Domestic Abuse Service Manager

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Refuge Service Manager - Domestic Abuse Services

Location: Southampton (Refuge-Based)

Salary: 32,968 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Female Applicants Only

This post is restricted to female applicants under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. The role is based within a female-only domestic abuse refuge, where the provision of services requires a female worker to ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of residents.

Make a Difference Every Day
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Refuge Service Manager to lead a dedicated domestic abuse service supporting women and children who have experienced abuse. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled manager who is committed to empowering survivors, delivering high-quality support services, and leading a specialist team to achieve positive outcomes.
Working within a refuge setting, you will play a key role in ensuring survivors receive safe, trauma-informed and person-centred support, helping them rebuild their lives and move towards independence.

About the Role
As Refuge Service Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the refuge service, ensuring the delivery of high-quality support that meets contractual, safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
You will lead and motivate a team of specialist Domestic Abuse Case Workers, oversee service performance, manage referrals and occupancy, and maintain strong partnerships with local agencies and stakeholders.
This is a rewarding leadership role where your expertise will directly impact the lives of survivors and their families.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the refuge service, ensuring excellent standards of support and service delivery.
• Supervise, support and develop a team of specialist domestic abuse professionals.
• Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are effectively implemented and monitored.
• Manage referrals, admissions and departures within the refuge.
• Monitor service performance, quality standards and outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with external agencies, local authorities and partner organisations.
• Ensure compliance with housing, health and safety, and domestic abuse service requirements.
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in the out-of-hours management rota as required.

About You
We are looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience managing domestic abuse, housing support, safeguarding or similar support services.
• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, safeguarding, housing legislation and person-centred support approaches.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills.
• Strong IT skills and experience using case management systems.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and agencies.
• A passion for supporting vulnerable individuals to achieve positive outcomes.

What We Offer

• A rewarding opportunity to lead a life-changing service.
• Supportive and values-driven working environment.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• The chance to make a genuine difference to the lives of women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Additional Information
Appointment to this role will be subject to:

• Enhanced DBS clearance.
• Satisfactory references.
• Evidence of the Right to Work in the UK.

If you are an experienced manager with a commitment to supporting survivors of domestic abuse and leading high-quality services, we would love to hear from you.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, your application has been unsuccessful.


If this role is not for you but you do know somebody who would be interested, please feel free to refer them to us! We have a "Refer A Friend" bonus scheme and we will reward you retail vouchers for any referrals who are not already known to us and are successfully placed!


Red Snapper Recruitment is a member of the Red Snapper Group.


The Red Snapper Group acts as an employment agency (permanent) and as an employment business (temporary) - a free and confidential service to candidates.


The Red Snapper Recruitment Group is an equal opportunities employer.