Independent victim advocate jobs

The role

We are looking for 2 IDVAS to join our DRIVE team and work within the Drive Project model across Cheshire. The role involves providing one-to-one support to adult victims / survivors of domestic abuse, working with high-risk victims of domestic abuse linked to the Drive Project perpetrator/MATAC panel. 

In this role you will complete and regularly review risk and needs assessments with victims - survivors of domestic abuse.You will liaise with partner agencies, actively contributing to multi-agency plans and risk management / safeguarding procedures. You will carry out a large and varied range of practical support which may include safety planning, advocacy and explaining legal and civil options available. We also offer emotional support to those people we work with, encouraging and supporting them to rebuild lost confidence and self-esteem. Using a trauma-informed approach you will place the people we are supporting at the centre of your work. You will work alongside a multiagency team and be the voice for the victim on local perpetrator panels. You will work alongside the Domestic Abuse Prevention Worker to ensure safe working across victim and perpetrator work, risk assessing actions together to support best practice and overall safety.

About you

You’ll have a deep understanding of the nature of domestic abuse and its effects on clients and children, as well as the reasons behind abusive behaviours towards intimate partners.

Your knowledge extends to the range of statutory and voluntary agencies that clients and their children may encounter, and you are aware of the impact of domestic abuse on children and parenting, including the additional needs of clients from BMER communities.

You will have experience in working with clients on issues of domestic abuse, providing one-to-one and group support and advice, managing your own workload and administration, and assessing the risk and safety of your clients and those connected to your client.  You will have handled safeguarding disclosures and referrals, and you communicate clearly with a range of people both over the telephone and in person.

You will be organised, able to use your initiative, and work effectively as part of a multi-service team. Your administrative skills are strong, and you are adept at using a computer to maintain effective systems.

Flexible and willing to work evenings, you can travel independently. Additionally, you will understand trauma-informed practices, risk mitigation, and safeguarding. Experience liaising with social workers and other professionals, and in related areas such as substance misuse, child protection, or family support, is desirable. You will have a full IDVA qualification, or the willingness to work towards one.

Fluency in an additional language and skills in group work are also advantageous. You stay updated with best practices and new initiatives.

We want you to feel empowered to bring your authentic self to this role, so we encourage flexible working around core hours. We offer an annual continuous Professional Development allowance, generous annual leave entitlement and Birthday leave.

About us

We want to make working at TLC an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
It takes a dedicated, passionate, and flexible team to deliver the range of services we provide. We’re lucky to have over 150 people on our teams and 12 Trustees who believe in what we do. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced, engaged and highly motivated people to join our team.

We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths. We seek to attract and employ the best people from the widest pool, reflecting the diverse range of people we support.

We want to make our recruitment processes accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you to be the best you can be, please contact us. 

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

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.

Location: Enfield/Hybrid

Salary: £30,671 - £33,438 per annum (Qualified)

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

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st January 2027)

Closing Date: Monday 2nd March 2026

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 Advocate (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

The Enfield SASS team provides advocacy and support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse living in Enfield. An exciting opportunity has arisen in this busy team for an IDVA.

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 requiring crisis intervention, advice, advocacy and onward referral where appropriate. You will contribute to the MARAC process working alongside partner agencies.

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. You will receive training and support for this role as necessary.

Successful applicants will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse, and its impact on service users and their children. 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.

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.

FearFree delivers services across the Southwest for victims, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking with the aim to break the cycle of abuse and support all to live free from fear. We provide trauma responsive support, and this post will be fundamental to ensuring service users, stakeholders and partners experience this in our daily delivery.

Based within the Wiltshire Domestic Abuse Service, the IDVA team work within a multi-agency system to provide a trauma responsive, person centered independent service for victims of domestic abuse, empowering choice through informed decision making.  You will hold a case load of high-risk victims, working proactively to support them and their families.

FearFree is committed to flexible and hybrid working and this role will be a mix of home based and office based, alongside requiring travel for multi-agency meetings and other deliverables.

FearFree is committed to flexible and hybrid working and this role will be a mix of home based and office based, alongside requiring travel for multi-agency meetings and other deliverables.

There is a requirement for evening working – approximately once per week to deliver group work interventions. There may be a requirement to work weekends. This is a fixed term contract until the end of December 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a high-quality service to those aged 13-25 at the highest risk.
• Provide practical and emotional support to service users, working jointly with them to carry out, implement and review needs assessments and support plans.
• Work closely with the children’s teams across Fearfree.
• To understand and work effectively within a multi-agency framework, consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse, in order to reduce the risk for service users and their families.
• Identify and assess the risks and needs of service users using an evidence-based risk identification checklist.
• Work with high-risk service users to help them access services, to keep them and their children safe.
• Advocate for high-risk service users with agencies who can help to address the domestic abuse.
• Understanding the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to service users and how your role fits into them.
• Providing information to service users in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with all key agency partners to address the safety of high risk service users ensuring their needs are met and safety plans are coordinated particularly through the MARAC.
• Manage a case load ensuring each person receives the appropriate support, tailored to their needs.
• Support the empowerment of the service user - assisting people to recognise the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and help them regain control of their lives.
• Work within an understanding of child development and in ways which will be accessible and inclusive of children's individuals needs.
• Support service users to maintain existing accommodation and to advocate on their behalf, in order to access accommodation and additional support.
• To recognise, respect and address the needs of service users who face barriers when seeking help to access the service, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities, disabled people, those with complex needs and other groups which services have found difficult to reach.
• Provide practical and emotional support in relation to criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, education, employment, welfare benefits, counselling, legal aid and children’s support.
• Accompany service users, when needed, to other relevant agencies and support them in their interactions with these agencies.
• Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the services work in, and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of survivors ensuring the service is accessible to all.

Application

To apply, please download the full job description/person specification along with the application and equality monitoring forms. Please send the completed application form and optional equality monitoring form direct to FearFree.

There is no specific closing date for this role and this vacancy will close once a suitable candidate is found, so early applications are encouraged.

For information about the processing of your personal data at FearFree, please visit our website.

FearFree is committed to encouraging equality and diversity in the workplace.  We strive to be a diverse and inclusive place to work where we can all be ourselves and individual differences are recognised and valued. 

Job Title: Children's Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA)

Location: Warwickshire (North and Rugby). Travel required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role.
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term (Until September 2026), Full Time

Hours: 37.5 hours 

We are recruiting for two CHIDVA who will be working closely with children and their mothers who are living in our refuges escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse, to provide personal welfare support and ensure that our clients are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

The job involves providing support to children and young people who are living in Warwickshire and have witnessed/experienced domestic abuse. The post holder will support children and young people from the age of 4 – 17 years old who have been affected by domestic abuse, including teenage relationship abuse.  

The post holder will support children and young people from the point of crisis to ensure their short term and long-term safety; reduce risk; enable them to access community support services and achieve their goals. You will also be responsible for increasing the ability of partner agencies including schools to recognise and respond appropriately and safely to young people affected by domestic abuse. 

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

A driving license and access to a car is essential to the role as travel is required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role. 

Closing Date: 09:00 am 10 March 2026

Interview date: 19 March 2026

Cleveland Independant Stalking Advocates deliver high-quality advocacy, advice, and emotional support to victims of stalking across Cleveland. The position will support victims to navigate the criminal justice system (CJS), civil and family courts, and wider statutory and voluntary services. The role will also involve multi-agency collaboration, risk assessment, safety planning, and supporting victims to understand and exercise their rights.

The postholder will support the Cleveland satellite project, which operates independently and remotely from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s main office. The postholder will be responsible for casework assigned to Cleveland and promoting stalking services available to Cleveland

We have an exciting opportunity for an Safe Accommodation Independent Domestic Violence Advisor to join the New Era team working 37.5 hours per week. The role will focus on the identifying risk and meeting the needs of those affected by domestic abuse. The role will be Pan Staffordshire and travel across Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire is essential.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

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 & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

This role will work across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, but will be based in our Stafford office. Hybrid working is considered following our mandatory six month probationary period. Travel across the whole of Staffordshire will be required.

As an IDVA you will be asked to:

• Provide a pro-active, high quality, frontline service to victims of domestic abuse through on-going risk assessment, individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
• Work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse
• Promoting the service and raising awareness of issues arising, minimising barriers and improving access to support

You will need:

• Experience of providing support those affected by domestic abuse
• Experience of undertaking need and risk assessments and creating safety plans
• Experience of the MARAC and other partnership processes
• Experience of multi agency working

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.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor covering the Stoke Area to join the New Era team working 37.5 hours per week. The role will focus on the identifying risk and meeting the needs of those affected by domestic abuse. The role will be covering the Tamworth area but travel across Staffordshire will be required.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

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 & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

This role will work across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, but will be based in our Stafford office. Hybrid working is considered following our mandatory six month probationary period. Travel across the whole of Staffordshire will be required.

As an IDVA you will be asked to:

• Provide a pro-active, high quality, frontline service to victims of domestic abuse through on-going risk assessment, individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
• Work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse
• Promoting the service and raising awareness of issues arising, minimising barriers and improving access to support

You will need:

• Experience of providing support those affected by domestic abuse
• Experience of undertaking need and risk assessments and creating safety plans
• Experience of the MARAC and other partnership processes
• Experience of multi agency working

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.

We are recruiting for a Housing Advocate to join our team in Hertfordshire; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Housing Advocate

Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Housing Advocate to support women and children who are impacted by domestic abuse. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse at the highest risk and their children.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 13 February 2026

Interview date: 23 February 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

SV 2has been supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse since 1994, and today provides a range of services to anyone in Derbyshire and Derby City who has experienced sexual abuse, assault or violence, including their friends and family members. We support people irrespective of age, gender or when the abuse occurred.

We're looking for a highly motivated ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) to work across Derbyshire. The role will support people aged 18 and over who have experienced sexual abuse or rape at any point. The successful candidate with join our friendly, professional and passionate team, working across Derbyshire remotely and in person.

You might be the right person for the role if you have:

· At least one year’s experience in managing complex client cases

· Experience of building relationships with partner services and other professionals

· Knowledge of issues affecting victims of sexual violence and abuse

· Experience in delivering services in a confidential environment

· Driving licence and access to a car with business insurance

· Knowledge and experience in relation to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children

We're keen to hear from you if you are looking for a new challenge.

In exchange we offer a competitive salary which increases on qualification, 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and a comprehensive employee wellbeing service.

Our hybrid working policy is based on doing what's best for our clients, our services and our people, so we would expect you to be on site for at least half of your working week.

This role is subject to Enhanced DBS certification and Police Vetting due to the nature of our services. You can find out more about our recruitment of ex-offenders policy by contacting us

Closing date for completed applications is Midnight on 22nd February. If application is successful, interviews will be held W/C 2nd March

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Part-time hours: 30 per week

Salary: Unqualified Salary is £20,283 (0.8 FTE) Increasing to £22,783 (0.8 FTE )per annum once qualified 27 days, plus bank holidays, leave per annum, pro rata 

Benefits:

Additional leave

Company pension

Flexitime

On-site parking

Sick pay

Schedule:

Day shift

Flexitime

Tuesday - Friday

No weekends

Work Location; In person, Derbyshire 

Experience: casework , min one year preferred

Application deadline: Midnight 22nd February 2026

The Advocacy Team Leader is a key operational leadership role responsible for the day-to-day delivery, coordination, and quality assurance of Respond’s specialist ISVA and advocacy services for autistic people and people with learning disabilities affected by sexual violence, trauma, or abuse. 

This role combines operational leadership, case allocation and triage, supervision and quality oversight, alongside holding a small caseload of complex cases. You will help ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming advocacy in line with ISVA national minimum standards, safeguarding requirements and contract outcomes. 

The Team Leader plays a central role in embedding trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming practice, supporting safe and reflective decision-making, and representing Respond in key operational and steering forums and working groups. And plays a vital role in building a culture of safe, accountable, and reflective practice and in ensuring advocacy services are delivered with care, consistency, and impact.

An accredited ISVA qualification is essential. 

This advert closes at midnight Thursday 18th February 2026 and interviews will be held Tuesday 24th February 2026.

Overview

FearFree delivers services across the Southwest for victims, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking with the aim to break the cycle of abuse and support all to live free from fear. We provide trauma responsive support, and this post will be fundamental to ensuring service users, stakeholders and partners experience this in our daily delivery.

This ISAC role is set within the Wiltshire Domestic Abuse service, providing specialist stalking advice, consultancy and support to high risk victims of domestic abuse stalking across Wiltshire. You will be working in a multiagency environment including police, other statutory bodies and third sector organisations to respond to and safeguard high risk victims, bridging gaps in their support.

FearFree is committed to flexible and hybrid working and this role will be a mix of home based and office based, alongside requiring travel for multi-agency meetings and other deliverables.

This role may include evening and weekend work when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with high risk victims of domestic abuse stalking, providing a targeted service, promoting safety as the central issue and thus reducing the risk of serious harm or death.
• To provide this service both at time of crisis and in longer term e.g. safety planning, risk assessing advocacy, support through the criminal justice/civil legal process and liaison with other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Complete specialist risk assessments (SASH and DASH).
• Manage a caseload ensuring each person receives the appropriate service individual to their risk and needs.
• Provide proactive, trauma responsive and holistic support, with a focus on increasing safety and reducing risk.
• Work with criminal justice agencies as well as a variety of partners including Victim Support, Children’s Social Care and Housing, to ensure a comprehensive approach to risk.
• Provide specialist advocacy to victims going through the criminal justice process.
• Attend Multi Agency meetings (Stalking Clinic) and Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) meetings as required.
• Give information and support to those experiencing stalking, enabling and empowering them to make positive choices about options available to them and assist them in regaining control of their lives.
• Support other agencies in the identification and referral of stalking issues via promotion of service and institutional advocacy.
• Offer professional consultancy, training and advice to other agencies on stalking.
• Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the services works in, and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of survivors ensuring the service is accessible to all.
• Support colleagues and Head of Service to monitor data and report on quality outcomes.

Application

To apply, please download the full job description/person specification along with the application and equality monitoring forms. Please send the completed application form and optional equality monitoring form direct to FearFree. 

There is no specific closing date for this role and this vacancy will close once a suitable candidate is found, so early applications are encouraged. 

For information about the processing of your personal data at FearFree, please visit our website. 

FearFree is committed to encouraging equality and diversity in the workplace.  We strive to be a diverse and inclusive place to work where we can all be ourselves and individual differences are recognised and valued. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Adviser (IDSVA) to join the team in Cumbria, working 37.5 hours a week.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• 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.

About the role:

We are looking for an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advisor (IDSVA) to be based in our Cumbria team.

This is a 37.5 hour post. The aim of this role is to provide initial contact to victims of Domestic and/or Sexual abuse & provide ongoing support to victims and survivors referred to our Independent Sexual Violence service (ISVA).

As an IDSVA you will be:

• Providing a high quality support and advocacy service to victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse.
• Managing a caseload; identifying and assessing risks and needs, providing a tailored crisis intervention service through individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
• Working with other agencies and advocating on behalf of service users in order to help them access services to keep them safe.
• Working within a multi-agency framework consisting of partners as well as MARAC and other local partnerships to offer a coordinated response to domestic abuse.
• Promoting the service and raise awareness of domestic abuse across the support sector.

You will need:

• Experience of working in support and advocacy with victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse is advantageous
• To be able to prioritise work and deal with competing or conflicting demands/needs and interests and promote organisation interests and values.
• To ideally hold a SafeLives IDVA accreditation, relevant degree, vocational qualification or relevant experience of delivering a service and working with domestic and/or sexual abuse victim's/service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting.

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.

FearFree delivers services across the Southwest for victims, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking, with the aim to break the cycle of abuse and support all to live free from fear. We provide trauma responsive support, and this post will be fundamental to ensuring service users, stakeholders and partners experience this in our daily delivery.

The aim of the Interpersonal Trauma Response Service is to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of people who have been exposed to trauma arising from sexual violence and abuse and/or domestic abuse.

You will work across a specified number of GP practices, to offer support to health professionals working in practices, people who have experience of interpersonal trauma arising from sexual violence and abuse and/or domestic abuse, as well as a service for people at risk of perpetrating abuse.

You and the team will provide training to GP surgeries to improve identification, enquiry, and response for patients. You and your team will also support adults and children who have been impacted by interpersonal trauma with emotional and practical support, focusing on trauma stabilisation. The team will be responsible for facilitating timely access to further appropriate support services where needed.

FearFree is committed to flexible and hybrid working and this role will be a mix of home based and office based, alongside requiring travel to GP practices and for multi-agency meetings and other deliverables.

This role may include evening and weekend work when required. It is based on a fixed term contract for 12 months.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide specialist, individual and needs-led domestic abuse and sexual violence advocacy and support to patients who are or have experienced, who are referred from participating practices or self-refer, and to provide onward referrals where appropriate. 
• Provide direct assessment, casework support, advice, information, and advocacy through telephone contact, and/or meetings at the relevant practice. 
• Provide support to increase people’s personal safety, and that of any children, and inform them of their rights and options in terms of housing, legal and welfare rights.
• To provide signposting and onward referrals to patients.
• To provide ongoing specialist advice and support around Domestic Abuse (DA) and Sexual Violence (SV) to practice teams. 
• To encourage general practice health professionals to ask patients about their experience of abuse and respond, record, safety check and refer. 
• To provide feedback on case outcomes to referring clinicians. 
• To collect and collate performance and monitoring data for reporting purposes. 
• Provide in-house training and refresher training for general practice teams on understanding, recognising, and responding to DA and SV. 
• Develop good working relationships and liaise with outside agencies where needed.
• Keep accurate records of all referrals received and of work done with or on behalf of service users. 
• Deliver DA and SV training to clinicians and non-clinical staff in participating general practices.
• Develop a good relationship with all general practice staff and work effectively as part of the practice team. 
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of the programme collecting required data and producing written reports as requested.

Application

To apply, please download the full job description/person specification along with the application and equality monitoring forms. Please send the completed application form and optional equality monitoring form direct to FearFree.

There is no specific closing date for this role and this vacancy will close once a suitable candidate is found, so early applications are encouraged.

For information about the processing of your personal data at FearFree, please visit our website.

FearFree is committed to encouraging equality and diversity in the workplace.  We strive to be a diverse and inclusive place to work where we can all be ourselves and individual differences are recognised and valued.