Family Court IDVA

First Light; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Wellbeing day per year

Employee assistance program

Job summary

First Light is recruiting a Family Court IDVA to provide emotional and practical support to clients impacted by domestic abuse within family court proceedings. The role is based primarily at Plymouth Court, with a focus on risk assessments, safety planning and collaboration with partners to raise awareness of coercive control.

You will work in a multidisciplinary environment, advocating for victims and supporting with applications, statements and legal documents while maintaining accurate

Qualifications

• Driving licence and access to a car.
• Experience supporting victims of Domestic Abuse or working with vulnerable people.
• SafeLives IDVA training certificate, or a relevant degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, or vocational qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and practical support to clients experiencing Domestic Abuse and going through family courts proceedings.
• Carry out and complete risk assessments and safety planning inside the proceedings.
• Work closely with other IDVAs and DANs in the organisation to ensure that appropriate referrals are accepted into the service.
• Work in collaboration with partners to develop a better understanding of Domestic Abuse amongst professionals working within the legal system and to ensure that coercive control in proceedings is raised and limited.
• Predominantly work out of Plymouth Court alongside other agencies.
• Advocate and be a voice for the victim.
• Support with applications, statements, and legal documents
• Work in a way that empowers the victims of domestic abuse, helping them to recognise and understand the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse.
• Ensure that all records are up-to-date and accurate.

Skills

Driving licence

Experience supporting victims

Agency liaison

Education

SafeLives IDVA training certificate or relevant degree

Job description

Family Court IDVA

Salary: £25,954 per annum rising to £26,364 per annum after successful probation and £28,002 after accreditation

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Holiday: 25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 30 days after 5 years service per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)

Base: Plymouth Court, Brunswick House Plymouth and Plymouth community

Area Covered: Plymouth

Contract: Permanent

The Family Court IDVA will provide proactive support to the non abusive person to access:

• Civil Protection Orders
• Support with child arrangement orders
• Support to attend court within Local Authority cases.
• Support with Separation and Financial dispute hearings.

The Family Court IDVA will:

• Provide emotional and practical support to clients experiencing Domestic Abuse and going through family courts proceedings.
• Carry out and complete risk assessments and safety planning inside the proceedings.
• Work closely with other IDVA s and DAN's in the organisation to ensure that appropriate referrals are accepted into the service.
• Work in collaboration with partners to develop a better understanding of Domestic Abuse amongst professionals working within the legal system and to ensure that coercive control in proceedings is raised and limited.
• Predominently work out of Plymouth Court alongside other agencies.
• Advocate and be a voice for the victim.
• Support with applications, statements, and legal documents
• Work in a way that empowers the victims of domestic abuse, helping them to recognise and understand the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse.
• Ensure that all records are up-to-date and accurate.

Essential requirements:

• Driving licence and access to a car
• Experience supporting victims of Domestic Abuse or working with vulnerable people
• Hold a SafeLives IDVA training certificate, or a relevant degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, or vocational qualification

Added benefits:

• A comprehensive induction and training programme, with a hybrid working policy for a better work/life balance.
• A wellbeing day per financial year (1st April to 31st March)
• Access to external supervision to discuss personal or emotional responses to traumatic cases, to ensure emotional and psychological wellbeing.
• Health and wellbeing resources including our staff Wellbeing Group, Staff Consultation Committee and active participation in our employee engagement platform.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24/7 telephone helpline offering medical, emotional and financial support.
• Working for an organisation committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, and all backgrounds regardless of age, race, faith, disability, neurodiversities, genders, gender expression or sexuality. First Light are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.
• Annual pay review and employer contribution pension scheme.

Additional Information: The successful applicant will be subject to a Disclosure & Barring check, and a social media check conducted by a third party organisation as part of our Safer Recruitment process. Any future offer of employment is contingent on the satisfactory completion of these checks, as well as the receipt of two satisfactory employment references, with one being from your current or most recent employer. Please note that in some roles staff may be required to work from a home/office base in accordance with our Hybrid Working policy.

Deadline for receipt of applications: Monday 12th October 2026

Expected date for interviews: To be confirmed with appropriate candidates

If you do not hear from us within 10 working days of the deadline for receipt of applications, please assume you have been unsuccessful at this time. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early for the right candidate, so we encourage early applications.