIE)
• Housing or supported accommodation with complex needs

You will bring:

Essential:

• Experience of managing or leading teams within domestic abuse, social care, housing, community safety or a related support environment.
• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding for adults and children, and risk management in complex cases.
• Ability to provide effective supervision, case oversight and reflective support that promotes staff wellbeing, professional curiosity and high-quality practice.
• Experience of performance monitoring, report writing and using data, feedback and outcomes information to support service improvement.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with statutory, voluntary and community partners and represent the organisation confidently in multi-agency settings.
• Excellent communication, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records and reporting.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and survivor-led practice, with the ability to model Safenet and Calico values in day-to-day leadership.

Desirable:

• ILM, CMI or another relevant management qualification, or evidence of continued professional development in leadership.
• Experience of service development, project delivery, change management or supporting new initiatives within a support service setting.
• Knowledge of Women’s Aid National Quality Standards and relevant legislation and frameworks relating to domestic abuse and safeguarding.
• Understanding of budget monitoring, contract requirements or income maximisation within a commissioned or grant-funded service.