Idva

**Calan DVS** is a domestic abuse charity in Wales, we cover a large and varied geographical area, providing services across Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, South Powys, Pembrokeshire and Ammanford (Carmarthenshire). **Please note that the IDVA role will be based in Ammanford or Powys.**

Our service model includes:

- Emergency accommodation for female victims of domestic abuse and their children.
- Support in the community and crisis drop-in services (for female and male victims).
- Group programmes including: the Freedom Programme for female victims, the Compass Programme for male victims and the Myriad Programme for LGBTQ+ victims.
- Community programmes and support for children and young people exposed to domestic violence and abuse.
- Trauma informed family programmes which take a whole family approach and deliver a specific programme and community services for male victims.
- IDVA services.
- Sexual violence services including counselling.

**Overview of IDVA project**

Dal I Godi provides an IDVA Service to victims of domestic abuse who are assessed as high risk in accordance with the recognised Safe Lives Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment (DASH) risk assessment. The service addresses the safety of victims at high riskof harm from intimate partners, ex-partners, or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. In providing a service to adult victims, every care is taken to ensure appropriate advice and referral is provided to safeguard any dependent children. Serving as a victim’s primary point of contact, the IDVAs work with their service users from the point of crisisto assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop safety plans.

The service is accessible to individuals who have reported domestic abuse and currently reside in the Dyfed Powys area, who are relocating to this area from elsewhere or who are reporting domestic abuse to agencies within this area. Opening hours for the IDVA service are Mon-Fri 9am-10pm with duty IDVA cover each weekday evening between 5-10 pm. Duty IDVA cover will also be available Saturdays & Sundays 9am-3pm.

**Purpose of the Role**
- Address the safety of victims at high riskof harm from intimate partners, ex-partners, or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.
- Serve as a victim’s primary point of contact by working with them from the point of crisisto assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop safety plans.
- Be pro-activein implementing the plans, including actions from MARAC, which address immediate safety and enable victims to protect themselves and their children, as well as longer-term solutions, using sanctions and services via criminal and civil courts, housing options and other organisations.
- Provide short
- to medium-term support to promote long-term safety.
- Work as part of the Dal I Godi IDVA service and specialist domestic abuse teams across Dyfed Powys, keeping the service users’ views and safety at the centre of proceedings.
- By engaging with high-risk individuals, achieve clear and measurable improvements in safety, including a reduction in the escalation and severity of abuse and a reduction or cessation in repeat incidents of abuse.
- The post holder will embody Calan DVS’ values, and model appropriate behaviours at all times, and in all areas of responsibility.

**Role Expectations**
- Carry a caseload of high-risk victims of domestic abuse, including those who are at imminent risk of harm or homicide, with a variety of differing needs and levels of need, depending on their situation.
- Undertake assessment of victims’ needs, risks and suitability to be allocated a place in the service and if not eligible to refer on to a more appropriate service.
- Be available for victims’ who require one off advice over the phone and guide colleagues in relation to any domestic abuse queries that may arise; to be supported by the Service Manager when necessary.
- Develop and implement safety plans in partnership with the service user to enable the individual to look at the risks to improve their safety and their children's safety and to take back control of their lives.
- Carry out risk assessments and risk manage cases to assist in reducing further incidents, and hold overall responsibility for maintaining and updating these, on an ongoing basis.
- Recognise, respect, and address the needs of victims who face particular barriers when seeking help to access the advocacy service including hard to reach groups.
- Be responsible for managing individual service user case management files and hold overall responsibility for maintaining and updating these.
- Attend regular team meetings, including team meetings with core domestic abuse services to ensure a quality streamlined IDVA service; supervisions with your line manager; and clinical supervisions with an independent party.
- Work with the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment