Senior independent domestic violence advocate jobs

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior IDVA to join the Specialist Services team in Bedfordshire. This is a fixed term contract until 31st March 2026, which maybe extended subject to funding. This role will be hybrid and be located within Bedford Borough Council.

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

Do you have resilience and 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 this role:

This role supports the service across Bedford Borough. As a Team Leader for the Specialist Services team you will:

• Offer a consistent representative for the twice weekly MARAC
• Be a SPOC for the Front Door - giving advice and support around queries/ concerns about DA
• Carry a reduced caseload
• Support the Safe & Together model
• have line manage responsibilities including Bedford Borough IDVA

You will need:

• IDVA or ISAC qualification
• Experience in multi-agency partnerships and legislative frameworks
• Knowledge of equal opportunities, diversity, safeguarding, and risk assessments
• Understanding of confidentiality, safe working practices, and legal file maintenance
• Experience in customer-focused service delivery in challenging environments
• Crisis management and support experience
• Strong communication, negotiation, and advisory skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, and manage competing demands
• Analytical skills for problem-solving and data reporting
• Proficiency in IT and software (Word, Excel, Case Management systems)
• Commitment to continuous self-development

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

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 looking 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.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

Senior IDVA:

Youth Realities is a youth and survivor-led charity based in Barnet, addressing teenage relationship abuse through creative education and specialist, survivor-centred support.

Youth Realities aims to: 

• Reduce abuse within teenage relationships 

• Increase awareness of teenage relationship abuse through education

• Empower young people’s personal development & growth

• Provide advocacy and trusted support for young survivors

Our vision is a world where young people live free from relationship abuse and violence. Our mission is to end relationships abuse by working with young people to provide specialist spaces for prevention, intervention and healing.

Location: Hybrid
Department: Advocacy & Support Helpline
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
 
About the LGBT Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate role
 
This role builds on work that we have been doing for decades to support and empower LGBT people who have experienced domestic abuse. Your work will enable LGBT people to feel supported, heard and empowered in the face of abuse and violence, and pave the way to a safer future for our community.
 
You will sit alongside our other advocates supporting LGBT people facing abuse or violence. You will work directly with LGBT victims/survivors of domestic abuse, offering them a space to talk and think through options, helping them plan what they want to do, and offering assistance in getting what they need from services. Your work will focus on needs specifically related experiences of abuse or violence, including issues such as wellbeing, support with the criminal and civil justice process, safety and access to other services to enable survivors to cope and recover. You will be empathetic and thoughtful in your approach to understanding your clients’ needs, while remaining boundaried and mindful of self-care.
 
You will work with mainstream services to ensure the voices and experiences of LGBT survivors are represented in order to make change for our community at a local and national level. You will also work closely with key partner organisations by attending meetings and have the opportunity to take part in external work to ensure a joined-up approach among services working with LGBT people facing abuse and violence.
 
This is a pivotal moment in Galop’s journey. We have grown quickly over the last six years and you will be part of the future of our work. You’ll help us reach, support and assist more of our community nationally. You’ll be helping to amplify the voices of LGBT survivors of abuse, and ensure that they are at the centre of Galop’s service.
 
For more information on this role please download the attached job description.
 
Location: Galop’s offices are located in London. This role will have the option of hybrid working.
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Contract: Until 31st March 2026
Reports to: Advocacy & Support Manager/Senior Advocate
Salary: £31,986.91 - £36,728.54 per year including London Weighting.
 
Closing Date:
 
Applications should be submitted by 10:00am on 11th July 2025.
Interviews will be held on 24th and 25th July 2025.
 
REF-222251

Job Title: Angelou Service Manager

Direct reports: 2 x Senior IDVAs and 4 IDVAs

This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Advance is committed to equality and diversity and strongly encourages applications from women with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, BAME and LBT communities.

Job Summary

This is an opportunity for an experienced manager with a proven track record of supporting and leading a team of advocates to join Advance as the Angelou service manager. The post holder will manage a team of senior IDVAs (2) and IDVAs (4) who provide advocacy services to women experiencing domestic violence and abuse. This role requires the effective management of advocates who will deliver 1:1 advocacy that fulfils the needs of women accessing advocacy services across the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster. The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the Multiagency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. The post holder will collaborate with Advance management, external agencies, and key stakeholders to provide consistent and holistic service.

How to apply
Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that  include a cover letter will be considered.
Closing Date for Applications: 12th July 2025
Interviews are taking place on: 25th and 29th July 2025

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. 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.
 

Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous
safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Full-time, 35 hours per week, part-time will be considered (minimum of 28 hours)

Woman’s Trust is the leading independent charity providing free and confidential mental healthcare to domestic abuse survivors throughout London and the South-East. As we approach our 30th anniversary, we are committed to ensuring every woman and child affected by domestic abuse has the mental health support they need to recover from the trauma of the abuse. Our work is vital in preventing further harm and breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

This role is vital in ensuring that the public and key stakeholders understand the impact of our work; that we can generate more support and funding for what we do, helping more women as a result; and that we can influence the public and policy-makers to ensure even more survivors of domestic abuse have access to specialist mental health support.

You will be responsible for planning and delivering effective communications that reach, engage, motivate, and resonate with media, clients, fundraisers, and policy makers across a range of channels.

We are looking for someone with a strong news sense and experience in Press and Public Relations. You will have a demonstrable background of proactively getting organisations involved in the public conversations that matter – while reflecting the confidential nature and sensitivities around domestic abuse and mental health. We aim to proactively generate more awareness of our work and its impact, including our unique position in the women’s and mental health sectors.

The role will be responsible for proactive and reactive media relations; effective engagement on social media; developing engaging content for our website; drafting copy for and producing marketing materials, including our e-newsletter. A highly autonomous role, you will work closely with our Chief Executive, fundraising, counselling, and research teams. You will also be engaging regularly with the Board of trustees, supporting our Chief Executive in our work and mission.

Our ideal candidate would also have experience of working on press and awareness campaigns; and the ability to create content on social media in line with branding guidelines. Experience in developing communications strategies and reporting on Key Performance Indicators would be preferred.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday, 13th July 2025.

Interviews will be held week commencing 14th July 2025.

Only successful applicants will be notified. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date your application has not been successful.

This post is open to female applicants only – the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1 applies. We encourage those from diverse communities and backgrounds to apply.