Domestic Abuse Support Officer

The Role 

Working on behalf of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (www.setdab.org), this role is to provide administrative project support to the Domestic Abuse (DA) Team, to ensure the delivery of a strategic and coordinated approach to tackling domestic abuse across Southend, Essex and Thurrock, as well as supporting the delivery of the countywide centralised Domestic Homicide Review(DHR) processes. 

The successful applicant will have an understanding of the effects of domestic abuse on individuals, families and communities and be self-motivated, flexible and able to work under pressure.  You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team and under your own initiative. The ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information appropriately is essential. 

*In line with Essex County Councils’ Ways of Working, this role has been deemed as an ‘Anywhere Worker’ position. This means you are able to work remotely for the majority of the time, with occasional trips to the office based on business need. Any journeys to the office would be at your own expense. More specific details about this can be discussed at the interview stage should you be invited to interview.

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Children & Families

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Accountabilities 

• To work as part of a specialist domestic abuse team providing proactive, efficient and effective administrative project support to a team of managers/partnership officers, taking the initiative and acting on their behalf by resolving issues, gathering information, filtering and screening calls and visitors, making formal appointments and meetings and ensuring co-ordination of diary movements.
• To organise and attend meetings, conferences and events; to prepare and distribute agendas and supporting papers, take accurate and effective minutes and actions, distribute as required and ensure that agreed outcomes are actioned by the relevant individuals.
• To exercise initiative and take independent actions in order to deal with queries / complaints from the partner agencies, Members, Essex County Council Service Areas and other outside organisations.
• To be able to organise information and with judgement on how to store information so that records are accurate, transparent and clear. The responsibility will involve maintaining accurate records of potentially very important information including updating files, documents and websites.
• To prepare correspondence and other documents from notes, dictation and/or other instructions, and collate supporting papers and reports.
• Responsible for tracking the DA Budget, ensuring all spend is recorded correctly and reports provided within timescales. Accountability to the DA Partners is essential in providing confidence that their contributions are being well managed.
• To demonstrate effective communication and engagement with all customers (internal & external) as well as other key stakeholders on daily business issues as well as future service solutions.
• To undertake research, collation and analysis of information as required and agreed with managers/practitioners, including compilation of effectively presented reports as appropriate.
• To provide support to all Domestic Homicide Review Processes, the Domestic Abuse Board and its sub groups, by organising meetings, managing agendas and processes, co-ordinating papers and making sure they are submitted on time and in the right formats. 

The Experience You Will Bring 

• Awareness of Domestic Homicide Review legislation would be beneficial.
• Excellent communication skills to communicate by phone, face to face and using online platforms, in a range of environments including meetings and promotional events.
• A minimum of 5 GCSEs grades A* - C, including English Language and Mathematics.
• Be able to travel as required throughout Southend, Essex and Thurrock.
• Proficient in the use of current PC based systems and databases (including Microsoft Office).
• Experience and knowledge of monitoring budgets to produce summary spend and forecast reports to the DA Manager along with the ability to procure and invoice to DA Partners/Stakeholders.
• Experience of working in a multi-agency partnership environment.
• Creativity and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure/demanding deadlines whilst maintaining a high standard of service delivery.
• An understanding of acceptance and commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunities. 

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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