Independent Domestic Violence and Abuse Advocate

**PENNINE DOMESTIC ABUSE PARTNERSHIP**

**Role Profile - IDVA (DRAMM AND CASE HOLDING)**

**JOB TITLE**:IDVA (DRAMM and Case Holding)**

**SALARY**:£24 -26k**

**RESPONSIBLE TO**: **IDVA Manager**

**PENSION: 6% Employer contribution**

**HEALTH BENEFITS: Health Care Cash Plan - Employment Mental Wellbeing Scheme**

**HOURS**:37.5 hours per week**

**LEAVE: 29 Days + Bank Holidays**

Flexible working hours according to the needs of the project. Evening and weekend work as required. Annual leave and time off in lieu to be taken at times to meet the requirements of the organisation and with the prior agreement of the CEO.

The post is based within Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership (PDAP)

N.B. The organisation refers to the Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership.

**PARTICULAR TASKS OF THE POSTHOLDER**

**Service Delivery**
- To work within a skilled team providing high quality frontline specialist support services to victims of domestic abuse. PDAP works with victims of domestic abuse aged 16+ living across Kirklees through a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy, support and outcomes-based framework
- To establish and maintain positive, proactive and innovative working relationships, pathways and referral routes with partner agencies to reduce barriers arising for victims of domestic abuse reaching out for support
- To participate in DRAMM 2 days a week as part of the multi-disciplinary safeguarding vulnerable victims of domestic abuse
- To hold a proportion of DRAMM cases to ensure a seamless journey for clients.
- To participate in the preparation and represent PDAP at the MARAC meeting.
- To triage referrals from the DRAMM to allocation and accurately record all activities on specific systems
- Advocate for high risk victims with agencies who can help to address the domestic abuse by:

- Understanding the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how your role fits into them
- Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance
- Working directly with all key agency partners to address the safety of high risk victims and ensuring that their safety plans are coordinated particularly through the MARAC
- Understand multi-agency partnership structures and work within a multi-agency setting which will include representing PDAP at MARAC. You will contribute interventions and help design a plan to protect victims and any children, while maintaining an independent role on behalf of your client, keeping their safety as central to any response.
- Help maintain accurate and confidential case records and databases and contribute to monitoring information for the service
- Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to the work
- Support colleagues and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, in order to provide the best possible service for victims of domestic abuse
- Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the services work in, and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of victims ensuring the service is accessible to all
- Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice
- To ensure the safeguarding of children and young people affected by domestic abuse accessing the service, liaising with and making referrals to CSC where appropriate.
- To participate in PDAP 24 hour on call rota

**Organisational Development**
- To participate in, and support organisational policy development and implementation
- To help ensure that the views of clients and stakeholders are embedded into the work of PDAP

**Internal and External Liaison and Communication**
- To promote PDAP ethos and values across the organisation
- To liaise with other agencies on behalf of the organisation, volunteers and service users and represent the wider complexities of those experiencing domestic abuse
- To represent PDAP operationally where required, attending advisory groups and participating in local forum meetings with a view to influencing how stakeholders deal with domestic abuse and to publicise the IDVA service.
- To develop and maintain good positive working relationships and referral pathways with relevant agencies and professionals
- To attend and participate positively in relevant meetings, training, supervision and annual appraisals

**Other**
- To undertake other related duties required by the CEO and Board of Trustees
- To keep up-to-date with national and local government decisions, policy and agendas pertinent to domestic abuse and PDAP, implement this learning to develop services and enhance the work PDAP carry out, also disseminate learning, knowledge and awareness to colleagues
- To undertake all other reasonable tasks requested