Independent domestic violence advisor jobs in Enfield, greater london

We are looking for a Senior Independent Domestic Violence Advocate who is passionate about supporting male victim/survivors of abuse to join our unique specialist housing support project (Ashraya Project) for Male victims of domestic abuse. The role is a hybrid working role based at our London office close to Old Street tube station with travel throughout London as required.

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.
• Practice Support: Clinical supervision and group reflective practice

You will:

Effectively manage and provide a pro-active, high quality frontline service to male victims of domestic abuse. You will work within a multi-agency framework consisting of MARAC and multi-agency partners when required. This role requires a specialist understanding of the barriers faced by male victims of domestic abuse and harmful practices. We particularly welcome applicants who are male, as they are under-represented in the provision of support to domestic abuse victim survivors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Effectively manage and develop a high quality, innovative and pro-active domestic abuse service for victims and their children, including those at highest risk
• Ensure that the service prioritises the safety, security and dignity of service users and their children
• Be the lead in crisis situations and provide advice and guidance on safeguarding issues and information sharing concerns.
• The role will work collaboratively with the Management team, in order to achieve the implementation of the business plan and the development of the service to maximise positive outcomes for clients.
• Manage a small team, conducting supervision and case reviews to ensure safe practice.
• Carry a caseload, supporting male domestic abuse victim/survivors to increase their safety.
• Develop relationships with partner agencies in this area.

About You:

Ideally, you will have knowledge of migration and asylum routes and the procedures for applying for refugee/asylum status in the UK, legal remedies for domestic abuse victims and have experience of working with housing, homelessness, drug, alcohol, mental health issues and have an understanding of the benefit system.

You will need:

• Experience of supporting people in vulnerable situations, having worked with victims of domestic violence & abuse.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues, legal responsibilities and GDPR & data protection regulations.
• Have strong crisis management skills to support staff dealing with stressful and difficult situations
• Experience of managing a team delivering front line support to victims or domestic abuse or vulnerable people to a high standard
• A passion for working with male victim/survivors
• Experience of working with housing agencies or in a housing setting is advantageous

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a  IDVA - Harmful Practices to play a pivotal role in our Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Support Services in Newham, London

Sounds great, what will I be doing?     

This role, open to female applicants only under Section 7(2) (b & e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, involves delivering advocacy and intensive support services to all genders and non-binary survivors of domestic abuse, particularly those experiencing harmful practices. The post holder will work across hospital, healthcare, and community settings, acting as a single point of access for survivors at all risk levels. Key responsibilities include conducting DASH risk assessments, developing individual safety and support plans, providing crisis intervention, and ensuring high-risk survivors are represented through the MARAC process. The role also requires close collaboration with healthcare professionals, supporting them in managing disclosures, and ensuring survivors are connected to legal, housing, and welfare support as needed.

The advocate will play a vital role in improving outcomes for survivors, aiming to increase their safety, confidence, and quality of life. They will develop and review person-centred support plans, make safeguarding referrals, and attend relevant forums and committees. Accurate case recording, participation in supervision and training, and engagement in service co-production with survivors are essential components of the role. As a representative of Hestia, the postholder will maintain strong multi-agency partnerships, uphold service standards and confidentiality, and embody Hestia's values in all aspects of their work.                                                                                           

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for:

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence, with specific expertise in addressing harmful practices. This includes experience in risk assessment, developing safety and support plans, working within multi-agency settings, and delivering specialist domestic abuse training to professionals, particularly in healthcare environments. The candidate should also have a strong background in service user involvement and co-production, demonstrate the ability to remain calm and resilient under pressure, and be proficient in using computer-based systems for accurate case recording. 

In terms of skills and knowledge, the candidate must possess a deep understanding of the impact of domestic abuse and harmful practices on survivors and their children, as well as the legal, housing, and welfare systems relevant to their needs. They should be capable of working non-judgmentally and in an empowering way, have a strong grasp of safeguarding protocols, and experience in the MARAC process. Additionally, they must demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal, and time management skills, and the ability to evaluate training impact and apply learning to improve service delivery.

When will I be working?

This is a part time role, you will be required to work 4 days per week between the hours of 10am - 4.20pm

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.