Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Jobs in Islington, Greater London

We're looking for two kind, compassionate and resilient Independent Domestic Violence Advisers to join our Homelessness service in London.

£31,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

The role of an IDVA is to address the safety of victims and survivors at high risk of harm at point of referral into the refuge.

IDVAs work with their customers within the refuge from the point of crisis by safety planning and risk assessing using the DASH to ascertain the level of risk to the victim.

The post holder will be required to work alongside refuge staff to support customers with complex needs who have been referred into the refuge.

The post is restricted to females only due to the nature of the role. The occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

You will be part of a rota and some evening and weekend work may be required.

This role is a Fixed Term Contract, lasting nine months.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you'll do:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Look Ahead IDVAs have the personal qualities required to manage customer expectations alongside the responsibilities of their role. Day to day IDVA activities include:

* Manage customer referrals, completing Dash Risk Assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork
* Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere.
* Oversee On Track implementation from an operational perspective during the initial upload of cases to ensure that any issues are highlighted to management.
* Regular attendance at Marac and oversight of all Marac referrals.
* Conducting regular Casework Management sessions with each member of the refuge team in order to oversee and close cases in a timely manner. .
* Support Customers to obtain Non Molestation Orders where needed and any other civil remedies available to them.
* Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
* Attending all court and Case Management hearings with or as a representative for customers.
* Supporting customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Safety and Support Plan.
* Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents.
* Safety planning with customers.
* Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes.
* Adhering to lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
* Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:

* IDVA Qualification essential

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description.

Location: Brent/Harrow

Salary: £30,765.38 - £32,887.12 per annum, pro rata

(Please note, successful candidates are usually appointed at bottom of relevant band.)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Closing Date: 19th April 2024 at 12 noon

Virtual Interview Date: 29th April 2024

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 Perinatal IDVA at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

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:

The Solace Advocacy and Support Service’s (SASS) provide advocacy and support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse living across London. An exciting opportunity to recruit a new Perinatal IDVA has arisen in this busy domestic abuse team.

About the Role:

The Perinatal IDVA provides a proactive service to survivors of domestic abuse identified as being at high risk of imminent harm. The IDVA will be based in Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) perinatal services (Northwick Hospital) supporting women at increased risk of domestic abuse during pregnancy. As the Perinatal IDVA you will carry out risk and needs assessments, safety and support planning with survivors and advocate on their behalf with external agencies. A key part of this role involves contributing to local processes; providing domestic abuse advice to staff trust wide and action planning alongside other agencies to improve survivor safety.

This role will be based four days a week at the Northwick Hospital, one day working from home and one day per month spent working with your Solace colleagues from the SASS office.

Successful applicants will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse, its impact on service users and their children and of working with people experiencing mental health crisis. You will have experience in crisis risk management and safety planning. Experience working within safeguarding procedures is essential as it needs to promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.

About You:

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team.

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:

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. 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. If you require any support to apply for this role, please email us.

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.

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.    

Last year alone, 14,000 professionals received our training. Over 80,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 100,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last six years, over 4,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start. 

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

Our training programme significantly improves the ability of domestic abuse professionals and other frontline responders and organisations, including police, children’s social care staff, and corporate HR and community teams, to identify and respond to domestic abuse and closely linked issues. We take a holistic approach, looking at the whole family and the connections between them to keep families safe sooner.  We offer a whole range of training products, including accredited professional training (e.g. Idva, Ypva), accreditation of specialist DA services (Leading Lights), and bespoke services for public, voluntary and commercial organisations. 

Our training programme across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland aims to create:

• User value: with learners who attend our training feeling more confident and better equipped to fulfil their role 
• Social value: with measures showing professionals who attend our training provide more effective interventions for those who experience abuse
• Financial value: responsible for generating around a third of SafeLives’ annual income

Benefits include a generous package, such as:

• 34 days’ holiday per year, including public holidays
• Flexible Working (compressed hours)
• Cycle-to-work Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Pension Scheme with 4% employer contribution
• Childcare Vouchers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Clinical Supervision
• Holiday Purchase Scheme (buy up to an additional 5 days)
• Enhanced Family Leave Policies
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• Professional Development Fund
• Individual Learning Budget
• Restorative Practice Training
• Time Off In Lieu.

If this challenge sounds as exciting to you as it does to us and you believe you have the qualities we have described, please take a look over the job description and submit a 500-word cover letter and CV.

Closing date: Monday 22nd April 2024.

SafeLives is a committed provider of equal opportunities for all, please see our job description for full details.

No agencies please.

This is an exciting development opportunity for an experienced, passionate and motivated Children and Young People (CYP) leader to join us as our Children & Young People National Lead over the coming months on our journey to grow and improve our CYP portfolio and the quality of support we provide.

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
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday
• £500 bonus paid on successful completion of probationary period (pro-rata for part time roles). (delete if not required)
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the Role:

The main responsibilities of the role are outlined below:

• To act as organisational lead for CYP, ensuring effective development and delivery of operational and strategic policy.
• To represent VS externally to influence policy, and work collaboratively with business development and external partners to grow services.
• To progress our CYP strategic priorities to grow our portfolio, improve access and embed procedures, tools and resources to improve the quality of our support.
• To oversee the delivery of our WeMatter online programme for CYP affected by Domestic Abuse and ensure that funding and evaluation requirements are achieved.
• To develop and write procedures, guidance and tools and deliver development sessions to support practice.
• To design and undertake thematic audits to drive improvements.
• To ensure that our systems support staff and volunteers to provide quality support to CYP.

This role is home based but some travel is required across England and Wales to attend meetings, deliver training and undertake audits.

This is a national role, which will lead the implementation and ongoing development of our new case management approach and support framework for CYP services. We are looking for a dynamic individual, with a creative flare who can drive and lead change. You will have excellent communication skills and experience of developing accessible procedures and engaging resources for a range of audiences. You will have sound knowledge of the criminal justice system and the impacts of crime, trauma, and victimisation on children and young people, with the ability to inspire and motivate others to provide high quality and responsive services. You will also have a critical role in helping us to develop external relationships to promote VS services, maximise opportunities for growth and build partnerships to that help us to do even better victims.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

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.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

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 look forward to hearing from you.

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.

LMK (Let Me Know) Youth Leader (Freelance Educator / Youth Worker) 

• Across London boroughs 

• £200 per 2hour workshop 

• Sessional 

• Available for a minimum of one delivery per month, pending workshop demands

About LMK

Good relationships shape our health and happiness, yet we are taught so little about them. LMK is a registered education charity on a mission to change that. We run workshops educating young people about healthy and unhealthy behaviours, so that they can avoid abuse and thrive in relationships. 

Using film and guided discussions, our workshop leaders support children and young people in honest conversations about relationships and leave them better equipped to spot the early warning signs of abuse and inspire them to enjoy healthy, fulfilling relationships.  We explore the 10 signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and include practical lessons young people want to learn about (like consent) and practice scenarios in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment. 

LMK is a learning organisation and prides itself in supporting leaders to develop their skills. We offer training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, as well as peer-to-peer learning and reflective practice sessions.

Job Description 

LMK is looking for passionate and organised educators (LMK Leaders) to run community workshops, aimed at young people aged between 11 and 24. Through engaging, relatable, workshops you will help young people identify signs of healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviours, provide strategies for them to recognise the early warning signs of abuse and give them tools to keep themselves and their friends safe. 

The minimum hours required per workshop is 3 hrs. This includes arriving 30 minutes before delivery, 1.5 to 2 hrs delivery and then remaining back 10 minutes and being accessible to young people who would like further information or a one-to-one conversation, surrounding the subject of relationships.

There is also 30 minutes admin, which is usually completed off-site, such as inputting student surveys and a Leader survey.

Responsibilities 

• Always adhere to LMK and partner safeguarding practices and procedures.

• Respond to comms (emails/WhatsApp) sent out by LMK core team members, in a timely manner, to support planning and organising of sessions.

• Meet with co-facilitators to carry out pre-session planning, minimum two working days before delivery.

• Plan and deliver interactive LMK workshops in educational, sports and community settings in line with LMK delivery style and ethos.

• Use your experience and knowledge of the issues affecting young people to tailor the workshops accordingly. 

• Ensure all youth participants and the adults in school/community organisations who attend a LMK workshop complete the post session feedback surveys.

• Complete reflective post session Leader surveys to support practice and programme development, after each workshop.

• Debrief with LMK’s Programme Manager and provide ongoing feedback about your sessions, through LMK’s reflective practice processes.

• Undertake relevant training associated with LMK’s work including but not restricted to child protection, safeguarding, violence against women and girls (VAWG).

• Continue to learn about and develop your skills on the issues affecting young people’s relationships including domestic violence, abuse, adverse childhood experiences, trauma informed practice, gang culture and grooming, mental health, sexual exploitation, consent, sharing of nudes /sexting, bullying in person and online, tech and online safety, pornography.

• Provide feedback and co-design training and educational resources on issues affecting young people and their relationships, including opportunities to share your knowledge and expertise at peer-to-peer learning sessions.

• Attend termly virtual Leader huddles to remain connected to peers and organisational values, mission, and purpose.

• Contribute towards and keep up to date with LMK internal/external communications platforms, such as LMK Newsletters and social media.

• Engage with LMK’s Youth Advisory Board Members, if and when invited to do so.

• Lead by example and promote healthy relationship behaviours in your own lives/communities and within LMK (team player; acknowledging and working with diversity; being receptive to new ideas and developmental feedback, etc)

• Use your own networks to recruit new schools and youth groups into the programme.

• Drive forward our evaluation programme - collecting data, as well as providing on-going feedback to LMK.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience of teaching or working with young people (9 to 24 yrs old) in an educational, sports or community setting.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience co-designing, delivering and evaluating group sessions, consisting of minimum, of 12 and maximum of 30 participants.

• Experience or co-designing session plans and co-facilitating with others; able to collaborate equally with others.

• A strong commitment to young people and knowledge and understanding of issues affecting their relationships.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills with the ability to create a safe and non-judgmental space, that allows young people to speak freely about their relationships and experience.

• Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to deliver sensitive information whilst treating young people’s concerns with respect.

• Capable of maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries with young people, peers, and professionals.

• Able to adapt and be flexible in workshops to get the best engagement from a range of participants. 

• Skilled at facilitating virtual workshops and working with a selection of online portals. 

Requirements 

• Entitled to work in the UK.

• Hold a DBS certificate or be willing to let us undertake a check on your behalf. 

• Have a recent safeguarding qualification from a recognised provider or be willing to undertake additional training in this area.

• Flexibility to work non-traditional, after-school and occasional weekend / holiday hours.

• Comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, confidentiality, data protection and reporting concerns to an appropriate person.

LMK strives to create a fair and healthy environment where all our colleagues feel valued and able to be their authentic selves at work. We understand that our people have commitments and personal interests outside of work and so we create a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best.

LMK values the differences that a diverse workforce brings and is committed to inclusivity. We welcome all applicants from any race, ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, age, sexuality, or any other protected characteristic.

We can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and on the job. Please let us know, by contacting us separately if you need any adjustments or changes to be made during the recruitment process because of a disability or long-term health condition.

You can learn more about how we handle your personal data and your rights by reviewing our privacy notice LMK Privacy Policy