First response independent sexual violence advisor jobs
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Please note: This post is restricted to women under schedule 9, Part 1, Equalities Act 2010
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The Health IDVA provides vital support to those affected by domestic abuse, helping them access the specialist services they need and navigate challenges in their daily lives. You will work directly with patients with a wide range of experiences and needs, offering advocacy, guidance, and practical support. A key part of the role is raising awareness among community healthcare professionals about the impact of domestic abuse, particularly on mental health, through training, guidance, and ongoing support, so that patients are identified earlier and supported more effectively.
This role addresses a need in community healthcare, where many patients are not recognised as survivors of domestic abuse. By combining domestic abuse expertise with a therapeutic approach, the Health IDVA will provide direct support to patients while helping community services and healthcare teams feel confident and equipped to respond appropriately. You will be supported by the Head of Adult Services and HIDVA Managers. You will have the opportunity to complete a formal domestic abuse qualification once you pass your probation (if not already qualified).
Through this work, the Health IDVA will help ensure that patients receive timely, compassionate support while also strengthening the skills, confidence, and understanding of community services and professionals. By building strong partnerships and sharing expertise, the role will contribute to a more coordinated and effective response to domestic abuse, ensuring that patients are supported at every stage and that services are better equipped to meet their needs.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support to Survivors
- Hold a caseload of clients, including NHS staff.
- Ensure survivors are fully informed of their rights and options, and explain the criminal and civil legal remedies available to them.
- Promote enhanced safety and wellbeing for victim-survivors accessing community healthcare, including NHS staff.
- Conduct needs and risk assessments, including DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Abuse Risk Assessment), to determine appropriate levels of support. Develop and implement safety plans collaboratively with clients to address their needs in a timely manner.
- Assist clients in accessing appropriate legal, financial, housing, medical, educational, and employment services, as well as counselling and community support networks.
- Work in partnership with police, housing providers, and other agencies to advocate for survivors and facilitate referrals to ongoing support services.
- Attend Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences when required (MARAC) and make referrals where appropriate.
- Recognise and address the needs of survivors who experience additional barriers to accessing services, including those from minority groups or with protected characteristics.
- Uphold safeguarding responsibilities for children, young people, and adults, in line with Child Protection Procedures and safeguarding policies.
- Maintain accurate client records, monitoring data, and outcome information. Prepare reports and evaluations as required for service monitoring.
- Participate in an out-of-hours rota, providing a HIDVA service within the hospital on Friday evenings and weekends as scheduled
Partnership Working and Training
- Promote the Health IDVA service and establish formal working links with GP practices and other healthcare providers (such as dental, health visiting or mental health teams.
- Attend safeguarding, handover and partnership meetings to raise awareness of the service and share our knowledge so earlier identification of domestic abuse within community healthcare settings can be achieved.
- Deliver training sessions to community healthcare staff to raise awareness of domestic abuse, safe enquiry and appropriately responding to disclosures.
- Contribute to multi-agency safeguarding meetings and local domestic abuse forums to share learning and strengthen partnership working.
General
- Uphold the values and good name of Rising Sun at all times represent the organisation in a way that is consistent with its philosophy and ethos and in line with all Rising Sun’s policies.
- Actively participate in clinical supervision, training and development opportunities.
- Develop your understanding of trauma informed work and embed in your day-to-day practice.
- Maintain an up-to-date working knowledge to be able to advise women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, such as housing options, legislation and welfare.
- Comply with organisational policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Data Protection and Health and Safety.
- Undertake other duties and responsibilities in keeping with the nature of this post, as may be required from time to time.
This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up and will be reviewed from time to time. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following experience, knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Qualifications
- Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) qualification (desirable)
- Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) qualification (desirable)
- Health qualification (desirable)
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 3 years’ experience of working with survivors of domestic abuse, including high risk clients, and assessing client risks and needs
- Experience of co-producing short- and longer-term risk management, safety and support plans with survivors and their children
- Experience of delivering training (desirable)
- Experience working with the police, social services and MARAC
- Experience of lone working and able to work on own initiative
- Experience working with people with mental health needs, substance misuse, other complex needs
- Experience of working in a hospital / healthcare setting (desirable)
- Knowledge of criminal and civil legal remedies and housing law relating to domestic abuse
- Knowledge of domestic abuse risk assessment tools including DASH and extensive understanding of the MARAC process
- A thorough understanding of safeguarding relating to adults with care and support needs and children
- Up to date knowledge of the welfare benefits system and the ability to ensure service users maximise their benefit entitlement (desirable)
- Knowledge of local services and DA Specialists across Kent & Medway (desirable)
Skills and attributes
- Ability to network face to face and virtually, to develop new contacts and partnerships
- Ability to train professionals on recognising domestic abuse and responding appropriately (desirable)
- Ability to motivate yourself and work independently on your own initiative
- Solution focused and creative in approaching new challenges
- Competent using Microsoft office programmes, in particular MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Passionate about the aim and principles of Rising Sun
- Committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and maintaining confidentiality
- Able to drive and have access to a reliable car (post holder will be required to attend meetings and across our areas of work)
- Able to work some evenings and weekends
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
Benefits
We offer a number of benefits to team members including:
- 25 days annual leave per year
- A bonus day of leave for your birthday
- 3% matched pension contribution
- Access to Rising Sun’s counselling service
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Health care cash plan for you and your children for a number of health treatments (e.g. dental, optical, physiotherapy etc.) and also discounts in shops and attractions
- Up to four weeks sick pay in any 12 month period (eligible after probation period)
How to apply
If you feel this role would be a good fit for your skills and experience, visit our website to download an application form and apply, demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the person specification in your personal statement.
We request no contact from agencies or media sales please.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our vision is a world in which all women and children live free from actual or threatened domestic abuse and all forms of violence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About Us
Bridges Outcomes Partnerships (BOP) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works alongside Government, community groups and specialist Delivery partners to design and deliver vital services that support people to improve their lives, in areas ranging from housing and employment to education and health & wellbeing.
The role of BOP spans project development (working with Government and others to design and launch the service), project management (coordinating the delivery phase, managing performance, and liaising with the various stakeholders) and project finance (funding the project until it starts to earn outcomes payments). Our own funding comes from a group of pioneering social investors, including The Office for Civil Society, Big Society Capital, Pilotlight, Trust for London, who, like us, are motivated by improving lives and changing the system for the better.
About KDASS
Kirklees Domestic Abuse Specialist Services (KDASS) is a partnership between Connect Housing, Women Centre, and RASAC Kirklees. Together we deliver specialist, trauma-informed, and person-centred support for people who have experienced harm through domestic abuse.
Grounded in the Kirklees Domestic Abuse Strategy, KDASS aims to:
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Empower people to live free from harm and fear
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Give advice and deliver personalised interventions to reduce the risk of harm or symptoms of trauma cause by Domestic Abuse through accessible, person-centred pathways
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Work collaboratively with valued statutory and third sector agencies to achieve the best outcomes and impact for each individual.
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Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all we do.
About the opportunity
As a vital first point of contact for people affected by domestic abuse, you will play a central role in ensuring that every person who reaches out to KDASS is heard, supported and connected with the right help at the right time. Through compassionate, person-led conversations, you will listen, explore and understand individual experiences, identify risks, and ensure a safe and supportive pathway into the most suitable specialist service within our partnership.
As part of our Triage Team, you’ll:
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Receive and respond to inbound calls into the KDASS central point of access, offering immediate emotional support, advice and guidance
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Review and process referrals received via our online portal and access system.
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Triage victims/survivors to the most appropriate service within agreed timeframes
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Input and maintain accurate case records in the Oasis system
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Identify and escalate any immediate safeguarding concerns through the appropriate pathways;
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Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with partner agencies to ensure smooth referral pathways; and
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Work closely with the Programme Manager to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for development within the service.
About You
At KDASS, we value both lived and learned experience. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and compassionate workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Essential - You will:
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Have an understanding of domestic abuse, its impacts, and best practice approaches in supporting victims/survivors.
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Demonstrate empathy, compassion, and a non-judgemental approach in all communication.
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Understand risk and safety planning within a domestic abuse context.
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Have experience of accurate and timely record keeping within a case management system.
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Possess strong communication, organisation and IT skills.
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Be adaptable, collaborative and solution-focused in your approach.
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Be committed to your own professional development and reflective practice; and
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Share our passion for enabling people to live safe, empowered and fulfilling lives.
Desirable - You will have:
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Additional spoken languages (particularly those used in South Asian communities)
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Experience working in a charity or third sector setting
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Knowledge of the Kirklees Domestic Abuse Strategy or the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy
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Knowledge of the Safe and Together DA Model or a commitment to undertake training to meet the behaviours and practise of this model.
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Understanding of person-centred and trauma-informed approaches.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
KDASS is committed to building an inclusive service that values and celebrates diversity. We particularly welcome applications from people from minoritised communities, individuals with multiple and diverse language skills, people with disabilities, and those with lived experience of domestic abuse who can help shape and strengthen our understanding and response.
What we will offer you
• We are a flexible employer and we will support you to ensure you achieve a healthy work life balance.
• You will be joining an incredibly dedicated, vibrant, dynamic and talented team of people who are deeply passionate about services which improve people’s lives and public sector reform.
• You will get 25 days’ annual leave plus 8 days for bank holidays plus a birthday leave day and 2 additional ‘gifted’ day/s between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme with 5% Employer contribution
• We offer 4 x Life Insurance, Income Protection Insurance and Wellbeing benefits & resources.
• We also offer Private Medical Insurance on successful completion of your probation period (for permanent roles)
• You will be able to access Learning and Development opportunities.
Application process/next steps
Please note we are only accepting applications through our recruitment platform Applied. You’ll answer some questions that are related to the day-to-day job and will be asked to upload your CV. Your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers.
NB To keep your response personal and genuine, we ask that you don't use AI tools (like Chat GPT or others) to answer the applications - we're looking for your own voice and experience to come through.
If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which will be first and second round interviews with some of our colleagues.
Bridges Outcomes Partnerships is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments for any part of the recruitment process for candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please note, for this particular role candidates will require Right to Work in the UK.
Non Charity Employer
51 - 100
We're a not-for-profit social enterprise. We work with partners to create people-powered partnerships that get better outcomes for people & the planet
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.