Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Role:             Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Based:          Hammersmith

Salary:           £18-£20 umb

Start Date:    Immediately

Duration:      8 weeks  

Hours:           35 hours per week Monday to Friday

Our client, a leading domestic abuse charity is looking to recruit an IDVA to provide high-quality telephone or face to face crisis intervention, information, advocacy and proactive support to women referred to the service, in respect to risk management and safety planning, criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, and children’s legislation.

Synopsis of duties:

Assess the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short- and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs, including MARAC and ensuring that our services are accessible to those with protected characteristics and/or facing multiple disadvantages.
Advise women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, encouraging them to engage with other agencies, making referrals and co-ordinating the provision of multi-agency support where necessary, and proactively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are reduced.
Work proactively and in cooperation with social care and DVIP to keep the client’s perspective and safety at the centre of proceedings, maintain referral routes and increase access and earlier intervention resulting in better results for the family.
Work proactively to raise awareness and upskill professionals within social care and work with colleagues to successfully develop and deliver training.
Participate in multi-agency conferences in respect of children and adults at risk as required, providing reports and undertaking actions as necessary.
Keep the service manager and social care links informed of any issues and successes. 
Ensure that agreed case recording and monitoring systems are kept up to date and secure.
Participate in multi-agency working groups, focus groups, and conduct reviews of the project when requested to do so, and follow through on agreed appropriate actions that arise from the Social Care Steering Group meetings attended by management.
Ensure that agreed case recording and monitoring systems are kept up to date and secure, and write internal and external reports where required, including for safeguarding conferences, team meetings, managers and others. 
Work with the Manager s and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to ensure all monitoring and evaluation for the project is accurate and fully maintained, and keep managers informed of any issues and successes.

Essential Requirements:

A relevant qualification, for example in domestic violence, criminal justice, law, social work or related area.
A thorough understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence (physical, emotional and sexual violence, so-called ‘honour-based violence’, forced marriage, stalking and harassment) and its impact on women, children, families and communities.
An excellent understanding of legislation that correlates with domestic abuse with particular regard to legal and civil options, housing, benefits, matrimonial and children.
Thorough knowledge of safeguarding practice, procedures and legislation.
At least one year’s experience of supporting women who have experienced domestic violence, forced marriage or ‘honour-based violence’.
Experience of risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, particularly with
clients with complex/multiple needs.
Experience of partnership working and of maintaining excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders; particularly social care.
At least one year experience of working in a co-located setting with another agency and providing consultations/briefings to professionals to support in upskilling them around Domestic Abuse.
DBS on update service

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency