Domestic Violence Victim Worker

Job Title: Domestic Violence Victim Worker
Starting Salary: £34,433 progressing to £37,280 pa per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37.0
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

We are recruiting for a Domestic Abuse Practitioner to be part of our existing Family Safeguarding Service.

The Family Safeguarding Model is a framework which has been highlighted as a beacon of best practice in the Government’s recent National Review into the tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.

The Family Safeguarding model centres around a multi-disciplinary team who are highly trained in Motivational Interviewing, a counselling approach that creates confidence in parents to change their behaviours that cause harm to their children. This is a proven approach that empowers parents to make meaningful changes and reduce harm to their children. It sets out to empower families, and their extended networks to help children achieve the best outcomes.

This is a great opportunity to be part of a multi-disciplinary team which has parental mental health, substance misuse and domestic abuse specialists all working in one team, alongside children’s social workers and children’s practitioners.

About the role

Family is at the heart of our work in Hertfordshire and that includes supporting our highest risk families using the Family Safeguarding Approach. As a Domestic Abuse Practitioner you will play a vital role in supporting families and helping victims of domestic abuse and violence by delivers a programme of support. The programme helps victims learn about domestic abuse and how this impacts them, how it impacts children, how it impacts their parenting of children and to think about how they can be safe in relationships.

This role works directly with victims of domestic abuse within families whose children are currently supported though a Child in Need or Child Protection Plans. You will use the Family Safeguarding Modules and your Motivational Interview Skills to undertake home visits and attend relevant multi-agency meetings to contribute to safeguarding plans that promote long term safety and wellbeing in the best interest of the families.

About you

We’re looking for someone compassionate, resilient, and committed to making a difference.

You’ll bring:

• Knowledge and relevant experience of having worked with victims of domestic abuse in a previous or current role.
• Build positive and respectful working relationships with a range of stakeholders and service users.
• Have undertaken good quality and appropriate risk assessments of victims of domestic abuse which responded to their specific needs and protect them and their families from harm.
• Up to date knowledge of housing, criminal, civil and welfare rights legislation relating to domestic abuse.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure whilst discharging your duties.
• To be non-judgemental, non-directive and maintain confidentiality of victims/survivors of domestic abuse.
• Excellent communication skills including active listening skills and empathy.
• Demonstrate good report writing, timeliness and resilience, professional curiosity, being creative as you carry out your duties.
• A commitment to HCC's defined values and behaviours framework.
• Have a driving license and car to use for work purposes.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes specialists in parental mental health, substance misuse, and domestic abuse—working side-by-side with children’s social workers and practitioners.

Together, we empower families and their support networks to achieve the best outcomes for children.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC9 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Denise.Stafford@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 11th September

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.