Trainee Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

Job Title: Trainee or Qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) with an interest in working with children and young people (aged 16 - 25) who are at high risk of serious harm from domestic abuse

Locality: Oxfordshire

Salary: £27,000 - £29,000 depending on experience

Hours of work: 37 hrs per week

Notice: 2 calendar months 1 month during the Probationary period. Probationary 6 months

Accountable to: Service Manager of Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse, CEO ultimately the Board of Trustees

Context of post

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse is a company and charity set up to:

• provide inclusive services that reduce the risk of domestic abuse and promote the safety, choices and welfare of those affected
• enhance awareness of the nature and prevalence of domestic violence and help to foster good practice and an integrated multi integrated approach.
• This post holder will be in the high-risk team and be managed by the Service Manager with support from the Senior IDVA.
• A structured training and induction programme is in place to ensure new staff members are knowledgeable, confident and comfortable with the role.
• After 6 months of experience, the applicant will attend the Safelives IDVA training.
• Workload will be adjusted and study time will be given for attendance at training.
• Salary will be uplifted on successful completion of the course.

The trustees collectively have expertise in domestic abuse, child protection, criminal justice, voluntary sector governance, local authority community safety, training and quality assurance. While primarily a local charity the trustees anticipate that, with a focus on quality, some of the work of the charity may contribute to broader good practice development. The charity participates in a number of multi agency partnerships responsible for aspects of the county’s integrated domestic abuse strategy.

Function

The first priority of the charity is to provide an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service for the county. The post holder will be a member of the IDVA team and provide a pro-active service to victims of domestic violence to keep them safe and promote their wellbeing. They will use their skills to assess the risk a client is in, deliver a service appropriate to the level of risk and have a particular focus on providing an intensive service to those at high risk. The post holder will have the skills to act as lead professional, working to ensure an integrated service and co-ordinating multi agency work to keep people safe, in addition to working with victims and signposting to other services.

Responsibilities:

• Work as part of the Oxfordshire IDVA team to provide pro-active service and advice to victims at high risk of harm from domestic abuse to keep them and their children safe
• Risk assess and deliver service in keeping with the result
• Undertake safety planning with clients
• Develop individual service plans to meet the specific risks clients face
• Where relevant also support victims in their role as primary carers for their children
• Manage a caseload
• Maintain and update records of all cases
• Participate in champion networks and work closely with outreach workers and any other dedicated DA services as appropriate
• Participate in MARAC framework: refer clients to, attend and participate in meetings, follow-up on actions agreed in MARAC
• Keep other relevant services informed about important changes in client’s situation
• Support clients through the criminal justice system, explaining the procedures and their role and rights within that system
• Ensure that clients are immediately informed of any CJS developments and advised on any aspect affecting their safety
• Explain housing, civil and criminal legal options to clients
• Ensure that clients access the services to which they are entitled
• Refer on and arrange meetings with other agencies/services as necessary e.g. solicitors, benefit agencies, etc.
• Note and feedback to other agencies any consistent difficulties clients are having accessing their service
• Help clients develop their own support network
• Follow procedures and protocols so that the safety of the clients is kept central to any process
• Ensure Reducing the Risk fulfils its responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children
• Understand the legal framework relating to the protection of children, and the policy and procedures of Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board – including specific guidelines applied to the voluntary sector
• Participate in supervision and support systems for the service, and in training and professional development
• Bring casework issues and regular difficulties clients are having to the attention of the manager; contribute to efforts to improve Reducing the Risk practice and procedures and/or to work through multi agency partnerships to improve multi agency practice
• Any additional responsibilities as reasonably requested by the manager or trustees

The nature of this post will require flexibility to meet work needs as they arise. This may occassionally entail some work outside normal office hours. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude to their duties. These may have to be varied after discussion, subject to the needs of the service and in keeping with the general profile of the post. There will also sometimes be a necessity to work effectively under pressure.

Appointment to the post will be subject to full enhanced DSB checks.

Full drivers licence with the use of a car for work

Ability to travel around the county

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £27,000.00 - £29,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person