Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advisor

Victim Support; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in the UK is seeking an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Adviser (IDSVA) in Cumbria to provide advocacy and support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse. This full-time role involves managing a caseload, providing tailored crisis intervention, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. Candidates should have experience in support work, ideally including SafeLives IDVA accreditation. The position offers flexible working options and a generous benefits package including annual leave and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible Working Options

Generous Annual Leave

Enhanced Allowances

Career Development

Qualifications

• Experience of working with victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse.
• Ability to manage competing demands and promote organisational values.
• Experience in a statutory, voluntary, or community setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality support to victims of abuse.
• Manage a caseload and perform safety planning.
• Advocate on behalf of service users.

Skills

Support and advocacy experience

Crisis intervention

Emotional support

Education

SafeLives IDVA accreditation

Relevant degree or vocational qualification

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Adviser (IDSVA) to join the team in Cumbria, working 37.5 hours a week.

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

Do you have resilience & 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 are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the role:

We are looking for an Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advisor (IDSVA) to be based in our Cumbria team.

This is a 37.5 hour post. The aim of this role is to provide initial contact to victims of Domestic and/or Sexual abuse & provide ongoing support to victims and survivors referred to our Independent Sexual Violence service (ISVA).

As an IDSVA you will be:

• Providing a high quality support and advocacy service to victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse.
• Managing a caseload; identifying and assessing risks and needs, providing a tailored crisis intervention service through individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
• Working with other agencies and advocating on behalf of service users in order to help them access services to keep them safe.
• Working within a multi-agency framework consisting of partners as well as MARAC and other local partnerships to offer a coordinated response to domestic abuse.
• Promoting the service and raise awareness of domestic abuse across the support sector.

You will need:

• Experience of working in support and advocacy with victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse is advantageous
• To be able to prioritise work and deal with competing or conflicting demands/needs and interests and promote organisation interests and values.
• To ideally hold a SafeLives IDVA accreditation, relevant degree, vocational qualification or relevant experience of delivering a service and working with domestic and/or sexual abuse victim’s/service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting.

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

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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.

At Victim Support, we’re proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We’re committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

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 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.