IDVA Practitioner

NDAD; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

NDAD in Exeter is seeking an IDVA to join the Family Assessment and Intervention Team. The post is permanent, full-time (37 hours/week) with hybrid working and a base in Exeter or Barnstaple, plus some home-working.

The IDVA will provide proactive support to victims of domestic abuse, assess risk, work with multi‑agency partners, attend MARACs, and help with safety planning, housing and legal options. A DBS check and right to work in the UK are required.

Qualifications

• At least two years’ experience working as an IDVA/YPVA or ISVA or in a similar client-focused role.
• A good standard of education.
• Knowledge of safeguarding.
• Excellent understanding of active listening and the needs of others.
• Knowledge of mental health issues.
• Trauma-informed working training.

Responsibilities

• Be a key person within the support planning and decision-making of the Intervention and assessment teams.
• Highlight the impact of Domestic Abuse and assess risk to the child.
• Link families to DA Prevention Programme where appropriate.
• Conduct risk assessments and regularly review risk and outcomes.
• Explain housing, financial, civil, and criminal options to clients.
• Attend MARAC meetings and contribute to multi-agency case reviews.
• Undertake safety planning and develop individual care plans.
• Support clients through criminal and civil justice systems.

Skills

IDVA experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Active listening

Mental health awareness

Education

Educated to a good standard

2+ years relevant experience

Job description

IDVA Practitioner

Location: Exeter (Hybrid, The main office base can be Exeter or Barnstaple with some Home-based working)

Salary: £28,666 - £31,029 rate will depend on IDVA qualifications and length of service

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time(37 hours per week)

North Devon Against Domestic Abuse is committed to equity and diversity and strongly encourages applicants with a disability, from ethnically diverse backgrounds and the LGBT community, as these groups are currently under-represented in our organisation.

You will be part of a team of five IDVAs working within Children’s Services and the Front Door for NDADA as part of the Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance, ensuring effective access to services for victims of domestic abuse across Devon County. This role involves multi‑agency working and service flexibility to encourage engagement with the service.

The role of an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) involves providing a proactive service and advice to victims of domestic violence to keep them and their children safe. The IDVA assesses the risk a client is in and delivers a service appropriate to the level of risk. They will work with a multi‑agency approach to ensure all agencies do their part and coordinate their work to keep people safe.

This IDVA post will sit within the Family Assessment and Intervention Team. You will be required to support families across the localities, depending on the highest need. Some home working will be possible but at least one day a week will be required in County Hall, Exeter or one of the other localities (North Devon and South Devon) as per your preference, plus one day each week travelling to visit the other localities in rotation.

Main duties:

• Be a key person within the support planning and decision‑making of the Intervention and assessment teams in Devon Children’s Services.
• Highlight the impact of Domestic Abuse within the family and how this may pose a risk to the child.
• Challenge narratives around abused parents’ failure to protect and reframe as ‘why don’t they stop abusing’, helping to foster empathy to the victim and taking a focused approach to support and empower the parent/victim.
• Link families who want to change into the DA Prevention Programme when those that harm are wanting to change their behaviour.
• Risk assessing and regularly reviewing the risk assessment, delivering service in keeping with the result.
• Explaining housing, financial, civil, and criminal legal options to clients and empowering them to make their own choices.
• Attending and presenting reports at multi‑agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) meetings.
• Undertaking safety planning with clients (both crisis and long‑term) and developing individual care plans to meet their identified risks and needs.
• Supporting clients through the criminal and civil justice systems, explaining procedures and their role and rights within that system.
• Supporting those who wish to stay in their homes with security advice and where appropriate, devices.

Please note, this is a brief list of the job’s responsibilities. Duties may change over time without altering their general nature or responsibility level. Such changes don't warrant a re‑evaluation of the post's grading.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• At least two years’ experience working as an IDVA/YPVA or ISVA or in role that would support this type of client work
• A good standard of education
• Knowledge of safeguarding
• Excellent understanding of active listening and the ability to understand the needs of others.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues
• Trauma informed working training

Desirable

• IDVA/ISVA/YPVA Qualification
• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience (5+ years)
• Level 2+ Safeguarding training
• Level 2+ counselling qualification or therapy qualification.
• Mental Health First Aid training
• Trauma stabilisation training or PATH Training

General

• Full driving license, with access to a car for full working hours, enabled for business use.
• Clear boundaries and a willingness to accept line management and make effective use of supervision.
• A good understanding of the importance of confidentiality and anti‑discriminatory practice; safe practice and health and safety procedures.
• A good understanding of cultural issues and equal opportunities.
• A good understanding of cultural issues and equal opportunities.
• Willingness to carry out the policies and procedures of NDADA/DDAA.

Please note that any offer of employment will be made subject to references and confirmation of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory enhanced DBS check.