Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) Thank you for your interest in this role.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE

Women’s Aid want to be clear, honest and transparent about this extremely important role within our organisation. It is not an ‘I just want to look after everyone’ role **

It is demanding, emotionally complex, and highly accountable - and for the right person, it is deeply meaningful and impacting work.

As an IDVA, you will manage a high-risk, fast-moving caseload of victims/survivors of domestic abuse. You will be responsible for ensuring every case is actively progressed, risks are identified and reviewed, and no one gets lost in your systems and procedures. The role requires discipline, organisational skills and CONSTANT attention to detail. Compassion is extremely important but alone - is not enough.

What the role really involves;

• Managing a complex and pressured caseload, often with competing risks and priorities

• Maintaining accurate, detailed and up-to-date case records, safety plans and outcomes - every action, every contact and every decision

• Continually tracking your cases, following up actions, chasing responses and reviewing risk

• Working to tight deadlines, professional standards and statutory expectations

• Making clear professional judgements while holding boundaries with survivors and agencies

• Ensuring everyone using our service receives consistent and reliable support – often urgently

IDVA work is safety-critical. When cases are not managed rigorously - when risks are not reviewed, actions are not followed up, records are incomplete, or survivors are not consistently engaged – practices can become unsafe or the victim/survivor can feel you are uninterested.

Domestic abuse is patterned, escalating, predictable and also often unpredictable; failures in case management can allow abuse to continue, intensify, or go unchallenged. In the most serious cases, poor practice, delayed responses or overlooked warning signs can contribute to serious harm or loss of life. Professional discipline, accurate records and active case overview are not just administrative tasks - they are essential and are in fact the core safeguarding functions essential to preventing further abuse and keeping victims and survivors safe and alive.

Who are we looking for?

Someone who is:

• Highly organised and methodical – planning your work daily and following it through

Exceptional with detail – accurate records, timely and defensible

• Able to manage emotional content without losing professional focus

• Confident working independently while being accountable

• Comfortable with systems, case management, deadlines and scrutiny

• Values survivors’ autonomy and strength, rather than seeing them as ‘those poor victims’ **

You must be someone who can care deeply while also working rigorously.

This role may NOT be right for you if:

• You are primarily motivated by “helping” rather than advocacy, safety and accountability

• You struggle with structure, record-keeping or prioritisation

• You are uncomfortable with risk management, challenge and professional boundaries

• You are seeking a role that is primarily emotional support rather than complex casework

** Actual quotes heard in interviews

If you thrive in complex environments, take pride in doing things properly, want to deliver a service that survivors can rely on and want to make a difference . . . . .

Then we want to hear from you

JOB DESCRIPTION INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVISOR (Support Worker)

RESPONSIBLE TO: SALARY:	Support Supervisor; Support Manager; Head of Operations
DAYS / TIMES:	£25,389 per annum Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
	Flexible hours to meet client needs, where necessary
	Take part in an On-Call' service (see below)
	Approx 1/2 on-call shifts per month
ADDITIONAL PAY/ HOURS:	'On-Call' Weeknight (Mon-Fri) £15 per night
	'On-Call' Saturday/Sunday and BH £30 per night 'Call Out' £20 per hour
	All support workers will be based at varying locations across Grimsby & Cleethorpes. They will also work in varying locations for our drop-in
WORK BASE: services and may work in varying external agency locations.

To provide a high quality domestic abuse service – ensuring victims and survivors receive an excellent standard of support that helps save lives and change lives.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To receive referrals for Outreach service via Single Point Of Contact (SPOC), attempt contact within one working day and prioritise high risk cases.
To provide a high-quality and pro-active front-line service to victims of domestic abuse.
To address the safety of victims at risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.
Ensure provisions of support are available and accessible 24 hrs a day.
Deliver a pathway of care focusing on safety and protection to those at highest risk of domestic homicide.
Participate in an ‘on-call’ rota for all domestic abuse services provided by Women’s Aid. The rota will be undertaken by staff across all support projects. (Approx. 1/2 nights per month)
To explain all options and enable service users to make informed decisions.
To respond and record immediately to telephone calls, emails and enquiries in person.
To provide ongoing emotional support to those experiencing domestic abuse.
To manage an open caseload of clients (Approx 25 per FTE) ranging from low to high risks and low to high support needs (inc complex needs clients); ensuring all support is regular, structured and appropriate to client’s individual needs and include safety, protection, risk management and ongoing support & future plans.
To ensure support is delivered in a trauma informed way.
To be flexible with support hours according to the client’s needs where necessary.
To carry out and record DASH Risk Assessments and be fully responsible for any actions.
To assess and provide support ensuring all needs, risks and aspirations are recognised and recorded.
To participate in MARAC research, updates, actions, feedback and meetings where necessary.
When necessary, to support the client through the legal, criminal and civil justice systems; explaining procedures, their rights and encouraging involvement with legal support available.
To provide and record a relevant, thorough, detailed and comprehensive safety plan for clients.
To support the client to access practical means required to communicate with other agencies via telephones / internet / Wi-Fi.
To establish and practice good working partnerships and multi-agency work with other professionals and outside agencies.
To work within a strict framework of safeguarding under Women’s Aid NEL and local authority guidance.
To offer housing support and/or resettlement support when necessary.
To support the empowerment of the client and assist them in understanding the dynamics and complexities of abusive behaviours.
To participate in a rota of drop in / advice sessions provided by Womens Aid in a variety of settings and locations.
To work closely with other support workers and staff to ensure that the client has access to a full range of services provided by Women’s Aid.
To support the client to explore ‘moving forward’ with their life; exploring opportunities, identifying needs, encouraging aspirations and developing these into meaningful future plans and goals.
To participate and contribute to relevant client group sessions, where necessary.
To take part in accredited IDVA training (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate)
To collect and monitor information. When requested, to participate in the evaluation of services.
To promote and facilitate consultation and involvement of service users.
To keep clear and accurate records and maintain structured, confidential and up to date files on service users.
To be responsible and accountable for individual case files and to take part in regular file reviews and spot-checks.
When requested, to prepare and undertake client reports and/or feedback on their support.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To work as a team member under the guidance and management of the Support Manager and/or the Head of Services.
To participate in supervisions (with line manager & clinical) and appraisals.
To participate in fundraising activities on behalf of Women’s Aid.
To work alone and on own initiative with due regard to our lone working procedures.
To participate in staff training, ensuring mandatory training is up-to-date and refreshed regularly.
To discuss any training personally identified in supervisions.
To attend team meetings, external meetings and Trustee meetings as requested.
To draw to the attention of the Support Manager any issues which may impact on clients or Women's Aid.
To be familiar with all policies of Women’s Aid; to ensure policies are signed off as instructed; to ensure policies are implemented and adhered to at all times.
To be familiar with and work in accordance with Women’s Aid performance management system;
To work at all times in accordance with the confidentiality policy of Women's Aid.
To comply with data protection legislation; ensuring information sharing procedures are adhered to at all times.
To ensure the highest standard of anti-discriminatory and equal opportunities practices are adhered to and to work in a non-judgemental way, within the guidelines of equal opportunities and antidiscriminatory practice.
To work in a safe and responsible way ensuring that safety and lone working procedures are followed and that you do not endanger yourself, your colleagues or service users.
To work in accordance with staff values and ethos as described in our staff agreement.
To constantly raise an awareness of domestic abuse locally.
To assist with providing cover for absent colleagues during periods of sickness, holidays, etc, as requested by the Support Manager. Head of Services or CEO.
To carry out any other duties commensurate with the level of this post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

OUTREACH SUPPORT WORKER	ESSENTIAL	DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS
Any recognised professional qualifications		*
EXPERIENCE OF;
Support work and supporting individuals	*
Undertaking client needs and risk assessments	*
Liaising with other agencies	*
Organising, planning and evaluating workload	*
Working to performance indicators and standards		*
Support File Management and record keeping	*
Report writing and presentation		*
Attending meetings and/or training events	*
Safety planning and risk assessing		*
KNOWLEDGE OF
The impact of domestic abuse on everyone	*
The effects of homelessness		*
Education/training and employment opportunities		*
Housing/welfare benefits legislation		*
The local area, resources and agencies	*
Safeguarding practices	*
Drug, alcohol and mental health issues		*
Health and Safety legislation in the workplace	*
SKILLS
Ability to work as a member of a staff team and as an individual	*
Excellent communication and organisational skills	*
Computer skills (file management is undertaken electronically)	*
Good literacy and numeracy skills	*
Interpersonal skills — with both individuals and external organisations and agencies	*
Ability to cope with crisis management, conflict and distress	*
Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines	*
Ability to manage own caseload	*
Ability to support and encourage progression	*
GENERAL
A commitment to the empowerment of those affected by abuse	*
To foster a tolerant, supportive and empathic approach to clients,with an ability to build rapport quickly	*
A commitment to accountability	*
To ensure a positive image of the organisation through personalbehaviour and appearance	*
Demonstrate a flexible approach (inc. outside working hours) to thedemands of the role	*
Demonstrate a high level of motivation	*
A commitment to Equal Opportunities	*
Possession of driving licence and access to vehicle	*

Connect with a cause that needs you!

Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)