Senior Court Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)

Senior Court Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)

Job Summary

Job title: Senior Court Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)

Reporting to: IDVA Service Manager

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £33,000 - £35,000

Contract and notice: Full-time – permanent subject to continued funding

Location: Court venues across the Thames Valley and RtR's Oxfordshire base. The role is primarily court- and service-based, with limited home working by agreement following induction and according to service need. 

About Reducing the Risk

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse (RtR) is an Oxfordshire-based charity working locally, across the Thames Valley and nationally. We are committed to improving the safety and empowerment of victim-survivors, strengthening the people and organisations that support them, and promoting effective partnership working. Our services include specialist high-risk and court IDVA provision, recovery and community work, and the RtR Champions Network. [Senior Cou...July 2026 | Word]

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Court IDVA will provide safe, trauma-informed and person-centred support to victim-survivors involved in criminal and civil court processes across the Thames Valley. Alongside an agreed caseload, the post-holder will provide day-to-day practice leadership to the Court IDVA team, support consistent and high-quality casework, and deputise for the IDVA Service Manager in relation to court-service delivery when required.

The post-holder will help victim-survivors understand and navigate court processes, communicate their views and support needs, access protective measures and specialist services, and remain as safe as possible before, during and after proceedings. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Direct Support and Casework

• Hold an agreed caseload and provide timely, proactive and accessible support to victim-survivors of domestic abuse at all assessed risk levels who are involved in criminal or civil court proceedings.
• Complete and regularly review robust risk and needs assessments, safety plans and support plans, responding promptly to changes in risk, safeguarding concerns and court timetables.
• Explain court processes and the IDVA role clearly, managing expectations without providing legal advice.
• Support clients in relation to criminal proceedings, special measures, witness support, sentencing and post-court safety planning.
• Support clients in relation to civil protective orders, including non-molestation and occupation orders, and provide practical support where clients are making applications without legal representation, within RtR guidance and role boundaries.
• Where RtR is notified of a Domestic Violence Protection Notice or Order, seek to contact the victim-survivor safely before the court hearing wherever possible so that their views can be understood and shared through the appropriate process.
• Attend court hearings and liaise with court staff, police, Witness Care, the Crown Prosecution Service, legal representatives and other services to help secure coordinated and safe support.
• Advocate for the client’s safety, voice, rights and informed choices while maintaining professional boundaries and respecting their autonomy.
• Provide support and warm referrals to relevant specialist, legal, housing, health, safeguarding, recovery and community services. Where a client is already supported by another domestic abuse service, ensure relevant information is shared lawfully so that support can continue.
• Maintain safe contact before, during and after proceedings and agree an appropriate closure or transfer plan with the client and relevant services.

2. Senior Practice Leadership

• Provide accessible day-to-day advice, consultation and case guidance to Court IDVAs, escalating high-risk, complex or safeguarding matters to the IDVA Service Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead as required.
• Support the allocation and review of referrals and caseloads so that risk, urgency, capacity, geography and court dates are considered consistently.
• Promote reflective, trauma-informed and evidence-based practice and support staff to maintain clear professional boundaries and manage the emotional impact of the work.
• Support induction, shadowing, mentoring and practice development for new and existing Court IDVAs, including progress towards relevant accreditation and competencies.
• Undertake case-file reviews, dip-sampling and other quality-assurance activity as agreed with the IDVA Service Manager, identifying learning and following through agreed actions.
• Lead or contribute to team discussions, case reviews and service-development activity, sharing learning from court practice, feedback, complaints, safeguarding matters and outcomes.
• Deputise for the IDVA Service Manager in agreed areas of operational court-service delivery during absence or as required; this does not include assuming responsibilities outside the post-holder’s competence or delegated authority.

3. Safeguarding, Risk and Information Management

• Recognise, assess and respond to safeguarding concerns affecting adults and children in accordance with legislation, local procedures and RtR policy.
• Contribute to MARAC and other multi-agency risk-management processes where relevant, ensuring that the client’s views and safety needs inform action planning.
• Keep accurate, timely and proportionate records on RtR’s case-management system, including contacts, risk assessments, safety plans, outcomes, consent and information-sharing decisions.
• Share information lawfully, safely and proportionately, applying confidentiality, data-protection and information-sharing requirements at all times.
• Follow lone-working, court safety, health and safety, incident-reporting and escalation procedures and support colleagues to do the same.

4. Partnerships, Performance and Service Development

• Build constructive working relationships with courts, police, Witness Care, prosecutors, legal professionals, local authorities, safeguarding partners and specialist domestic abuse services across the Thames Valley.
• Represent RtR professionally at operational meetings and court forums, raising barriers to victim-survivor safety and access through agreed channels.
• Support collection, checking and analysis of service data, outcomes and client feedback for management, commissioners, funders and trustees.
• Monitor agreed service standards and court pathways, identify gaps or emerging trends and make practical recommendations to the IDVA Service Manager.
• Contribute to the review and development of practice guidance, client information, referral pathways and partnership protocols.
• Support an equitable and responsive service across the Thames Valley, adapting delivery where appropriate to meet accessibility, communication and cultural needs. [Senior Cou...July 2026 | Word]

General Responsibilities

• Act as an ambassador for RtR and uphold its mission, values, policies and charitable objectives.
• Work inclusively and challenge discrimination, recognising how protected characteristics, poverty, disability, immigration status and other inequalities may affect risk and access to justice.
• Participate in supervision, appraisal, team meetings, learning and continuing professional development.
• Work flexibly, including occasional early mornings, evenings or travel where court and service needs require it.
• Carry out other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority, purpose and scope of the role. [Senior Cou...July 2026 | Word]

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A recognised IDVA qualification or current equivalent professional accreditation.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development in domestic abuse, safeguarding, risk assessment or court practice.

Desirable

• Practice-supervision, management, training or coaching qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial recent experience of supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse, including high-risk or complex cases.
• Experience of supporting clients through criminal and/or civil court proceedings and working with court professionals.
• Experience of risk assessment, safety planning, safeguarding and multi-agency risk management, including MARAC where relevant.
• Experience of providing case consultation, mentoring, peer support, practice oversight or supervision to colleagues.

Desirable

• Experience of quality assurance, case-file auditing, performance monitoring or service improvement.

Knowledge

Essential

• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, coercive control, trauma, risk, separation, stalking and the effects of abuse on adults and children.
• Working knowledge of the criminal and civil justice systems, protective orders, special measures and the roles of relevant court agencies.
• Sound knowledge of adult and child safeguarding, confidentiality, consent, information sharing and UK data-protection requirements.
• Understanding of equality, diversity, intersectionality and the barriers experienced by marginalised victim-survivors.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to engage sensitively with victim-survivors, build trust, assess risk and advocate assertively while supporting informed choice.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure, prioritise competing demands and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication, including accurate case recording and professional reports.
• Ability to guide colleagues constructively, give clear feedback and promote reflective practice without losing accountability.
• Competence in digital case-management systems and Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, with the ability to use service data effectively.

Attributes

Essential

• Commitment to RtR’s values, victim-survivor autonomy, safeguarding, anti-discriminatory practice and partnership working.
• Calm, resilient, reflective and dependable, with strong professional boundaries and attention to detail.

Practical

Essential

• Ability to travel regularly between court and service locations across the Thames Valley and work flexibly around court schedules. [Senior Cou...July 2026 | Word]

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and satisfactory references. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment and may be amended, following consultation with the post-holder, to reflect the developing needs of the organisation and service. [Senior Cou...July 2026 | Word]

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