Service Manager - DRIVE DAPO Team

Respect is the UK charity stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse. We want a world where everyone is free from domestic abuse. Where it is never ok to control, harm or cause fear. Where those who perpetrate domestic abuse are stopped, held to account and given the chance to change. We will not stop, until domestic abuse stops. Founded in 2000 by Jo Todd CBE, who is still at the helm, Respect was established to focus on perpetrators of domestic abuse, and this, including our vital work with young people who cause harm, remains our key priority. Alongside this work, we deliver expert support to male victims of domestic abuse. Everything we do is shaped and driven by our values: we are pioneering, collaborative, accountable, and respectful.   

This role is based within the Drive Partnership and be part of the pilot for the roll out of the positive requirement element of the DAPO’s.   

We would particularly welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and across all protected characteristics1, particularly from people from the following under-represented groups:   

• Black and minoritised people 

• Disabled people   

We always welcome and support applications from those who have personal experience of domestic abuse.   

About The Drive Partnership   

The Drive Partnership, formed by Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance, is working to transform the national response to perpetrators of domestic abuse. We work to end domestic abuse and protect victims by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. Together we have developed the Drive Project to address a gap in work with high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse. We also work to advocate for systems and policy change- to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators of domestic abuse.   

 The Drive Partnership vision   

Our vision is that by 2026 there will be a consistent approach which sees agencies in all PCC and local authority areas across England and Wales – backed by national leaders – working together to disrupt abuse and change behaviour to increase safety for victim survivors, including children and families.   

Our Focus  

Respect was founded to focus on perpetrators of domestic abuse and this, including our vital work with young people who cause harm, is our key priority. Our work with male victims is an important, distinct, project.   

Our Vision   

We want a world where everyone is free from domestic abuse. Where it is never ok to control, harm or cause fear. Where those who perpetrate domestic abuse are stopped, held to account and given the chance to change.   

Our Mission  

We work with our members, partners and allies to stop the harms done by those who perpetrate domestic abuse. With innovative practice, robust research and quality data, we build evidence of what works, promote safe, effective practice and drive high standards. We use our voice, in collaboration with others, to call for a response to domestic abuse that matches the scale of the problem. We will not stop, until domestic abuse stops.   

Our Values  

• Pioneering:  We explore innovative ideas and develop new approaches with curiosity and rigour  

• Collaborative:  We work in partnership with our members, partners and allies to bring about individual, societal and systems change  

• Accountable:  We listen to survivors and centre their needs in our work. We hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour and hold ourselves and our members accountable for ours  

• Respectful:  We live up to our name. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. We are honest, compassionate and boldly challenge injustice  

Our way of working   

Partnership is fundamental to our way of working. We are second-tier organisation focusing on the continuous improvement of service models, sharing best practice and supporting specialist service providers to deliver.    

 We have three core strands of work:   

The Drive Project is our flagship intervention working with high-harm, high-risk and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse to prevent their abusive behaviour and protect victims. The Drive Project challenges perpetrators to change and works with partner agencies – like the police and social services – to disrupt abuse. It is currently being delivered in 9 police force areas. 

Restart is an innovative pilot project providing earlier intervention for families experiencing domestic abuse. It brings together domestic abuse services, children’s social care and housing teams to identify and respond to patterns of domestic abuse at an earlier stage. Restart is currently being delivered in five London Boroughs.  

The Drive National Systems Change programme works across the domestic abuse specialist sector, public sector partners and beyond to develop sustainable, national systems that respond to all perpetrators of domestic abuse.  We identify systemic gaps and build solutions that keep survivors safer by addressing those causing harm.    

Background for the role   

In April 2021 the Domestic Abuse Act received Royal Assent. The Act introduces a new civil Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) to provide immediate protection following a domestic abuse incident, and a new civil Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) to provide flexible, longer-term protection for victims. DAPOs can impose both prohibitions and positive requirements on perpetrators. Positive requirements can be in the form of interventions aimed at reducing and managing risk, meeting the needs of an individual (for the factors that are not the causation of abuse but impact on risk e.g. mental ill health, substance misuse) and behaviour change interventions.  

We were commissioned by the Home Office to design a triage model that will assess individuals for the suitability of these interventions, this triage model launched in November 2024 and will be tested and evaluated in order to prepare for national roll out in 2026.   

 Purpose:   

The DAPO Service Manager will manage the operational, and strategic delivery of the DAPO team pilot working closely with the Practice and Development Lead and Programme Manager.  

The postholder will have responsibility for managing all DAPO triage teams who are working locally and remotely in the DAPO pilot sites.  

This role will require 

a) the effective line management of Triage Team Leaders (who in turn manage triage workers and IDVAs), in providing a high-quality frontline service triaging DAPO referrals for positive requirements  

b) the development and maintenance of a multi-agency infra structure that actively engages with the triage team and the triage process 

c) working with the Practice and Development Lead and Programme Manager to ensure safe and effective delivery of the DAPO pilot triage process. 

d) support the development of the DAPO triage model through learning and analysis of the pilot delivery e.g. to initiate, develop, maintain and monitor multi-agency links through procedures and protocols, and to keep safety central to all services for perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse.   

For further information, please review the job description.