Be Astute deliver innovative apprenticeship programmes designed specifically for Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Workers.

These roles are vital to the safety, wellbeing, and recovery of individuals who have experienced trauma — and they require a level of skill, sensitivity, and professionalism that goes far beyond generic training. Our programmes are tailored to meet the sector's unique challenges, combining high-quality teaching with real-world application to maximise impact.

We work closely with employers to align training with service needs, helping organisations build confident, capable teams that make a meaningful difference. Whether you're looking to recruit new talent or upskill existing staff, our apprenticeship approach provides a practical, fully funded route to developing specialist support workers who are prepared, resilient, and focused on delivering the highest standards of care.

What is an Apprenticeship?

This means your entire team can benefit from structured development, enhancing their ability to provide effective, compassionate care while strengthening your organisation’s overall capability.

An apprenticeship is a government-funded training program that combines on-the-job learning with expert-led instruction, allowing staff to develop practical skills while earning a recognised qualification. Unlike traditional courses, apprenticeships integrate real work experience with formal training, ensuring that learners gain the knowledge, confidence, and hands-on expertise needed to excel in their roles.

Why Use Apprenticeships For Your Staff Training?

Apprenticeships offer a structured, high-quality training pathway that develops your team’s skills while they work. Unlike traditional courses, apprenticeships provide a blend of practical experience and expert-led learning, ensuring staff gain real-world competencies that directly enhance their roles.

For domestic and sexual abuse support workers, apprenticeships ensure training is relevant, hands-on, and aligned with industry standards, helping them build confidence in safeguarding, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care. Plus, with government funding available, apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to invest in your team’s professional growth, strengthening your organisation’s ability to provide critical support to those in need.

What Is Covered In This Apprenticeship ?

Crisis Response & Risk Management - Recognise crisis situations, carry out risk assessments, and ensure safety planning in line with policies. Use appropriate tools to safeguard survivors.

Empowerment & Advocacy - Support survivors, particularly from marginalised groups, by advocating for their rights and helping them navigate legal and social systems.

Trauma-Informed Approaches & Service Provision- Engage survivors using trauma-informed methods, challenge gaps in service provision, and raise awareness of the intersections of disadvantage.

Support Through Legal & Court Processes - Assist survivors through investigations, court processes, and protective orders, providing advice and referrals to specialist services.

Collaboration & Multi-Agency Support - Develop professional relationships with survivors and work with multi-agency partners to refer and signpost to relevant services.

Self-Care & Empowering Survivors’ Voices - Recognise the importance of self-care for staff and create opportunities for survivors to contribute to service design.

What to know more ?

Read the full course details or book a conversation with us to find about more.

How Is this Apprenticeship Assessed?

Ongoing Assessment Throughout the Apprenticeship

Workplace Evidence – Apprentices collect real-world evidence of their skills, such as case studies, reports, and reflective journals.

Professional Discussions – Apprentices have structured conversations with assessors to demonstrate their understanding of key topics.

Assignments & Projects – Some apprenticeships include coursework, research tasks, or work-based projects.

The End-Point Assessment (EPA)

The EPA is the final stage of the apprenticeship, carried out by an independent assessment organization. It typically includes:

Presentation – showcasing knowledge, problem-solving skills, and reflections on real-world experiences within the role.

Professional Discussion – A structured conversation with an assessor about the apprentice’s knowledge and experiences.

Portfolio of evidence – A collection of evidence to show performance in the workplace

Successful completion of the apprenticeship leads to a nationally recognised qualification, ensuring the apprentice is fully competent and prepared for their role.

Gain Essential Skills – Learn trauma-informed approaches, safeguarding best practices, and crisis intervention techniques to provide more effective support.

Earn a Recognised Qualification – Achieve a government-funded, industry-recognized qualification that validates expertise and boosts career prospects.

Learn While You Work – Apply new knowledge directly to real-world situations, improving confidence and competence without stepping away from the role.

Improve Resilience & Wellbeing – Training includes strategies for managing emotional impact and preventing burnout, ensuring long-term career sustainability.

Advance Your Career – Open doors to leadership roles, specialist positions, or further training opportunities within the sector.

Completing an apprenticeship provides specialist training, professional recognition, and career development, you enhance your skills while making a greater impact.

Become a Qualified IDVA with Be Astute

If you’re building your career in domestic abuse or safeguarding, gaining an IDVA certificate is an important milestone. At Be Astute, we’re proud to be an approved centre delivering the OCNLR Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Abuse: Prevention and Early Intervention — the official qualification often known as the Level 3 IDVA certificate.

What makes our programme different is that we deliver it alongside the Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Worker Apprenticeship. Learners achieve both qualifications at the same time, combining knowledge with real-world application, reflection, and mentoring.

Our courses are fully online, funded, and designed for professionals in their first one to two years in the sector who want to strengthen their skills and confidence while continuing to make a difference in their roles.

If you’re ready to gain your IDVA certificate and grow with purpose, discover how Be Astute can help you on your journey.

Staff Recruitment & Retention - High turnover and burnout create instability. Our apprenticeships provide a structured development path, increasing staff engagement and retention by offering career progression and growth opportunities.

Skills Gaps & Workforce Development - Many support workers lack formal training in trauma-informed care and safeguarding. Our apprenticeships ensure your team receives standardised, high-quality training in essential skills, creating consistency in best practices across your organization.

Limited Training Budgets - Training can be costly. With government-funded apprenticeships, you can upskill staff affordably while maintaining high standards, helping you manage tight budgets without compromising quality.

Heavy Workloads & Time Constraints - Support workers often have limited time for training. Our work-based apprenticeships minimise disruption, allowing staff to learn while continuing in their roles, so you get maximum impact without added strain.

Emotional Resilience & Wellbeing - The emotional demands of the role can lead to burnout. Our apprenticeships include training in mental health, self-care, and resilience, helping staff maintain their wellbeing and stay engaged in their work.

The apprenticeship landscape can be complex, particularly for organisations balancing learning with frontline support. These FAQs answer the most common questions from employers about how the Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Worker Apprenticeship works, what staff need before starting, and how the training is funded and supported in practice.

Shorten it if needed:

Below are answers to common questions about how this apprenticeship works and how we support learners and employers throughout the programme.

Who is this apprenticeship designed for?

This apprenticeship is for staff who support individuals affected by domestic or sexual abuse, whether in accommodation services, outreach, helpline provision, youth or community settings, or multi-agency roles. It is suitable for both new practitioners and those who want to deepen and formalise their skills.

Do staff need to already be in a support role before starting?

Yes. Learners must already be employed in a role where they can apply their learning in practice.
We do not offer a recruitment or placement service, so staff will need to be in a suitable role before enrolling.

If you're unsure whether a role is appropriate, we can discuss this with you before sign-up.

What is the difference between the Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Worker Apprenticeship and the Level 3 IDVA Certificate?

The Level 3 IDVA Certificate provides core knowledge around domestic abuse, risk, safety planning, and advocacy.

The Level 4 apprenticeship develops wider professional capability, including trauma-aware communication, coordinated multi-agency working, and confident case decision-making.

At Be Astute, learners complete both qualifications together, allowing them to build understanding and confidence at the same time.

Can this apprenticeship support progression to IDVA roles?

Yes. Completing the Level 3 IDVA Certificate alongside the Level 4 apprenticeship provides the recognised qualification route into IDVA practice.

While we do not guarantee job outcomes, the programme prepares learners to apply for IDVA roles when the time is right for them and their organisation.

Is the training delivered online?

Yes. Training is delivered fully online through live interactive workshops, guided learning tasks, and one-to-one tutor support.
This allows staff to participate from any location without the need for travel or time away from work.

How is progress supported?

Each learner has:

• A main tutor who provides teaching, guidance and feedback, and

• A training manager who carries out sign-ups and progress reviews and liaises directly with the employer.

We also structure learning tasks clearly and check in regularly to ensure progress is steady and manageable alongside workload.

How long does the apprenticeship take to complete?

Most learners complete within 12–18 months, depending on working hours and prior experience.
We take a steady, sustainable approach to development.

How is the apprenticeship funded?

The apprenticeship is government-funded.

• Levy-paying organisations can use their Apprenticeship Levy to cover the full cost.

• Non-levy employers typically contribute 5% of the cost.

However, many smaller organisations do not need to pay this, because Levy Transfer is available. Larger organisations may transfer unused levy funds to smaller services to fully cover the cost.

We can:

• Explain how Levy Transfer works

• Help you find a suitable levy transfer partner

• Support you through the simple setup process

This means that, in practice, many organisations access the apprenticeship at no cost.

What roles can this apprenticeship support progression into?

This apprenticeship can contribute to development toward roles such as:

• Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

• Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

• Domestic Abuse Support Worker

• Young People’s Domestic Abuse Practitioner

• Refuge or Accommodation Support Worker

• Outreach and Advocacy Worker

• Casework or Team Lead roles (with experience)

What makes Be Astute’s approach different?

Our focus is on building capability, confidence, and professional identity — not just completing a qualification.
We teach in a way that is clear, practical, and grounded in the realities of frontline work, and we work closely with employers to ensure learning is manageable, relevant, and aligned with service needs.

We support staff to grow into the role, not just pass assessments.

Talk with Our Team

If you’d like to explore whether this apprenticeship is a good fit for your organisation or staff team, we’d be happy to have a conversation. We can answer questions, discuss role suitability, and provide guidance on funding or levy transfer options.