Domestic Abuse Support Worker Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Before your Domestic Abuse Support Worker interview, it helps to see the questions from the interviewer's side. We have picked eight from our set of 12 and added the reason each one gets asked.

Eight Domestic Abuse Support Worker interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. Talk me through the DASH risk checklist and how you decide whether a case is high risk.

Why they ask: To check core risk-assessment knowledge for domestic abuse work.

2. What is a MARAC, and what is your role within it?

Why they ask: To test understanding of multi-agency working in high-risk domestic abuse cases.

3. Your client tells you she plans to go back to her partner despite a high-risk assessment. What do you do?

Why they ask: To test non-judgemental practice and respect for autonomy while managing risk.

4. What does the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 do, and which legal protections can you help a victim access?

Why they ask: To test legal knowledge relevant to everyday casework.

5. What would you include in a safety plan, and how does it differ for someone staying with the abuser versus leaving?

Why they ask: To test practical safety planning skill.

6. Tell me about a time you supported a client through a criminal or family court process.

Why they ask: To test casework depth and ability to support victims through a stressful system.

7. A man phones the service saying he is your client's brother and asks whether she is with you and where she is staying. What do you do?

Why they ask: To test confidentiality and awareness of perpetrators' tactics.

8. What qualities make a good domestic abuse support worker, and how do you look after your own wellbeing in this work?

Why they ask: To check resilience, boundaries and self-awareness in emotionally demanding work.

A sample answer to question 1

Talk me through the DASH risk checklist and how you decide whether a case is high risk.

DASH stands for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, and the checklist has 24 questions covering things like escalation, fear, strangulation, sexual abuse, jealousy and controlling behaviour, threats to kill, children and pregnancy. I use it as a structured conversation, not an interrogation, and I explain why I am asking before starting. A case is generally treated as high risk if the victim ticks 14 or more yes answers, if my professional judgement says the risk is serious even with fewer ticks, or if there is potential escalation, such as three or more police call-outs in the last 12 months. I also consider what the victim tells me about their fear, which is a strong predictor. If it is high risk, I would refer to MARAC, agree an immediate safety plan, and consider urgent measures such as a sanctuary scheme, emergency accommodation or a protective order. I record the reasoning clearly and review the risk regularly because it can change quickly, especially at separation.

Common mistake to avoid: Using it as a tick-box score only; ignoring the victim's own sense of fear

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 12 questions are on the Domestic Abuse Support Worker interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.