Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Job Title - Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)

Team - DAVE (Domestic Abuse Victim Empowerment) service

Type of Contract: 1-year fixed term contact (with the possibility of extending)
Location: Offices in Ashford, Kent (with some Remote working)

Hours: 30 hours per week

**Salary**: £25,000 (Qualified) / £23,000 (Unqualified) Pro-rata

£20,000 (qualified) / £18,400 (unqualified) actual

Responsible to: Director of Domestic Abuse Services

Job Purpose & Objective
- To implement effective ways of working with male victims and those supporting them to increase safety and reduce harm.
- To provide a high-quality, front-line service to male victims of domestic abuse, delivering a premium service prioritised according to risk, primarily focusing on victim/survivors aged 16+.
- Initiate, develop, maintain and monitor multi-agency links through procedures and protocols to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse.
- To specialise and be leading practitioner for Male victims of domestic abuse; providing advice, guidance and single point of contact for male victims.

Specific duties and responsibilities
- To act as single point of contact and victim specialist in area of expertise, managing a caseload ensuring each client receives the appropriate service individual to their needs
- Identifying and assessing the risks and needs of domestic abuse victims using an evidence
- based risk identification checklist.
- Focus on and prioritise high, medium and low risk cases and provide a pro-active, short to medium term crisis intervention service, through individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
- Work with victims of domestic abuse to assist them in accessing services to keep them and their children safe.
- Understand the legal framework relating to the protection of children and vulnerable adults, including the policy and procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.
- Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including exploration of legal and civil options, housing, health and finance.
- Support clients through the criminal justice system.
- Participate in the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference framework: refer clients to, attend and participate in meetings and follow up actions agreed in the MARAC.
- Maintain accurate and confidential case management records and contribute to monitoring information for the service including producing statistics, as required.
- Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures, as well as all legislation connected to your work.
- Remain up-to-date and comply with organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct - uphold standards of best practice.

Objectives
- Clients are contacted within 48 hours of referral and provided with appropriate information and support dependent on their identified need.
- High quality needs and risks assessments are completed with all contacted clients and actioned appropriately in accordance with the scope of your role.
- Accurate and confidential case management records are recorded, including outcomes.
- Improvement in outcomes scores from intake to exit

No job description can cover every issue which may arise within the post at various times and the postholder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time that are broadly consistent with those in this job description.

Person Specification

The person specification lists the essential and desirable requirements needed in order to do the job. Applications for the role will be considered in relation to this.

Dads Unlimited aims to promote equality and diversity as an employer and to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable. We regret that we can only consider applicants who are already eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

Requirement Essential Desirable Tested*
Hold an IDVA training certificate, or a relevant X degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, or a vocational qualification.
Have a good understanding of domestic abuse X A/I including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
Knowledge of help-seeking barriers and support x A/I needs of male victims of domestic abuse (in heterosexual or same-sex relationships).
Ability to work effectively and sensitively with male X victims and those supporting them, aiming to prioritise safety and reduce harm.
Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety X A/I planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children
Understand Safeguarding issues, and the legal X A/I responsibilities surrounding these issues
Have theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge X I/P of civil and criminal justice remedies for victims of domestic abuse and their children, as well as statutory bodies an