Trainee Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure effective access for domestic abuse survivors and encourage engagement with the service by assessing and responding to referrals, making contact, and completing a telephone or face-to-face assessment where appropriate.

• To provide advocacy, support, and advice to service users on safety and practical issues which may include but is not exclusive to Housing and Tenancy issues, Debt Management, Welfare Rights, Immigration, Legal Protection and access to Employment and Education.

• Deliver trauma-informed support through robust risk and needs assessment and individual safety and support plans.

• To comprehensively assess the needs and risk for service users experiencing domestic abuse, carry out risk management, safety planning and support; and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs.

• Provide advice to clients and professionals including responding to repeat referrals where they do not wish to re-engage in services but require brief advice or intervention.

• Advise service users of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, making referrals, coordinating the provision of multi-agency support where necessary, and pro-actively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are minimised.

• Proactively assess the needs and safety of any children that are affected by domestic abuse, ensuring these are addressed directly with the service user and take appropriate action to safeguard them.

4

Duties

• Initiate, complete and review robust risk/needs assessment and Individual Safety and Support Plans that include delivery of high-quality face to face or telephone crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and support, in respect of criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, children’s legislation and other appropriate interventions.

• Manage a caseload ensuring each client receives an appropriate service which is individual to their needs.

• Prioritise high risk cases and provide a proactive crisis intervention service as well as longer-term support through criminal and civil court processes.

• Maintain high quality, accurate and timely case records ensuring confidentiality of all survivors accessing the service in line with My Sister’s Place policies and procedures. Keep records across both our internal case management system Oasis, and Middlesbrough Council’s Accessing Change Together (ACT) case management system CDP.

• Follow up pending referrals.

• Maintain positive relationships with partner agencies such as MARAC, Social Care, and Housing to provide the best outcomes for survivors accessing the service. Increase knowledge of domestic abuse within the multi-agency through joint working, community engagement, and training.

• Work proactively with multi-agency settings to keep survivor’s perspective and safety at the centre of all interventions. Complete relevant reports for multi-agency meetings.

• Attend and participate in multi-agency settings such as MARAC, MATAC, MAPPA, Child and Adult Safeguarding meetings to support engagement and advocate for clients.

• Safeguard clients and their children by referring to Adults and Children’s Social Care and MARAC/MATAC/MAPPA where appropriate or other multi agency settings safeguarding processes in line with My Sisters Place policies and procedures. Seek appropriate support from managers for safeguarding and quality assurance.

• Support the lead IDVA for MARAC and MATAC in preparation for meetings and completion of actions where appropriate.

• Attend the Special Domestic Abuse Court as and when required.

• Support service users to secure appropriate protective orders and support with DIY Injunction applications where necessary.

• Support Managers to induct new staff and students, contributing to induction packs and plans. Providing peer mentoring to new staff and students.

• Attend monthly personal supervision and case management supervision.

• Engage in regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.

• Complete training when required in line with company polices.

• Use appropriate institutional advocacy to maximise positive outcomes for survivors, highlighting persistent or recurring issues that arise through the relevant channels.

• Have an awareness of both local and national government legislation and how it impacts on the work of the project and the communities in which the project works.

• Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work.