Female Residential Support Worker – DSAS (Dispersed Accommodation Navigator)

Location: Southampton
Salary: £26,805.75 – £27,464.70 per annum
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Reporting to: Service Manager
On-Call Requirement: Applicable

About the Role

Joneshouse Recruitment is recruiting for a compassionate and dedicated Female Residential Support Worker (DSAS Navigator) to support adults, children, and families affected by domestic abuse within dispersed accommodation services across Southampton.

Dispersed accommodation provides safe, self-contained accommodation with specialist domestic abuse support for individuals and families who may not be suited to communal refuge settings. This includes women with older male children, male victims-survivors, LGBTQ+ individuals, older adults, people with disabilities, and those facing multiple disadvantages.

The successful candidate will provide practical and emotional support, safety planning, advocacy, housing support, and crisis intervention to help victims-survivors move towards safe and independent living.

Key Responsibilities

Support & Advocacy

• Provide intensive support to victims-survivors of domestic abuse living within dispersed accommodation
• Support individuals and families to maintain accommodation and develop skills for independent living
• Deliver one-to-one and family-focused support through tailored support and safety plans
• Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and emotional support using evidence-based risk assessments
• Support victims-survivors to maintain permanent accommodation where appropriate
• Increase resilience and reduce the likelihood of future accommodation-based support needs
• Assist clients in navigating housing options to ensure safe and timely move-on arrangements

Housing & Accommodation Management

• Conduct regular visits to dispersed accommodation properties
• Carry out health and safety inspections and identify maintenance concerns
• Ensure residents comply with licence agreements and accommodation expectations
• Support with practical tasks including:
  • Licence agreements
  • Rent and service charge collection
  • Housing applications
  • Benefits applications
• Coordinate target hardening and practical safety measures based on risk assessments and household needs

Multi-Agency Working

• Work closely with statutory and non-statutory agencies to support client safety and wellbeing
• Advocate on behalf of victims-survivors and their children
• Participate in MARAC/HRDA processes and other multi-agency meetings
• Develop strong partnerships with housing teams, social care, police, education, and voluntary agencies
• Facilitate group work and peer-led support networks where appropriate

Safeguarding & Professional Practice

• Ensure all work is carried out in line with safeguarding legislation, confidentiality, and data protection requirements
• Escalate safeguarding and risk concerns appropriately to management
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records in a timely manner
• Remain up to date with legislation, policy developments, and best practice relating to domestic abuse
• Work within organisational procedures, policies, and professional standards at all times

On-Call Responsibilities

This role includes participation in a 24-hour on-call rota outside of normal service hours.

Responsibilities may include:

• Responding to emergencies outside office hours
• Providing emergency safety advice and telephone support
• Supporting clients to access emergency accommodation
• Admitting families into accommodation
• Processing referrals into services
• Resolving urgent issues over the phone or attending accommodation when required

When on call, staff must:

• Have access to a vehicle
• Hold a valid driving licence
• Be fit to drive and available to respond when required

Essential Requirements

• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle
• Experience supporting vulnerable adults, children, or families
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Understanding of safe lone working practices within client homes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong crisis management and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage workload effectively and prioritise tasks independently
• Commitment to partnership working and multi-agency collaboration
• Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and anti-oppressive practice
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Additional Information

This post is open to female applicants only, in accordance with Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010, as being female is considered a genuine occupational requirement for this role.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain high standards of confidentiality, safeguarding, and professional conduct at all times.

Apply Now

If you are passionate about supporting victims-survivors of domestic abuse and want to make a meaningful difference within specialist support services, Joneshouse Recruitment would love to hear from you.

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