Senior Hospital IDVA

Role:               Senior Hospital IDVA

Based:            Slough

Rate:               £28,296 per year, rising to £29,088 

Start Date:      ASAP

Duration:        Permanent

Hours:             37.5 hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm hybrid 3 days in office and 2 from home

Our client, a specialist Domestic Violence charity based in Slough is looking to recruit a Hospital IDVA to provide immediate high quality trauma informed support and advice to victims of domestic abuse. To link the service users to longer term community support and to work jointly with the Senior IDVA on providing domestic abuse  training to the Trust staff

Synopsis of duties:

• To provide practical and emotional support to victims of domestic abuse and other gender based violence. This includes supporting and signposting Trust staff who are victims of abuse
• To establish the risks to the survivors using DASH-RIC and other tools and methods, to safety and support plan jointly with the service users, working directly with all key partner agencies including MARAC process
• To develop, and regularly review person-centred outcome focused support plans to address individual support needs relating to domestic abuse , legal advice, housing needs, tenancy support, support of children, access to learning or employment dependent on the individual’s aspirations and needs
• In line with the survivors wishes  to advocate for them verbally and in writing with all the relevant bodies to ensure the survivors  needs are met
• To provide  survivors with  Criminal and Civil Law options available to them and to liaise and advocate on behalf of the survivors with relevant criminal and civil justice professionals
• To support the survivors to attend court  and liaise  with other agencies including Witness
• Service, the Police, CPS and other both pre, during and post criminal justice outcomes where needed
• To support the empowerment of survivors, assisting them to recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse present in their own situation, and to support them to regain control of their lives
• To create and maintain strong links with local statutory and voluntary sector agencies as part of the longer terms support pathways available to the service users and as part of the coordinated response to domestic abuse
• To ensure signposting/referral routes are in place to other services for people referred who do not meet eligibility criteria, ensuring up to date information is available about the range of relevant and appropriate national and local services
• To ensure that all safeguarding requirements are met in line with organisational, local and legal procedures.
• To take part in supervision and appraisal and take up opportunities to self develop within the organisation and externally
• To attend appropriate trainings, including specialist IDVA training courses to develop personal skills and knowledge relevant to the post
• To ensure all work is recorded to a high standard within Hestia’s casework management system
• To keep clear, accessible records in line with Hestia’s Confidentiality and Data Protection procedure  including ensuring that  all records are kept up to date and are stored in a secure and confidential manner
• To maintain confidentiality and to ensure that professional boundaries are adhered to when working with the service users , colleagues and external bodies
• Provide written reports, verbal representation and  monitoring information, both internally and externally, as required

Essential Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of the impact of domestic abuse and other gender based
• Experience of providing emotional and practical support to survivors of domestic abuse and other gender based violence
• Experience of risk assessing, safety and support planning for the survivors of domestic and other gender based violence
• Knowledge and experience of participating in the MARAC process
• Knowledge and ability to advise competently on a range of criminal and civil law options available to the Service Users
• Working knowledge of the relevant housing law and welfare benefits that apply to survivors and their children using the service
• Ability to build positive relationships with the service users  and to work in a non-judgmental way and non-directive way to empower the service users  to achieve their goals and aspirations
• Experience of working within a multi-agency setting
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and ability to address them appropriately
• Full Driving Licence with own Vehicle
• DBS on update service

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency.