Job Introduction
Fixed Term Contract/Secondment for 12 months
37 hours per week
What is the role?
Portsmouth City Council is committed to ensuring that, whatever accommodation a person has, they can access the right support at the right time to help them sustain it. However, domestic abuse is the third most common cause of homelessness in Portsmouth, accounting for 11% of all applications made in 2022.
For those residents experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse the Domestic Abuse Housing Specialist will provide advice and assistance regarding the options available to them, for example helping make the person's current home safe for them where that is what they want, exploring legal remedies available through the courts, or seeking alternative, safe accommodation.
The Domestic Abuse Housing Specialist will work alongside partner agencies to provide a coordinated response for people experiencing domestic abuse.
Please see the full job profile attached at the bottom of this page for full details of what the role will involve!
Who is the person?
As a Domestic Abuse Housing Specialist, you will need to:
- hold an IDVA accreditation, a relevant vocational qualification, or have experience of working within a domestic abuse service and be willing to undertake relevant training and accreditation as necessary and appropriate
- have experience of working with domestic abuse and unhealthy behaviours in a professional or voluntary capacity
- have an understanding and appreciation of the relationship features and dynamics of domestic abuse and unhealthy behaviours, and how to achieve and maintain a healthy relationship whilst exercising professional curiosity
- have the confidence and competence to communicate clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing, with adults, young people and professionals
- build and maintain empowering, strengths-based relationships with adults
- have a good working knowledge and experience of promoting anti-discriminatory practice and addressing equality opportunity issues
- offer a restorative approach to engage with colleagues and families
- have experience of providing evidence-based interventions to both individuals and groups
- have a working knowledge of the MARAC process, the threshold of assessing needs and risk, and the DASH Risk Identification and Assessment and Management Model
- have an ability to manage crisis and have professional resilience to respond effectively in stressful circumstances
- be confident in making safe decisions independently as well as being receptive to seeking and receiving additional professional advice and guidance from others
- have experience of complex assessments, analysing information and developing strengths based, outcome focused plans with survivors that engage their household
- have good computer skills (as required to navigate electronic databases and case management systems and use Microsoft Office) and be able to keep and maintaining up-to-date, accurate and comprehensive records
- have a good knowledge of the Data Protection Act and an understanding of client confidentiality
- understand and have experience of children and adult safeguarding, both in terms of practice approaches, policy and legal processes
- maintain a keen interest in relevant local and national developments
What do staff say about working in Housing, Neighbourhoods and Buildings Service?
"It’s a job where you genuinely help people"
"Housing, Neighbourhoods and Buildings Service is a real frontier service. It can be challenging, but there are great opportunities for sowing the seeds of positive change into people's lives"
"No two days are the same"
When completing the application form, please thoroughly tailor your application to the 'Who is the Person' points with the use of examples from your experience. This is really important or you are likely not to be shortlisted. Please see the full job profile attached at the bottom of this page.
If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment. Please state you have this on your application form.
Assessments: 28th April 2025
Interviews: 30th April 2025/1st May 2025
About Portsmouth City Council
What we can offer you:
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800
