Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

4Recruitment Services Ltd; Oldham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

4Recruitment Services Ltd in Oldham is seeking an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to advocate for victims and ensure safety using DASH risk assessment and MARAC involvement.

You will lead on high and medium risk interventions, support victims in safe accommodation, and help navigate housing rights and legal options.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within the domestic violence arena.
• Experience of working directly with and supporting clients and victims.
• Experience of working with households who find services difficult to access.

Responsibilities

• Respond dynamically to the needs of high and medium risk victims of domestic abuse, differentiating support according to the needs of the victim.
• Offer a pro-active premium practical support service to high risk victims of domestic abuse.
• Refer and ensure that high-risk victims are in the MARAC process and attend MARAC to advocate on their behalf.
• Undertake visits including joint visits with police officers to high risk or repeat victims to encourage engagement with services.
• Work with individuals and families identified as high or medium risk to keep them safe, including safety planning and bespoke service plans.
• Explain housing rights, civil, criminal and legal rights, including immigration options, and assist with applications for public funding and protective/disclosure orders.
• Undertake homelessness assessments under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) ensuring legal compliance toward victims of domestic abuse.
• Work alongside Housing Options Team to secure safe temporary and move-on accommodation for victims and families.
• Support victims through criminal and civil justice systems, explaining procedures and rights.
• Act as an independent advocate to ensure access to services from partner agencies.

Job description

4Recruitment Services are seeking an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) for our client based in Oldham.

JOB PURPOSE

• To act as an independent advocate to ensure that victims of domestic violence and abuse including those who have to leave their homes and move into safe temporary accommodation are at the heart of the service, and the voice of the child is heard where domestic violence is a factor in their household.
• To lead on the provision of high quality bespoke interventions for high and medium risk victims of domestic violence and abuse, using appropriate assessment tools in conjunction with the DASH risk assessment to determine need and safety plan.
• To provide support in safe accommodation and assistance to eligible households under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017).
• To promote and work to the aims and objectives of the Domestic Violence and abuse Strategy

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• To respond dynamically to the needs of high and medium risk victims of domestic abuse, differentiating support according to the needs of the victim.
• To offer a pro-active premium practical support service to high risk victims of domestic abuse.
• To refer and ensure that victims identified as high risk are in the MARAC process and to attend MARAC to advocate on their behalf to ensure their needs and wishes are reflected in action plans.
• To undertake visits including joint visits with police officers to high risk or repeat victims of domestic abuse to encourage their engagement with services.
• To work with individuals and families who have been identified as high or medium risk victims of domestic violence and abuse, to keep themselves and their children safe, including safety planning and to develop bespoke service plans to reduce the identified risks.
• To undertake dynamic evaluations which explore; family history, family functioning, interpersonal relationships, behaviour management (self and family) barriers to education and work, barriers to independence and self-management.
• To explain housing rights, civil, criminal and legal rights, including immigration options to victims of domestic abuse and provide advice on the preparation of applications for public funding, protective and disclosure orders.
• To undertake homelessness assessments under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017), ensuring the Council is legally compliant in its duties towards victims of domestic abuse
• To work alongside other members of the Housing Options Team to secure and maintain safe temporary and move-on accommodation for victims of domestic abuse and their families, and ensure appropriate support is in place
• To support victims through the criminal and civil justice systems, explaining the procedures and their role and rights within those systems.
• To act as an independent advocate on behalf of the victim to ensure they get the services from partner agencies, to which they are entitled, and to assist them in developing their own support network.
• To identify and agree with household members a set of achievable and measurable outcomes alongside any risk management plan.
• To challenge household members, where appropriate, about behaviours which have become barriers to their own safety, independence and self-management.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Experience of working within the domestic violence arena.
• Previous experience of working directly with and supporting clients and victims.
• Experience of working with households who find services difficult to access or are service reliant
• Ex