Independent Sexual Violence Advisor- Disability

Victim Support is looking for an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor based in our Wakefield office, with frequent travel across West Yorkshire working 37.5 hours per 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**
- West Yorkshire

**Office location**
- Victim Support, 19-25 Wood Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2EL

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

**Hours per week**
- 37.5

**Work schedule**
- Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm, occasional work outside of these hours may be required.

**Basic Salary**
- Qualified - £28,050 per annum Unqualified - £26,010 per annum

**Allowances**
- Travel expenses

**Contract type**
- Fixed Term

**DBS required?**
- Yes

**End date (if fixed term)**
- 31/03/2025

**Police vetting required?**
- Yes

**Closing Date**
- 16/09/2024

**Ref No**
- 5760

**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 where this fits in with the needs of the service
- 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**:
As an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), you will provide ongoing continuity, advocacy and impartial advice and information to all survivors accessing our service. Whilst you will be supporting all clients who have suffered sexual violence, this role also requires the ISVA to focus on supporting clients with a wide range of disabilities, both physical and hidden.

Being an experienced ISVA, you will conduct risk assessments and assess the specific needs of people who have suffered sexual violence. Your expertise in this area will enable you to develop individual service plans that address these risks and needs. You will have a proven track record of working with high and complex cases and have demonstrated resilience in your professional life, enabling you to work effectively under pressure. You will have extensive experience working with vulnerable clients and possess the skills to maintain professional boundaries working alongside them.

You will also be adept at working in a trauma-informed manner, acknowledging that trauma can impact victims in different ways, and offering support with this as a priority. As an advocate for sexual violence survivors/victims, you will work to promote their confidence, resilience, and empowerment both within and outside of the criminal justice system.

You will be required to attend relevant meetings and will provide regular reports to your line manager and also undertake talks and presentations to local groups and agencies on the work of Victim Support, developing networks and partnerships and increasing the role of the service in the community. You will be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people from all areas of the community and be able to assist with the monitoring, evaluation and administration of written statistical reports on the project management for our external funders.

You will offer guidance and support to clients in navigating the criminal justice process while ensuring their rights are protected in accordance with the Victims Code of Practice. You will provide victims with access to resources and support to help them through the criminal justice process.

This role demands a high amount of resilience and the management of a high caseload.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

**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