Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Are you looking for a rewarding role within an intersectional feminist organisation? We have an incredible opportunity for an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) to join Solace Women’s Aid.

Solace exists to end the harm done through gender-based violence. We work to prevent violence and abuse and provide services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children.

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

Solace Women’s Aid provides a wide range of services to victim/survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in Islington including a large advocacy and support service and specialist projects co-located in a number of services.

About the Role

We are seeking an IDVA to provide high-quality case work support, advocacy and information services to survivors of domestic abuse who are experiencing significant harm from interpersonal harm and relationship abuse. You will carry out DASH Risk Assessments in a timely manner and refer high-risk cases to MARAC where appropriate.

Our IDVA’s work alongside statutory partners to promote a coordinated, multi-agency response for survivors and their families, strengthen professional relationships, and enhance collaboration with IDVA colleagues and wider support services.

About You

You will be highly organised, self-motivated applicants and passionate about ending VAWG and hold a solid understanding of how domestic or sexual violence against a parent can affect a child in the home. You will have a “can-do‟ approach, experience of working with families and demonstrable commitment to Solace’s feminist approach to supporting survivors and their children to be safer.

The postholder will have an in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on survivors and children, experience of providing emotional and practical support to victims of VAWG and a strong understanding of statutory systems including housing and social care.

A relevant qualification in VAWG is desirable.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role, with a minimum requirement to work one day per week at our Head Office in Camden and one day per week at Islington Council offices. This arrangement may vary depending on the needs of the service and/or service users.

The salary for this post is £29,385 - £30,671 (Unqualified) or £30,671 - £32,623 (Qualified).

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
• Two paid wellbeing days
• 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, transferable 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 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, Part 1. Section 7(2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies. 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