Operations Manager - IDVA Service

Overview

We are looking for a passionate and experienced manager to lead our new Dorset High‑Risk IDVA Service. As the IDVA Service Operations Manager
, you will be responsible for the operational delivery, quality, and strategic oversight of a specialist team supporting victims of domestic abuse across Dorset. This role is 37.5 hrs offered as hybrid working with two days from our Boscombe office, however travel across Dorset will also be required.

You will provide strong leadership, ensure trauma‑informed, victim‑centred practice, and work closely with multi‑agency partners—including Dorset Police, MARAC, DA service partners, health, and safeguarding teams—to ensure safe, high‑quality and effective service delivery.

This role is pivotal in shaping a newly commissioned service and embedding high standards aligned to Safe Lives Leading Lights best practice.

• Lead, manage and develop a team of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors, ensuring high‑quality, consistent and safe practice.
• Oversee the daily operations of the Dorset IDVA service, ensuring contractual requirements and KPIs are met.
• Coordinate effective multi‑agency working, including attendance at MARAC, partnership meetings and commissioning discussions.
• Provide case oversight, risk management guidance and quality assurance for high‑risk domestic abuse cases.
• Monitor performance, reporting, workforce planning and service improvement activities.
• Build strong relationships with statutory and voluntary agencies to promote partnership‑led, victim‑focused service provision.
• Ensure the team adopts a trauma‑informed, inclusive approach that centres the needs and voices of victims.
• Lead recruitment, supervision, wellbeing support and development of staff.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding procedures, data security, and relevant legislation.

Ideally, you will have

• Experience working within multi‑agency forums
• Experience representing or developing services at an operational level
• Experience supporting workforce wellbeing in trauma‑exposed roles
• Additional specialist knowledge such as coercive control, harmful practices, or complex needs.

You will need

• Experience managing domestic abuse or similar high‑risk safeguarding services.
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills, with the ability to coach, support and develop staff.
• A thorough understanding of domestic abuse, risk assessment and safety planning.
• Excellent knowledge of MARAC processes and multi‑agency safeguarding arrangements.
• Confidence in managing service performance, reporting and contractual requirements.
• The ability to work collaboratively with partners to achieve positive outcomes for victim/survivors
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the service at a strategic level.
• A commitment to Victim Support's values and a compassionate, trauma‑informed approach.

This role involves regular travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement. If you are unable to drive because of a disability, please indicate this in your application in your personal statement so we can explore the feasibility of alternative arrangements.

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we re proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We re committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.