IDVA

First Light; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Wellbeing day per financial year

External supervision and emotional‑foc

Employee Assistance Programme

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disability Confident Employer

Annual pay review and employer pension

Job summary

First Light is seeking an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) to deliver a proactive, trauma-informed support service for adults experiencing high‑risk domestic abuse across Plymouth and surrounding areas. The role involves face‑to‑face outreach, complex caseloads, and strong multi‑agency collaboration.

You’ll work to keep victims and families safe through risk assessment, safety planning and access to statutory and voluntary services, with a focus on empowerment and recovery.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and advisory abilities with victims of domestic abuse.
• Experience in risk assessment and safety planning.
• Ability to work with multi‑agency partners and MARAC processes.
• Literacy and database experience for case management.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive, trauma‑informed support to high‑risk domestic abuse victims and families.
• Complete risk assessments and tailored support plans.
• Deliver advocacy, emotional and practical support including safety planning, housing, and legal matters.
• Carry out community outreach and face‑to‑face visits as needed.
• Manage referrals and ensure timely first contact and caseload coverage.
• Participate in MARAC processes and liaise with partner agencies.
• Maintain secure case records and follow safeguarding procedures.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Advisory skills

Literacy skills

Database experience

Education

SafeLives IDVA training certificate

Relevant degree

Vocational qualification

Job description

Salary: £25,954 per annum rising to £26,364 per annum on successful completion of probation and £28,002 per annum 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

Base: Brunswick House, Plymouth and around Plymouth

Area Covered: Community and outreach delivery across Plymouth

The Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) role will deliver a proactive, person-centred and trauma-informed support service to adults experiencing high-risk domestic abuse in all its forms. The role focuses on keeping victims and their families safe through support intervention, comprehensive safety planning, and coordinated multi‑agency responses.

The post holder will provide a premium service to those assessed as being at the highest risk, working assertively and flexibly to engage clients, including completing face‑to‑face outreach in community settings and their homes where required. Clients may present with complex and multiple needs, including substance misuse, mental and physical health issues, learning needs, criminal justice involvement, and other vulnerabilities.

The IDVA will work proactively within multi‑agency forums, including MARAC, to assess risk, share information, and develop robust safety and support plans. Strong advocacy and partnership‑working skills are essential to ensure victims are supported to access statutory and voluntary services appropriate to their risks and needs.

The role requires a highly motivated and adaptable individual who can work unsupervised on a day‑to‑day basis, effectively prioritising and managing a complex caseload while maintaining a strong focus on victim safety, empowerment, and recovery.

Key responsibilities:

• To provide a pro‑active service to those experiencing high risk domestic abuse to keep them and their families safe, including access to support for the abusive person.
• To complete person‑centred individualised risk assessments and support plans to reduce risk and identify individual needs. To deliver appropriate support in keeping with the results.
• To provide advocacy, emotional, practical support and information to victims to address identified risks and needs including safety planning, housing and security, online safety, separation and post separation, children, health and wellbeing, legal, financial and any other additional support needs identified.
• To deliver support in the community, essential face to face support in the environment which best suits the client.
• To manage, support and prioritise daily referrals received, ensuring timescales are met in respect of first contact.
• To participate in the MARAC framework including:
• Referring High risk victims to MARAC
• Attending and participating in MARAC meetings
• Following up on actions agreed in MARAC
• Receiving referrals direct from MARAC
• To ensure, through liaison with both the client and partner agencies, that clients receive the support they require and to which they are entitled.
• To understand and actively use the legal framework relating to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children through local safeguarding procedures
• To support clients through the Criminal Justice System, explaining procedures, roles and rights within this.
• To assist the client in developing their own support networks.
• Where necessary, to act as a single point of contact for the client to address risk and need.
• To signpost clients to the most appropriate agency to meet their needs
• To effectively manage a caseload
• To ensure accurate and timely management of all electronic case management records within the Halo database.
• To follow procedures and protocols with other services so that the safety of the victim is kept central to any process.
• To keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in the victim’s situation
• To take a proactive approach regarding professional development and requirements of the role
• Work flexibly including out of hours as and when required to do so.
• Represent the charity and service appropriately with a broad range of organisations and individuals
• To undertake any duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the grade of the post
• Literacy skills and experience working with databases
• Hold a SafeLives IDVA training certificate, or a relevant degree, or demonstrable equivalent experience, or vocational qualification
  
• Supporting victims of domestic abuse, or working with vulnerable people
• Have a good understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
• Understand safeguarding issues (children and vulnerable adults) and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.
• Understanding the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children
• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals
• Handling confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice

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 (1 st April to 31 st 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:

Deadline for receipt of applications: 09:00 on 4th December 2026

Expected date for telephone interviews:

Expected date for telephone interviews: W/C 7th December 2026

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