Domestic Abuse Counsellor

Domestic Abuse Counsellor – Two Roles Available

Service:
Family Action Domestic Abuse Healing and Empowerment Service Gloucestershire (For Survivors in Safe Accommodation)

Salary: £28,884 FTE per annum (£15,612.97 per annum for part‑time, 20 hours per week)

Location:

Dursley, Gloucestershire (office based with travel across Gloucestershire)

Hours:

20 hours per week (part‑time)

Contract:

Contracted until March 2027 (may be additional funding beyond this)

Family Action supports people through change, challenge or crisis. With a heritage of over 150 years, we protect children, support young people and adults, and deliver direct, practical help to families and communities. The organisation delivers a wide range of projects for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, including a trauma‑informed counselling team. This role is based in Gloucestershire and works with all individuals accessing Safe Accommodation throughout the county.

• Provide inclusive counselling for a diverse range of adult survivors of domestic abuse in safe accommodation, meeting commissioned time frames and objectives.
• Undertake initial assessments with new clients, assess need and risk, and record the assessment as part of the allocation process.
• Maintain confidential, up‑to‑date and accurate records of all sessions and plans, considering the sensitive nature of the work, statutory investigations and court proceedings.
• Use outcome tools to measure and monitor client well‑being, assess ongoing risk, promote safety, collate data and welcome service feedback.
• Liaise with referrers and other professionals and agencies as appropriate, including signposting.
• Carry out or participate in tasks and activities that promote and develop the service, including learning, providing feedback for reporting to commissioners.
• Ensure the implementation of Family Action’s Equality & Diversity Policy and Ethical Policy in every aspect of work and promote these principles among colleagues, service users and the community.

• Client‑centred focus with a commitment to equality of access, treating service users with dignity and prioritising their specific needs.
• Strong track record in quality, performance and safeguarding, with a client‑facing approach and passion for engaging service users in all aspects of work including co‑production.
• Academic requirement: minimum Level5 qualification in counselling/psychotherapy, recognised professional accreditation or active pursuit of accreditation.
• Previous experience in domestic abuse, trauma‑informed practice, and working with diverse communities is a must.
• Ability to manage clinical risks, conduct assessments and handle confidential information sensitively.
• Office‑based in Gloucestershire with travel across the county; one evening or weekend shift per week may be required.
• Three hours per month of paid clinical supervision and line‑management supervision with the Clinical Service Manager.
• Experience working with children and young people aged 16‑25 is desirable.

• Annual paid leave entitlement starting at 25 working days (pro‑rata), rising each April by one day up to 30 days plus bank holidays after a full year of service.
• Up to 6% matched‑pension contributions.
• Enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions.
• Eye care and winter flu jab vouchers.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Investment in professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We welcome applications from all segments of the community, including ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates, and disabled candidates. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process and on the job where required. All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and may request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

We also reimburse reasonable travel costs for in‑person interviews if invited.

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.