Refuge Manager at The Angelou Centre

Contract Type: Permanent

Role Type: Employment

Hours: Full time

Application deadline: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 12:00

Based: Newcastle

Salary: £34,944 to 38,183 Per Annum

Salary Type: Salary Scale

Location: Tyne and Wear

Role description: Manager

Contract: Full-time, Permanent subject to funding

Salary: £34,944 to £38,183 (£19.20ph to £20.98ph)

Hours & Days 35 hours a week - Monday to Fridays 9am to 5pm

Additional benefits 25 days paid holiday, employer’s pension contribution of 6%, enhanced maternity leave

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Reports to: Executive Director

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to admin@angelou-centre.org.uk Deadline: Wednesday 26^th March

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time if we receive a high volume of applications or if a suitable candidate is found, therefore we suggest submitting your application as soon as you can.

This post is:

subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure
subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.
Open to women* only (*exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1
involves some out-of-hours work and travel

The Angelou Centre is aware that women and people of the global majority are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and requirement. So, if you are excited by the role, but your past experience doesn’t quite match every requirement we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the person we are looking for.

About the Angelou Centre

The Angelou Centre is a Black-led women’s organisation committed to empowering Black and racially minoritised women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Our refuge provides trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and holistic support to help survivors heal, recover, and rebuild their lives.

As we grow and expand our refuge provision, we are looking for a dedicated Refuge Manager to oversee our safe accommodation services, including emergency housing, move-on accommodation, and specialist provisions for women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Role Overview

The Refuge Manager will lead a team of Senior advocates and House Support Workers, ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed support is provided to residents. The post-holder will ensure that the refuge operates in compliance with all statutory requirements, housing regulations, and health & safety standards. They will also be responsible for property management, working closely with landlords, housing associations, and local authorities.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced housing professional with a strong understanding of domestic abuse support services, safeguarding practices, and compliance obligations within the social housing sector.

Key responsibilities	Ensure that the refuge provides a safe supportive and welcoming environment in compliance with housing law and the requirements of registered social landlords. Engaging all team members in regular service reviews to promote best practice and continual enhancement of support and accommodation offered to our service users Taking the lead in all Health & Safety issues for the Refuge service, ensuring compliance with policies and legislation, with responsibility for risk assessments, accident reporting, fire safety, repairs and maintenance issues etc, supported by team members and contractors as required Working as a key part of our management team, supporting the Executive Director with planning, monitoring, evaluation and development planning Encouraging a positive and supportive environment in the refuge, ensuring that women’s and children’s voices are heard and central to our services Working in partnership with voluntary and statutory organisations, including Local Authorities and Children’s Social Care and other external agencies, keeping up to date with local resources and services available Managing and participating in the on-call support rota, responding to emergencies outside office hours on a rota basis To provide business development support in order to grow and develop The Angelou’s refuge services
Team leadership & Service delivery	Lead and support a team of Senior Advocates and House Support Workers, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, culturally competent and trauma-informed support. Promote a culture of kindness, empathy, and inclusion, ensuring that all staff operate in line with The Angelou Centre’s values. Ensure that women and children accessing the refuge receive wrap-around support that enhances their confidence, self-esteem, and independence. Provide/Arrange training and guidance to staff, ensuring they understand property policies, safeguarding, and compliance requirements.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement	Work in partnership with local authorities, housing providers, and external agencies to improve access to safe accommodation for Black and racially minoritised women and children. Advocate for the needs of service users within housing, social welfare, and domestic abuse services. Contribute to funding applications, reports, and strategic development of The Angelou Centre’s refuge provision.
Building Safety & Property Compliance	To be the corporate lead on building safety, FRA, Health and Safety and property compliance. To update policies to align with changing requirements and the marketplace. Ensure compliance with Health and Safety across various sites for personal safety and that of service users, their children and other staff at all times
Safeguarding & Compliance	Ensure all safeguarding policies and procedures are strictly adhered to, with prompt action taken where concerns arise. Maintain confidentiality and data protection in line with GDPR and organisational policies. Ensure that all accommodation is safe, secure, and fit for purpose, conducting regular risk assessments and property checks. Act as the Safeguarding Lead of the refuge and ensure any safeguarding issues for children or vulnerable adults are raised immediately as per our safeguarding policies
All Angelou Staff	Comply with Angelou Centre’s Code of Conduct, equal opportunities and other policies and procedures Ensure high standards of safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality are maintained at all times. Attend staff, management, training, supervision and other meetings when required. Promote equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the Centre’s work
Flexibility Clause	In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties however, will fall within the scope of the job at the appropriate grade. This job description will be subjected to review with the post holder, to ensure that it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post. The aim is to improve the quality of service for black and minoritised women and all matters relating to their wellbeing.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Experience & Knowledge

Significant experience in housing management, property compliance, or social housing, ideally within a domestic abuse refuge or supported housing environment
Strong understanding of housing law, tenancy agreements and welfare benefits
Knowledge of safeguarding practices, particularly in relation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse
Experience working with landlords, housing associations, and local authorities
Extensive experience in grant writing, reporting and management
Knowledge of funding applications and financial management within a housing context

Skills & Abilities

Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage, support, and develop a multi-disciplinary team
Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Ability to advocate for service users and navigate complex housing/welfare systems
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and policy development
Good financial and budget management skills

Values & approach

Empathy, kindness, and cultural competence, with a commitment to supporting Black and racially minoritised women
A strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Ability to work flexibly and respond to crisis situations with a trauma-informed approach

Desirable criteria

Experience in developing training programmes on housing rights and compliance
Experience working with women with NRPF and understanding their specific challenges
Experience working with migrant survivors

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