Domestic Abuse Navigator – Plymouth

Salary: £25,954 per annum rising to £26,364 per annum on successful completion of probation.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Holiday: 25 days annual holiday (pro rata) entitlement increasing to 30 days (pro rata) after 5 years’ service per annum plus bank holidays

Base: Brunswick House, Plymouth only.

Area Covered: Plymouth

Contract: Permanent

About the Role

The role of the Domestic Abuse Navigators will provide proactive, person-centred, and trauma-informed support to adults experiencing medium-risk domestic abuse. They act as a single point of access for victims, carrying a high and varied caseload and working independently with strong prioritisation and case management skills.

The role includes processing medium-risk referrals over the telephone and undertaking face-to-face appointments where required, completing initial risk assessments and safety planning to ensure survivor and child safety. Navigators ensure that survivor voices are central to all interventions and support planning.

The post supports individuals with complex needs, including mental and physical health issues, substance misuse, learning needs, criminal justice involvement, and other vulnerabilities. Domestic Abuse Navigators develop comprehensive safety and support plans and provide direct, practical, and emotional support where appropriate.

They advocate on behalf of survivors and work in close partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to coordinate support and improve access to appropriate services. Responsibilities include referring survivors to relevant specialist services and increasing referrals into perpetrator behaviour change and survivor support programmes. Strong partnership working, flexibility, and proactive multi-agency engagement are essential elements of the role.

Key responsibilities:

• Act as a single point of access for adults/children/young people experiencing medium-risk domestic abuse
• Receive and process medium-risk referrals via telephone and face-to-face appointments where required
• Deliver proactive, person-centred, and trauma-informed support from crisis through to recovery
• Complete initial risk assessments and needs assessments
• Develop comprehensive safety and support plans for survivors and their children
• Manage a high-volume caseload, prioritising cases based on risk and need
• Work independently on a day-to-day basis while maintaining accurate and up-to-date case records
• Support clients with complex needs including mental health, physical health, substance misuse, learning needs,and criminal justice involvement
• Advocate on behalf of survivors with statutory and voluntary agencies
• Make appropriate referrals and actively connect survivors to specialist and community services
• Work in partnership with multi-agency professionals to coordinate support and reduce risk
• Increase and facilitate referrals into perpetrator behaviour change programmes and survivor support services
• Undertake direct work with survivors accessing the service to ensure their voices are heard
• To maintain accurate and confidential electronic case management records and contribute to monitoring for the service and work within safeguarding and data protection requirements
• Contribute to partnership working and service development through collaboration with partner agencies
• Follow organisational policies, safeguarding procedures, and best practice guidelines in domestic abuse support
• To assist the survivor in developing their own support network.

Essential requirements:

• Literacy skills and experience working with databases
• Full Driving license
• Managing a high caseload of cases with complex needs
• Have a good understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
• Understand safeguarding issues (children and vulnerable adults) and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.
• Understanding the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children
• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals
• Handling confidential and sensitive information appropriately

Added benefits:

• A comprehensive induction and training programme, with a hybrid working policy for a better work/life balance.
• A wellbeing day per financial year (1st April to 31st March)
• Access to external supervision to discuss personal or emotional responses to traumatic cases, to ensure emotional and psychological wellbeing.
• Health and wellbeing resources including our staff Wellbeing Group, Staff Consultation Committee and active participation in our employee engagement platform.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24/7 telephone helpline offering medical, emotional and financial support.
• Working for an organisation committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, and all backgrounds regardless of age, race, faith, disability, neurodiversities, genders, gender expression or sexuality.
• First Light are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.
• Annual pay review and employer contribution pension scheme.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for First Light, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.