The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 12 weeks with a possible extension.
Full Job DescriptionDomestic Abuse Support Worker – Housing
Swale and Maidstone Borough Council
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Contract: Temporary – 12-week contract, ending 21 January 2027
Pay Rate: £25.95 per hour (Umbrella)
Support Survivors of Domestic Abuse to Achieve Safety, Stability and Housing Security
We're recruiting a compassionate, resilient and experienced Domestic Abuse Support Worker to support Swale and Maidstone Borough Council within its housing service.
This role will focus on supporting individuals and families affected by domestic abuse, helping them understand their housing options, access appropriate support and move towards safer, more stable accommodation.
You'll work closely with housing colleagues, safeguarding teams, specialist domestic abuse services and other partner agencies to ensure residents receive coordinated, trauma-informed and practical support.
About the Role
As Domestic Abuse Support Worker – Housing, you'll provide direct support to residents experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, helping them navigate housing systems, understand available options and access appropriate services.
You'll undertake assessments, identify immediate and longer-term risks, contribute to safety planning and support individuals to make informed decisions about their housing and wellbeing.
The role requires excellent judgement, empathy and communication skills, together with the ability to maintain professional boundaries and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
What you'll be doing:
- Supporting individuals affected by domestic abuse, providing practical, emotional and housing-related support in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner.
- Completing needs and risk assessments, identifying immediate concerns, vulnerabilities and barriers to safe accommodation.
- Supporting safety planning, working with individuals and partner agencies to reduce risk and improve personal safety.
- Providing housing advice and support, helping residents understand available options including emergency accommodation, temporary housing and longer-term move-on solutions.
- Supporting homelessness prevention and relief activity, working with housing teams to identify appropriate interventions.
- Making referrals to specialist services, including domestic abuse agencies, safeguarding teams, health services, benefits advice and other relevant support providers.
- Working collaboratively with partner organisations, helping coordinate multi-agency support and maintain effective communication.
- Supporting residents through housing processes, including appointments, applications, documentation and action plans.
- Recognising and escalating safeguarding concerns, following council procedures and ensuring urgent risks are responded to appropriately.
- Maintaining accurate and confidential case records, documenting assessments, decisions, referrals and outcomes.
- Advocating on behalf of residents where appropriate, helping ensure their needs, wishes and risks are clearly understood.
- Supporting residents to improve independence and resilience, encouraging engagement with services and longer-term support plans.
- Contributing to case reviews and multi-agency meetings, where appropriate.
- Providing clear updates to colleagues and managers, highlighting risks, delays or barriers that may affect outcomes.
Requirements
We're looking for an empathetic, organised and confident support professional who can work effectively with people experiencing complex and sensitive circumstances.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience supporting people affected by domestic abuse, homelessness or other forms of vulnerability.
- Experience working within housing, supported accommodation, safeguarding or a related support environment.
- Knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on individuals and families.
- Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, including recognising and responding to risk.
- Experience completing needs assessments, risk assessments and support plans.
- Good knowledge of housing and homelessness issues, including the challenges faced by residents seeking safe accommodation.
- Experience working with external agencies and multidisciplinary professionals.
- Strong communication and active listening skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging or emotionally sensitive situations.
- Good organisational and case-management skills, including accurate record keeping.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and respond appropriately to urgent situations.
- A trauma-informed, person-centred approach to working with vulnerable residents.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- Eligibility to work in the UK and ability to complete relevant pre-employment checks.
Why Apply
- Opportunity to make a meaningful difference to people affected by domestic abuse.
- Varied role combining housing support, safeguarding, advocacy and partnership working.
- Chance to work within a local authority housing service supporting vulnerable residents.
- Competitive umbrella rate of £25.95 per hour.
- 12-week temporary assignment with 37 hours per week.
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Benefits are subject to eligibility and agreed agency and payroll arrangements.
Additional Information
Client: Swale and Maidstone Borough Council
Job Title: Domestic Abuse Support Worker – Housing
Employment Type: Temporary
Location: Trinity House, 20 Church Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LY, United Kingdom
Working Arrangement: Office attendance, outreach activity, home visits and any hybrid-working arrangements are to be confirmed.
Start Date: 30 October 2026
End Date: 21 January 2027
Contract Duration: 12 weeks
Hours: 37 hours per week
Positions Available: 1
Pay Rate: £25.95 per hour – Umbrella
Driving Requirement: Any requirement to travel between sites, undertake home visits or use a vehicle is to be confirmed.
DBS: The required level of DBS check is to be confirmed by the council.
IR35: Status to be confirmed
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Pay: £25.95 per hour – Umbrella
Application question(s):
- Please describe your experience supporting individuals affected by domestic abuse, homelessness or other complex vulnerabilities.
- Do you have experience completing risk assessments, support plans or safeguarding referrals?
- Please give an example of how you supported someone to improve their safety or housing situation, without including identifying information.
- Please confirm your current location, ability to attend Trinity House and other locations as required, and availability to start on 30 October 2026.
Experience:
- Domestic abuse, housing or homelessness support experience: Preferred
- Safeguarding and risk-assessment experience: Preferred
- Experience working with vulnerable adults and/or families: Strongly desirable
- Multi-agency working experience: Desirable
Qualifications:
- Relevant qualification in housing, social care, safeguarding, domestic abuse support or a related area:Desirable
- Domestic abuse, safeguarding or trauma-informed practice training: Advantageous
Any mandatory qualification or specialist accreditation should be confirmed against the council's person specification.
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom – right to work required
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR119845-10-26
