Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Due to the successful re-commissioning of the delivery of Domestic Abuse Services across South Gloucestershire we have a rewarding opportunity available for a Female Older People and LD Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)to join our team based in South Gloucestershire on a full-time, permanent contract working 37.5 hours per week. In return, you will receive a competitive salary of Point 12 £26,421 (unqualified) or Point 15 £27,803 (qualified) pro rata per annumplus benefits.

Due to the successful re-commissioning of the delivery of Domestic Abuse Services across South Gloucestershire we have a rewarding opportunity available for a Female Older People and LD Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)to join our team based in South Gloucestershire on a full-time, permanent contract working 37.5 hours per week. In return, you will receive a competitive salary of Point 12 £26,421 (unqualified) or Point 15 £27,803 (qualified) pro rata per annumplus benefits.

In return for joining us as our Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, we will offer you the following fantastic benefits:

• Up to 30 days annual leave (depending on length of service)
• 3 extra holidays including International Women's Day
• Excellent development and training opportunities
• Employer pension contribution (minimum 5% of your gross salary)
• Mindful Employer Plus Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Long Service Awards

About the Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate role:

This post will be based within Next Link Domestic abuse services providing outreach, and community-based support to victims of domestic abuse across South Gloucestershire.

Working across Next Link with victim's whose perpetrators are part of the DRIVE Programme in South Gloucestershire and close partnership working with the Lighthouse, MARAC and the DRIVE Project to provide co-ordinated package of emotional and practical support, advice and advocacy to female or male survivors of domestic violence and their children. The role involves empowering survivors to increase their options, make positive choices/decisions, increase their confidence, safety and recovery.

Key duties and responsibilities of our Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate:

• Establishing and maintaining support to survivors, with a victim centred approach, focussing on safety and recovery
• Providing support to enable survivors to safely maintain their current accommodation, access welfare benefits, legal advice alternative housing, and support services
• Providing age specific trauma informed one to one and group interventions that enable survivors to build emotional resilience and well-being
• Carrying out risk assessments including DASH, co-produce safety plans with the service user regularly review the plans, enabling survivors to assess and manage risk to their own and their children's safety.
• Amending plans as appropriate when circumstances change and attend the MARAC and refer service users when appropriate.
• Championing service user empowerment and involvement
• Liaising effectively and collaboratively with all appropriate agencies and community groups to ensure the best access to services and meaningful community engagement for service users

This is not an exhaustive list of your duties and outlines the general ways in which it is expected you will meet the overall requirements of this post.

What we are looking for in our ideal Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate:

• An understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on survivors
• Knowledge of the safety options available to people experiencing domestic abuse
• Experience of support planning and risk assessment
• Experience of assessing the risks and needs of vulnerable people who have experienced domestic abuse and/or complex needs
• Experience working with the police, Lighthouse, MASH, Compass, MARAC and DRIVE
• Experience of working within the voluntary and statutory sector with people with learning disabilities
• An understanding of cultural diversity
• To hold IDVA qualification
• A full driving licence and access to transport

Closing date: 9am on 10th June 2024

Interviews will be held week commencing 10th and 17th June 2024

If you are motivated, resourceful and passionate please apply now to join us as our Female Independent Domestic Violence Advocate and contribute to the valuable work Next Link and its wider services, delivering hope and support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

Next Link is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk of abuse, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Next Link is committed to Equal Opportunities. *Due to the specific requirements of this role, this post is exempt under the Equality Act (2010), Part 1, Schedule 9 (Genuine Occupational Requirement.)