Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (Chidva)

We have an exciting new role within Community Services and are currently recruiting for a Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (CHIDVA) to work within a well-established team supporting across the city of Wolverhampton.

The role is temporary; however The Haven Wolverhampton remains committed to supporting the role for as long as funding allows it.

Main Responsibilities:

As a CHIDVA, you will be supporting high-risk children and young people (CYP) from 5 - 18 years of age (or up to 25 where there are identified additional needs) within The Haven accommodation and community services to provide a high-quality frontline service that is sensitive to the gendered dynamics of VAWG.

• Working within a multi-agency framework, advocating within multi-agency settings including MARAC/MACE and local partnership responses to domestic abuse on behalf of VAWG support service users and their needs.
• Building links with the local MASH teams, and strengthening families’ workers, working with schools across the area, and supporting those young people up to the age of 25 (with additional needs) in their recovery journey.
• Providing 1-1 intensive support and safety planning to the children and young people referred in service, supporting them to access statutory and non-statutory services as required.
• Line managing a volunteer/placement or member of the community team, having regular 1-1 meetings and annual appraisals, supporting their development.

Safety and Specialist Support:

• Provide a specialist pro-active service that reflects our CYP’s individual risks and needs, whilst respecting their autonomy and right to make decisions.
• Work with CYP’S to identify their needs and build a robust individual safety and support plan with the CYP, making referrals to agencies as required/needed.
• Work with CYP’s to identify any barriers to them overcoming abuse and empower them to them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation and help them regain control of their lives, overcoming and addressing these barriers.
• Challenge norms, raise awareness among professionals and challenge other professionals and services where required (institutional advocacy).
• Advocate for victims with agencies who can help to address the domestic abuse by:
  • Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including in relation to legal options, housing, health, and finance.
  • Work directly with all key partner agencies to address the safety of high-risk victims and ensuring that their safety plans are coordinated through professional meetings.
  • Work within a multi-agency setting which will include participation at the MARAC, contributing to interventions and helping to design a plan to protect victims and children, while maintaining an independent role on behalf of your client, keeping their safety as central to any response.
  • To attend and support building safety plans for CYP’s you support through who are open through the MACE process.
• Support through the Criminal Justice system, explaining the procedures and their role and rights within that system, referring to Victim Support or the Witness Care Service as appropriate.
• Be proactive in carrying out case reviews based on a review of risk, support needs and abuse which:
  • Feeds back into action planning to further progress the support, or safely close cases.
  • Provides feedback to your team/clients/agencies.
  • Ensures safe exit from the service.
• Identify and monitor repeat referrals, and work with victims and other agencies to identify underlying issues/causes of why there has been a repeat incident/referral to improve practice and better serve victims.
• Utilise wellbeing programs to work with women and children and provide a wraparound service to support their emotional wellbeing and give ongoing support to help them become independent of the service.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case management records and databases, contributing to monitoring of information for the service.
• Review cases with non-engagement and identify barriers and challenges that CYP face, working to overcome them, whilst addressing challenges with other agencies.
• If not trained, be willing to undertake The Haven Wolverhampton Level 4 supporting high risk domestic abuse survivors.

Service Development:

• As this is a new role within THW, you will be working closely with our CHISVA and IDVA team, as well as Community and Helpline manager to review the service.
• You will work with external agencies, such as MASH, University, Schools, strengthening families’ hubs, to promote the service, and support with any clients they may be able to identify and needing support.
• To work with CHISVA to review referral pathways into the specific high risk CYP service, reviewing where referrals come from, and how we can reach other service area’s
• Housing and Accommodation Safety
• Working with agencies across the city to develop referral pathways and source referrals to service.
• Maintaining safety in the home, including obtaining court orders, installation of safety measures.
• Advise women on housing rights and responsibilities, including maintaining and accessing safe housing options.
• Empower women to identify long-term solutions to their needs around rehousing and tenancy sustainment.
• Tenancy sustainment - Advise women on maintaining secure accommodation and liaise with a range of housing providers as appropriate.
• Identify accommodation options where appropriate and assist with applications.

General Duties & Responsibilities:

• To undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as maybe reasonably required, and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job.
• To have personal responsibility for maintaining personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and the Charity, by undertaking appropriate training and development activities. This includes encouraging and supporting staff and managers in their training and development.
• To undertake any health and safety training and related activities such as First Aid, Fire Marshall, Duty Hold, Health & Safety representative etc. as required for the post and as required by The Haven Wolverhampton to ensure their Health & Safety Policy is implemented effectively.
• To ensure equality of opportunity both in service provision and employment, having regard to the needs of the diverse communities we serve.
• To act in accordance with the organisations standing orders, financial regulations, and financial procedures.
• To supervise and support volunteers and placements as required.
• To comply with legislation and The Haven’s policies including Confidentiality, Information Sharing, Data Protection, Computer Security, Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, and Human Rights.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post subject to reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act.
• To support accommodation staff in ensuring the well-being of residents and their children working directly with our client group, including working within the accommodation if required using the skills associated with the job.
• The duties of the post may change and develop from time to time in the light of new legislation, The Haven’s Policies, organisational development, and social trends.

Special Conditions:

• Able to work unsociable hours on occasions if required to undertake internal Haven activities or external continued professional development activities.
• Able to travel as required dependent upon service user need.