Health Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Salary: £25,954 per annum ​rising to £26,364 per annum on successful completion of probation and £28,002 per annum after accreditation.

Hours:​ 37.5 hours per week​

Holiday:​25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service per annum plus bank holidays

Base: University Hospital Plymouth

Contract:​ Permanent

​ About the Role

  Health IDVA Job Description.pdf​

The Health Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) role will deliver a proactive, person-centred and trauma-informed support service to adults experiencing high-risk domestic abuse in all its forms. The role focuses on keeping victims and their families safe through support intervention, comprehensive safety planning, and coordinated multi-agency responses.

The post holder will provide a premium service to those assessed as being at the highest risk, working assertively and flexibly to engage clients, support the safeguarding team at University Hospital Plymouth with Domestic Abuse referrals, completing face-to-face support in wards across the Hospital campus and their homes where required. Clients may present with complex and multiple needs, including substance misuse, mental and physical health issues, learning needs, criminal justice involvement, and other vulnerabilities.

The Health IDVA will work proactively within multi-agency forums, including MARAC, to assess risk, share information, and develop robust safety and support plans. Strong advocacy and partnership-working skills are essential to ensure victims are supported to access statutory and voluntary services appropriate to their risks and needs.

The role requires a highly motivated and adaptable individual who can work unsupervised on a day-to-day basis, effectively prioritising and managing a complex caseload while maintaining a strong focus on victim safety, empowerment, and recovery.

Key responsibilities:

• Raise awareness of the service and Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence to health practitioners as well as helping other services identify and respond to those experiencing domestic abuse.
• Take referrals from clinicians in response to routine enquiry or other disclosure and provide a timely response.
• Have an excellent understanding of domestic violence and its effects on women, men and children and of best practice within the health sector.
• Be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information on a daily basis.
• Provide a premium service to those assessed at highest risk but responding to all referrals whatever the risk level.
• Use advocacy and partnership working skills both within the hospital setting and, in the community, to ensure victims are supported to access services to which they are entitled.
• Represent the charity and service appropriately with a broad range of organisations and individuals
• To undertake any duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the grade of the post

Essential requirements:

• Literacy skills and experience working with databases
• ​To hold or have a commitment to complete certified IDVA training, or a relevant degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, or vocational qualification
• Experience supporting victims of domestic abuse, or working with vulnerable people
• Have a good understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
• Understand safeguarding issues (children and vulnerable adults) and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.
• Understanding the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children
• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals
• Handling confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice
• Experience of working in a Hospital or similar environment is beneficial but not essential.

​ Added benefits:

• A comprehensive induction and training programme, with a hybrid working policy for a better work/life balance.
• A wellbeing day per financial year (1^stApril to 31^stMarch)
• Access to external supervision to discuss personal or emotional responses to traumatic cases, to ensure emotional and psychological wellbeing.
• Health and wellbeing resources including our staff Wellbeing Group, Staff Consultation Committee and active participation in our employee engagement platform.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24/7 telephone helpline offering medical, emotional and financial support.
• Working for an organisation committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, and all backgrounds regardless of age, race, faith, disability, neurodiversities, genders, gender expression or sexuality.
• First Light are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.
• Annual pay review and employer contribution pension scheme.

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Additional Information:  The successful applicant will be subject to a Disclosure & Barring check, and a social media check conducted by a third party organisation as part of our Safer Recruitment process. Any future offer of employment is contingent on the satisfactory completion of these checks, as well as the receipt of two satisfactory employment references, with one being from your current or most recent employer. Please note that in some roles staff may be required to work from a home/office base in accordance with our Hybrid Working policy.

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Deadline for receipt of applications: 09:00 on 17th August 2026

Expected date for interviews: ​ Telephone interview on 21st August and if successful a face to face interview on 1st September, although we can be flexible on these dates for candidates as appropriate.

If you do not hear from us within 10 working days of the deadline for receipt of applications, please assume you have been unsuccessful at this time. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early for the right candidate, so we encourage early applications.

​To apply:​ Due to Safeguarding requirements we are unable to accept CVs as part of your application, or employ any candidate who has been a client of First Light within the last two years.

Please complete the application form on the top right of the advert on our website. Ensure that you outline your relevant experience and evidence suitability for the role against the role profile, which is a combined job description and person specification. Alternatively, you can email recruitment@firstlight.org.uk