Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) – female applicants only

About the role

Main purposes of the post: Work as part of the wider Specialist Domestic Abuse team, providing support to victims identified at high risk of harm, cases heard at MARAC, victims attending the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC), clients supported within Freeva’s Hospital Based IDVA services and IDVA services supporting clients from racially minoritised communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide a pro-active, short term crisis intervention service through individual safety planning and personal support.
• Advocate for high-risk victims with agencies who can help address the domestic abuse by: understanding the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how your role fits into them; providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including legal options, housing, health and finance; working directly with all key agency partners to address the safety of high-risk victims and ensuring that their safety plans are coordinated particularly through MARAC.
• To refer all cases identified as high risk of harm to the Daily MARAC via MODUS.
• To attend and represent the views of the victim, share up-to-date information, and act as a link between the victim and the MARAC agencies.
• Liaise between the victim and partner agencies to ensure that actions identified by MARAC are completed in a timely manner.
• Complete an initial safety plan with victims, sharing information to increase the safety, health and well-being and complete immediate actions that will enhance the safeguarding of each individual such as support to access civil remedies, target hardening referrals, referrals to Social Care Services etc.
• Ensure that appropriate and timely referrals are made to appropriate second tier services for ongoing specialist support and advocacy.
• Supporting clients to access immediate support options including securing refuge accommodation locally and nationally, housing advocacy, health, legal advice, welfare support etc.
• Ensure the effective information sharing at MARAC including providing updates for reviews of cases as appropriate.
• Risk assess and regularly review the risk assessment and deliver service in keeping with the result.
• Undertake proactive attempts to engage and provide support victims attending the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC).
• Specialist Team Support: Ensure the service is focused on actively resisting re-traumatisation, improving safety, health and well-being and reducing risk.
• Specialist Team Support: Regularly check email inboxes and answer phone for enquiries and referrals and respond to them appropriately.
• Specialist Team Support: Encourage feedback from service users on a regular basis and to contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the helpline services.
• Specialist Team Support: Actively seek opportunities to learn and improve your skills and knowledge relevant to your role and the work undertaken by the Specialist DA Team.
• Specialist Team Support: Support the development of new team members and volunteers supporting the Specialist DA Service.
• Specialist Team Support: Co-facilitate delivery of specialist domestic and sexual abuse training.
• Specialist Team Support: Act as a point of contact and provide ongoing support for clients waiting to be allocated to a second tier service / partner agency.
• Specialist Team Support: Complete monitoring and evaluation forms as appropriate.
• Specialist Team Support: Attend multi-agency meetings as appropriate to advocate for clients.
• Specialist Team Support: A commitment to partnership working and attendance at multi-agency meetings and community events to promote the service/organisation.
• Specialist Team Support: Be competent in accurate record-keeping and collection of data for monitoring purposes, service specific monitoring reports and to provide statistical information for evaluation purposes as required.
• Specialist Team Support: Provide at least one case study per quarter.
• Organisational Development: To strengthen and develop links with a wide range of local organisations and businesses across all sectors to promote the helpline services as widely as possible.
• Organisational Development: To keep all members of staff