Domestic Abuse Independent Victim Advocate

We have an exciting opportunity for a Caseworker
- Domestic Abuse (known internally as an Independent Victim Advocate
- Domestic Abuse) to join our team in Cumbria, working 37.5 hours a week.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we’d love to hear from you.

**County/Borough**
- Cumbria

**Office location**
- CA130RJ Cockermouth

**Full time/Part time**
- Full time

**Hours per week**
- 37.5

**Work schedule**
- Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm with 1 late shift per week 10am to 6pm

**Basic Salary**
- £25,500.00 Per Annum.

**Allowances**
- Travel expenses

**Contract type**
- Permanent

**DBS required?**
- Yes

**Police vetting required?**
- Yes

**Closing Date**
- 30/09/2023

**Ref No**
- 5163

**What we offer**:
At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
- High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
- Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
- Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
- Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

**About the role**:
This role is based in Cumberland (Copeland & Allerdale) flexible hours and hybrid working available, with a requirement to travel across the county for business and training purposes.

As a Domestic Abuse Independent Victim Advocate you will:
- play a vital role in delivering structured support services to victims of domestic abuse to assist them cope and recover.
- provide a quality support service (emotional, practical, advocacy, information advice and guidance)
- work collaboratively with other key stakeholders to address the impact on crime on service users and ensure their interventions are delivered to assist in risk reduction, safety planning and recovery.
- provide a pro-active, high quality, frontline service to victims of domestic violence and abuse (primarily medium risk of harm) through on-going risk assessment, individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support. Providing both 1 to 1 support, outreach and peer support group work as required.
- work in partnership with other agencies to develop and deliver risk management plans to ensure victims’ safety.
- advocate on behalf of survivors of domestic abuse
- manage and regularly review your cases

You will need:

- a thorough understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on victim/survivors and their children
- experience of providing emotional and practical support
- strong casework management skills
- the skills to provide effective crisis intervention, carry out risk assessments, safety planning, assessment of needs and individual support planning
- experience of working in a similar setting or position
- to understand safety and risk and how it relates to survivors of domestic abuse
- strong communication skills and the confidence and ability to present and educate service users and agency partners on the realities and impacts of domestic abuse in a variety of settings
- the ability to work independently and prioritise a busy workload
- an excellent understanding of the requirements of confidentiality and safe working practices
- robust recording and excellent IT skills
- An active commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is essential
- to be flexible with working hours in order to meet the needs of the role

**About us**:
Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse