Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) - Redbridge/Waltham Forest

Solace Women's Aid; Greater London, Ilford; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading intersectional feminist organization in Greater London is seeking an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to support survivors of domestic violence. The role involves risk assessing and providing advocacy for high-risk service users. Ideal candidates will have expertise in domestic abuse and experience in casework management. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and promotes diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible working

Learning and development opportunities

Generous holiday entitlement

Employer pension contribution

Cycle to Work Scheme

Wellness programs like yoga and meditation

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on service users.
• Experience supporting survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse.
• Strong casework management skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk and needs assessments with survivors of domestic violence.
• Hold a caseload of high-risk service users requiring crisis intervention.
• Provide advice, advocacy, and referrals as appropriate.

Skills

Knowledge of domestic abuse

Casework management skills

Passion for ending gender-based violence

Organizational skills

Self-motivated

Job description

Overview

Location Greater London, Redbridge/Waltham Forest

Vacancy Type Permanent/Full Time

Application Deadline Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Interview Date Friday 3rd October 2025

Location: Redbridge/Waltham Forest (Hybrid)

Salary: Unqualified Applicants £28,255 - £29,913 per annum

Qualified Applicants £29,923 - £32,623 per annum

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Monday 22nd September 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) at Solace Women\'s Aid.

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Our Solace Advocacy Support Service (SASS) teams provide advocacy and support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse living across London. We are recruiting two IDVA positions in our new Redbridge team.

About the role

The successful candidate will be responsible for risk and needs assessing and safety planning with survivors of domestic violence. They will hold a caseload of service users identified as high-risk requiring crisis short-term intervention, providing advice, advocacy, and onward referral where appropriate.

About You

We\'re looking for highly organised and self-motivated applicants who are passionate about ending gender-based violence. You will have a “can-do” approach and demonstrable commitment to Solace’s feminist approach to supporting women and their children to be safer. Successful applicants will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on service users and their children, experience of supporting survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse including strong casework management skills.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women\'s Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Job Profile

Job Profile document