Role Profile

Job Title:

Grade:

Salary:

Hours:

MARAC and Community IDVA
(Independent Domestic Violence Adviser)
Point 5 (Unqualified) / Point 6 (Qualified)

£29,686.09 (Unqualified) / £31,894.55 (Qualified) per annum

35

Contract Type:

1 year Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover

Location:

Responsible to:

Responsible for:

Medway (SiM Team)
SiM Service Manager

No designated reports

    Committed               Curiosity                    Connected                 Collaborative                 Compassionate

  Background:

Oasis is a passionate and ambitious organisation committed to tackling the causes and
consequences of domestic abuse on families. We are known in Kent & Medway for our dedicated,
independent services that have been supporting the cause with a local focus for many years.

  Overall:

We provide an efficient service for families affected by domestic violence and abuse across Kent &
Medway. These families and individuals will have a range of needs, and our client support work
is needs-led, risk-focused & trauma-informed with a focus on developing individual
resilience. We work with Service
users in a range of settings. We provide group working and all support staff are expected to be
capable of integrated working in the wider social system. Staff are expected to work flexibly as
needed by service demands, this may include evenings and weekends.

Staff are not routinely required to participate in the out-of-hours on-call service, as this is currently
provided externally. However, staff may be asked to support this function on occasion, for example
when additional cover is required or in unforeseen circumstances. Enhancements will be paid
where applicable.

  Working with the mission of the organisation

Frontline roles are the reason for the charities existence, and the holder of this post must have
excellent team and communication skills (especially in working across the internal and external
systems), must have a strong understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse,
and must have excellent boundaries in working within the limits of the role and be committed to
ensuring that Oasis service users have excellent support. This role requires a can-do attitude in

  Purpose of the role:

  Safe in Medway, (SiM) Accommodation
The postholder will form part of the adult services team, delivering a whole family, trauma
informed approach for individuals experiencing domestic abuse, who have been placed
in temporary accommodation in Medway. Working closely with both statutory and specialist
partners, the team provides wraparound support that is needs-led, healing centered and risk
focused.
SiM IDVAs provide one to one, face to face support to Service users residing in both Oasis
accommodation and those placed in temporary accommodation in the Medway area. Tailored
support plans are created to address the safety, practical and emotional needs of those we
support. This role includes close collaboration with our SiM children’s worker to ensure holistic
support for the whole family. The team are expected to amplify the voice of the service user
throughout their SiM journey and advocate effectively across a range of partner agencies,
particularly during their resettlement phase for those preparing to move on.
SiM IDVA’s are also responsible for the day-to-day running of accommodation, ensuring
it remains a safe, well managed and welcoming environment.

Medway Domestic Abuse Service, (MDAS)

When required, in addition to their core responsibilities within accommodation settings, the
postholder will hold a small caseload of service users referred to MDAS. The MDAS
service supports victims of domestic abuse who are assessed at both Medium and High risk in the
local community.

The core purpose of an IDVA is to enhance the safety and wellbeing of individuals and their
children. They work within a multi-agency partnership to ensure risk-led support for Service
users experiencing domestic abuse. They will conduct rigorous safety planning, ensuring a
coordinated community response to address the client’s needs, where necessary advocating on
behalf of the client with partner agencies.
High-risk Service users will be supported through the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment
Conference) process. IDVAs are the voice of Service users during the MARAC process
and providing clear, up to date research is vital to ensure that any multi agency
actions are created to improve the safety of the client and their children.
IDVAs also create support plans that will include, but are not limited to, safety planning, housing,
legal, financial and children matters, which are tailored to meet their Service users' needs, all while
ensuring that the service has an accessibility focus. This involves assertive engagement and
intervention that creates opportunities for those who sometimes have multiple disadvantages to
be involved with the service. They should have a good understanding of the trauma-informed

practice and be able to offer services that meet the needs of people with a range
of additional needs.

Key Responsibilities:

1.  To assess incoming referrals and identify the best support agreement for their needs in
accordance with the Oasis Case Management Pack, including specific response times.

2.  To contact service users, providing and seeking information with a professional

approach, and to meet service users at the safe accommodation property to settle them in.

3.  To provide an on-going assessment and review of a trauma-informed SMART support
and safety plan. This will include a holistic view of the multiple needs of the individual.

4.  To provide consistent support and advice face to face in the Service users accommodation

and by telephone.

5.  To provide support, information, advocacy, and signposting, including relationship

breakdown, substance misuse, mental health, safety planning, housing options, welfare &
benefits, civil and criminal legal issues, immigration, budgeting, paying bills, addressing debt,
tenancy sustainment, education, training, employment and access to other agencies.

6.  To enable service users to develop the skills and resources necessary to move on and

maintain independence and self-reliance.

7.  To provide emotional support, using solution-focused practice and ways to well-being.

8.  Manage the day-to-day running of the accommodation, including health and safety and fire

checks, and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation.

9.  Facilitate move-ins and move-outs, including inventories, maintenance reporting, cleaning of

properties, item purchasing and complete property turnaround.

10. Ensure all properties are well maintained and meet agreed standards.

11. Provide up to 12 weeks of resettlement support to Service users who move on

from accommodation into longer-term accommodation.

12. Managing adherence to licence agreements, support agreements and accommodation rules.

13. Participate in the organisation’s Helpline Rota on a scheduled basis.

14. This position may require some level of co-location within external services relevant as to the

role.

15. To facilitate group work such as the Phoenix Program and other recovery programs as

required.

16. To identify and risk assess complex multiple needs such as substance misuse and mental

health.

17. To follow Risk Assessment and Safety Planning processes, including the DASH checklist.

18. Liaise with the IDVA attending MARAC to ensure that service users are appropriately

represented.

19. Manage the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children in line with the organisational
policy in discussion with senior / manager and with open communication with Chidlren,
Families and Adult Services.

20. Risk assessment and safety plan with service users and deliver service in keeping with the

result.

21. Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the dynamics of

domestic/sexual violence.

22. Develop individual safety and support plans to meet individual risks and support needs that
service users face, regularly review cases ensuring that all agencies are meeting the of the
Service users. Ensure effective liaison with agencies regarding case management

23. Managing a caseload based on SafeLives care pathway.

24. Refer appropriate Service users to MARAC, explaining procedures and rights within the

MARAC process to the client and keeping Service users’ safety central to all coordinated
responses. Support colleagues and partner agencies to provide the best possible service.
Follow up on all required actions in liaison with the support manager.

25. To represent the service users’ safety needs and wishes, either directly or via a formal
handover at the local MARAC complete any actions as agreed at the MARAC meeting.

26. To work within the terms of the MARAC and Court Protocols as required.

27. Provide direct support to Police, primary care services, housing departments and social

services in the provision and coordination of support developing strong relationships with
these and other partners to improve the outcomes for Service users.

28. Participate in a rota covering Medway One Stop shops and present at weekly MARAC

meetings as required.

29. To support Service users through the criminal justice system, explaining the procedures and
their roles and rights within the court process, and ensuring that, whenever possible, Service
users have realistic expectations of the criminal justice system.

30. To liaise with the CPS, Witness Care Unit, police, and other partner agencies to ensure that

the client’s safety needs are considered within the judicial process.

31. To hold a caseload efficiently and effectively.

32. To ensure that regular opportunities are given for service users to feedback on the service.

33. To maintain thorough, confidential and up-to-date service user records and case

management notes using a client database.

34. To engage with all impact analysis and story gathering for organisational learning.

35. To remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational policies and procedures and

professional codes of conduct in order to uphold standards of best practice.

36. To perform other reasonable tasks as identified by the organisation.

37. To engage positively with the clinical supervision process.

38. Participate in the out-of-hours on-call service when additional cover is required or in

unforeseen circumstances.

Review arrangements

The details contained in the role specification reflect the content of the job at the date the
document was prepared. It should be remembered, however, that it is inevitable that over time
the nature of individual jobs will change; existing duties may be lost and other duties may be
gained without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility
entailed. Consequently, we expect to revise this role specification from time to time and consult
with the postholder at the appropriate time.

Oasis Domestic Abuse Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children; applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to
the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Essential   Desirable

Person Specification
1. Experience
Substantial experience of providing emotional and practical support to service users,
probably acquired over a period of not less than 2 years.
Experience of working in a multi-agency setting with a willingness for partnership
working
Experience of engaging with service users through assertive outreach

Experience of liaising with social services, police, health agencies, housing providers and
voluntary organisations
Experience of working within a residential setting/refuge/women’s advice centre or
similar, or another relevant agency.
Experience of working with Service users with complex needs including substance
misuse, mental health and/or learning disabilities.
2. Knowledge & Qualifications
Advanced theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge regarding the
issues surrounding the impact of domestic abuse and sexual violence victims
and their families and the civil and criminal justice remedies relating to domestic and
sexual violence.
SafeLives trained and/or WAFE trained

Knowledge of when to refer, coupled with the ability to understand complex needs
such as substance misuse and mental health issues.
Knowledge of child protection issues and legal responsibilities

Knowledge of undertaking risk assessments and designing safety plans

Knowledge and understanding of the remits of the relevant statutory and voluntary
agencies
A recognised social work, counselling or related qualification

Good understanding of trauma informed practice

3. Capabilities & skills
Highly skilled in delivering group work sessions

Highly skilled in assessment of the service user’s needs

Skilled in motivational interviewing and approaches such as brief therapy
intervention
A methodical and well organised approach to workload and an ability to work
within a stressful environment and be able to work on own initiative with minimal
supervision
Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, able to communicate
effectively both orally and in writing. Able to work effectively within a team setting
An ability to manage crisis situations calmly and with a problem-solving
approach. Excellent advisory, guidance, negotiation and persuasive skills in order
to influence outcomes for service users
An ability to develop a trusting and confidential relationship with abused service
users and interpret assessments in order to support a safety plan
To be respectful, non-judgmental, non-directive and confidential in supporting service
users. To encourage service users to take control of their lives and set
realistic objectives and goals. Ability to communicate effectively with service
users whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
Ability to work within a line management structure

Good administrative skills. Computer literate and able to maintain accurate records

4. Other

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Candidates must be willing to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service
check
Evidence of qualifications listed on the application form

Full driving license and access to own vehicle

Y

Y

Y