Domestic Abuse Navigator

Domestic Abuse Navigator [DAN] - Plymouth
Salary: £25,954 per annum rising to £26,364 per annum on successful completion of probation.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Holiday: 25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service per annum plus bank holidays
Base: Brunswick House, Plymouth
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
Additional Information: The successful applicant will be subject to a Disclosure & Barring check, and a social media check conducted by a third party organisation as part of our Safer Recruitment process. Any future offer of employment is contingent on the satisfactory completion of these checks, as well as the receipt of two satisfactory employment references, with one being from your current or most recent employer.
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.
Deadline for receipt of applications: 09:00 on 21st August 2026.
We review applications and interview candidates on an ongoing basis. We therefore reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is appointed, so early application is advised