Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Job Advert

ABOUT US

HERSANA CIC is the first and leading Gender-based Violence Support Service providing advice, support and advocacy to Black women and girls [femmes] who have experienced any form of gender-based violence. We were founded in 2016, and have been championing the needs and safety of Black femmes ever since.

HERSANA works directly with thousands of Black femmes who have experienced abuse and violence. We specialise in domestic abuse, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and other forms of abuse including honour-based abuse and forced marriage. We are a service run by Black women, for Black women, and with Black women in mind and at the forefront.

We have been working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms whilst providing wholistic support to Black femme survivors by providing advocacy services nationally for Black femmes who need longer-term support. We provide free long-term counselling, as well as short-term emotional and practical support. As a leading expert on violence against women and girls, HERSANA provides accredited and tailored training to a wide range of statutory professionals and workshops to young people and community groups.

We use what we learn through working on the frontlines with clients to work for national and local policy change to improve outcomes for Black femme victims and survivors of abuse and violence. We build evidence through key pieces of research. We push for legislative change, improved statutory guidance for victims, and better understanding of the needs of Black femmes around the country.

Our mission is to create wholistic, gender-specialist, culturally specific and trauma-informed safe spaces for Black women and girls affected by or at risk of gender-based violence across England, as well as campaign to eradicate violence against women and girls in all its forms. We aim to centre Black femmes in every narrative and to provide these services in a safe and Black femme only environment.

We believe that safe spaces like our own can provide a sanctuary from the world of facades, a sacred space where we, Black femmes, can be ourselves, as we are. This kind of unmasking – speaking our truth, sharing our inner struggles, and revealing our raw edges – is sacred activity.

Safe spaces designed by us, for you and with you in mind and at the forefront.

BEING AN INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE AT HERSANA

As an experienced IDVA you will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service to ensure the voice of Black femme survivors informs every stage of the process. Working as part of a team you will support a range of clients, making proactive contact and providing high quality advocacy and support which is led by client needs and risk assessments. We have a strong commitment to community and partnership working which means you may also have the opportunity to get involved in delivering training and outreach work.

You will ideally hold an IDVA accreditation and have an excellent understanding of domestic abuse and its effects on women and children, and of best practice within the domestic abuse sector. As an experienced Domestic Violence Advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, you will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information daily. Experience of direct work with Black femme survivors of abuse and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.

You will be highly organised, self-motivated, and passionate about ending gender-based violence and creating safe spaces for Black femmes. You will have a "can-do" approach and demonstrable commitment to HERSANA's feminist approach to supporting Black women and their children to be safer.

You will receive training and support for this role, as necessary.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, you’ll need to complete the Application Form, including the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Section. When completing it please relate your application to the requirements stated in the attached person specification, as shortlisting for interview is dependent on the extent to which your application matches these. We are unable to accept CVs.

The deadline for applications is 8pm on Friday 29th March 2023.