Senior IDVA

Report to: Assistant Director Of Operations 

Responsible for:N/A 

Main Purpose: 

Working as a specialist practitioner within our Hope intensive support team which is a peripatetic team you will be providing support, multiagency advocacy, case management support and guidance for support workers and clients in our refuges who are multiply disadvantaged and require intensive, well planned and implemented support to recover from the abuse they have experienced, to remain safe from further domestic abuse and to address the additional disadvantages they experience which put their wellbeing and that of their children at further risk. The role includes case management for refuge clients and families who are within the top 20% in terms of vulnerability. This could stem from a multiplicity of intersecting circumstances or being severely vulnerable in one specific area or a mixture of both, bringing expertise in supporting people with mental ill health and you will be a source of ad hoc professional advice for refuge practitioners delivering support to those with mental ill health within the remaining refuge caseload. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Corporate 

1. To maintain and demonstrate a commitment to the Organisation’s vision and values and strategic aims and objectives. 

2. To maintain high standards of professionalism and keep abreast of current legislation, standards, best practice and maintain a focus of continuous improvement. 

3. To maintain knowledge of the Organisation’s operating environment. 

Main Tasks 

1. Carry out a complete and thorough family or individual needs assessment.  

2. With consent of the client, ensure the participation of all third-party agencies that should be involved in the case to safeguard a strong multidisciplinary working arrangement to support the family/individual.   

3. Build a relationship with the adult and any children and work with the adult directly on a one-to-one basis by phone, in person or online 

4. Apply a trauma informed approach to establishing and maintaining effective relationships with each client through an understanding of the prevalence and impact of trauma and the complex paths to healing and recovery. 

5. Support clients to assess their needs and aspirations, using a client centred, strengths-based approach in line with Safer Places values. 

6. Manage and co-ordinate support plans, maintaining the clients’ wishes and priorities at all times.  

7. Support clients to understand the range of options available to them for their mental health recovery. 

8. Provide and ensure interventions enhance a client’s strengths and increase their involvement in valuable activities in the community and within Safe Accommodation 

9. Ensure clients are supported to make choices and access the services identified. This may involve advocating on behalf of your clients for their rights and needs to be met. 

10. Provide emotional support, as well as practical support, and signposting to other resources. This may involve attending other services and appointments with them. 

11. Ensure support is provided to clients and their children living in the accommodation in line with a structured plan that is driven by the risks posed to the client and the needs and preferences of the individual client, which is regularly reviewed with the client and line manager to ensure it reflects their current situation and priorities across the caseload, using mandated best practice tools. 

12. Forge effective professional and close working relationships with colleagues within Safer Places and in third party agencies conducting yourself always in a professional manner. 

13. Ensure accurate records are set up and maintained for all contacts and activities following appropriate legislation and policy. 

14. Respond to crises, safeguarding issues, and complaints effectively. 

15. Oversee a case load of specific clients as directed by your manager, and act as a contact for client-related professionals whilst upholding GDPR personal data policies and procedures. 

16. Attend regular casework supervision session with your manager and team to discuss and reflect on client-related work. 

17. Take part in effective tasking and coordinating to manage risk, needs and choices of existing clients and referrals to best effect.  

18. Ensure clients have in place, and have continuously reviewed with them, robust risk management plans to support them living safely and ensure that they always have 24 hour access to support in the event that a crisis arises and they need to be made safe using additional support. 

19. All Safeguarding measures are delivered in respect of clients and their children and that at all times you adhere strictly to Safer Places policies and procedures in respect of Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. 

20. Work closely with external partner agencies, advocating on behalf of individual clients and the client group to ensure that those with specialist needs e.g. Mental Health, Substance Misuse, Legal etc. are able to receive a timely and appropriate service. 

21. Support clients to improve their resilience and prospects by encouraging engagement with the various programmes and opportunities offered within the service such as specialist programmes for people who have experienced domestic abuse (Triple R), improving numeracy and literacy, ESOL, Employability and other programmes provided in house or by other community partners.  

22. To work flexibly within the shift pattern allocated by your line manager 

General 

1. The role holder will be expected to perform any other duties that may reasonably be asked of them. 

2. To participate fully in the 24 / 7 onsite rota.  

3. To act in a professional manner at all times, communicating effectively with colleagues and partners, building and sustaining effective and appropriate relationships at all times with clients, colleagues and partners and complying with Safer Places policies and procedures. 

4. The role holder will be able to work within the Safeguarding arena following organisation policies and procedures, be able to Recognise; Respond to; Report and Record Safeguarding issues and understand and make quality Safeguarding Referrals. 

5. Comply with data protection legislation, information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work.  Act in a manner which preserves the confidentiality of all stakeholders.  

6. Respect and value the diversity of the community in which the services works in, and recognise the needs and concerns of a diverse range of survivors ensuring the service is accessible to all.   

7. Remain up-to-date and compliant with all organisational procedures policies and professional codes of conduct and uphold standards of best practice. 

Experience:

• Managing complex casework including risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, particularly with clients with multiple needs / disadvantages - Essential
• Experience of working effectively within a multi-agency environment - Essential
• Working with clients who have Mental Health - Essential

Skills and Knowledge:

• Have a good understanding of domestic abuse including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.
• Be able to form good working relationships with clients whilst working within professional boundaries.
• Understand Safeguarding and child protection issues, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.
• Understand the needs of vulnerable people.
• Have computer literacy skills and have some experience of working with databases.
• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advisory skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals.
• Have strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.

Qualifications

• Hold a clinical qualification or demonstrate equivalent experience in the mental health field.
• Safeguarding Adults Level 2 and / or Safeguarding Children Level 2 or demonstrable equivalent experience and the ability and commitment to achieve qualification within 6 months of appointment

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Car driver with access to vehicle - Essential
• Subject to Enhanced DBS Check - Essential
• Ability to work outside the normal office hours working flexibly within the shift pattern allocated by the line manager - Essential

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• 28 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays. Pro-rata for part-time employees
• Pension Scheme
• Occupational sick pay (on completion of probation)
• Access to Bupa Healthy Minds Support Service
• Employee discount scheme 

Upon receiving an offer:

• All staff must complete a DBS disclosure due to the nature of our services. You will also be required to bring proof of ID.
• We are legally bound to check the eligibility of all candidates to work in the U.K. We therefore must have proof of your NI number (either the NI card or a recent wage slip).
• As you will be driving in the course of your duties we are also bound by law to make sure your vehicle is safe and road worthy and needs to be insured for business use.
• We will require two satisfactory references, one of which should be from your most recent/current employer.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.