*This Post Is Restricted to Women Due to the Nature of the Role. the Occupational Requirement

*This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Hours: 37 hours per week –Maternity Cover (until approximately September 2017, or until the post- holder returns) Salary: £24,075 per annum

Purpose of the role: . To provide one-to-one advocacy support to survivors of domestic violence and abuse, prioritising those who are at high risk of harm, and working intensively with these cases for a short period of time until the risk is reduced and safety needs have been met. . To represent Survive as the MARAC Lead IDVA by regularly attending the monthly South Gloucestershire Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and presenting the victim’s views and needs at the MARAC. Additionally, conducting all MARAC related responsibilities, including initial MARAC contacts, research and follow up actions. . To work within a multi-agency setting to ensure all agencies do their part and co-ordinate their work to keep people safe. . To uphold all quality standards, Ethos, policies and procedures of Survive

Responsible to: IDVA & Outreach Services Manager

Functional Relationships: Survive’s board, all staff and volunteers, key community agencies including health worker, housing officers, Schools link officer, community groups and statutory agencies that work in the field of domestic violence.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Operational 1. Provide pro-active service and advice to victims of domestic violence to keep them and their children safe. 2. Risk assess, using the Safelives DASH RIC and professional judgement, and deliver a service in keeping with the result. 3. To work with the other members of the IDVA team to establish contact with new referrals within 48hrs of receiving the referral: and to establish risks (Safelives DASH RIC), needs (through the ISSP), and confidentiality (Survive Confidentiality Form) and then appropriately allocate within the IDVA team. 4. Explain housing, civil and criminal legal options to service users, and support service users to access these remedies when necessary, either through signposting or direct advocacy support. 5. Undertake safety planning with service users and develop individual support and safety plans (ISSPs) to meet individual risks and needs of service users. 6. To be transparent in their role and have a clear understanding of what the IDVA expects from all services in order to ensure that clients the support/services to which they are entitled. 7. Support service users through the criminal justice system; explaining the procedures and their role and rights within that system, including those accessing the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC). 8. To work with the other members of the IDVA team to regularly attend the SDVC. 1 9. Help service users to develop their own support network. 10. Refer on and arrange meetings with other agencies/services as necessary, for instance, solicitors, benefits agency, etc. 11. Manage a caseload. 12. Follow procedures and protocols with other services so that the safety and voice of the service users is kept central to any process. 13. Keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in the service user’s situation, where confidentiality agreements and policies allow. 14. Participate in Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) framework as the lead MARAC IDVA: refer service users to, attend and participate in meetings as the voice of the victim, follow-up on actions agreed in MARACs as necessary to a deadline. 15. To discuss complex cases with your line manager and contribute to efforts to improve procedures and services internally and externally. 16. Use Institutional Advocacy to note and feed back to other agencies any consistent difficulties service users are having accessing their service through appropriate methods. 17. To participate with other staff to provide occasional cover to the admin and support lines at Survive to ensure a quality service at the first point of contact and to provide cover to the support line as part of a rota. 18. To support Survive’s fundraising through active promotion of events and involvement in fundraising events wherever possible. 19. At all times present Survive professionally and provide consistent and high quality service to service users, in line with and alongside the procedures agreed with your team members. 20. Participate in on call arrangements as necessary.

Administrative 1. To maintain clear, timely, accurate and concise records and case notes on our database system. To maintain and upload accompanying documentation (confidentiality, ISSPs, DASH RICS and SAGs, case review notes, and exit review forms) in a timely, clear, accurate and concise manner. 2. To implement and adhere to policy and procedures in relation to health and safety in all aspect of work. To adhere to the worker’s own responsibilities to health and safety within the workplace and to colleagues, service users and the general public. 3. To provide reports and statistical information regarding support outcomes within a separate spreadsheet, and including appropriate case studies and examples of good practice.

Networking 4. To raise the profile of Survive through active involvement in and networking with relevant organisations and forums. 5. To raise awareness of the issues of domestic violence through direct service provision and to promote Survive where appropriate.

Other 6. To maintain effective communication with co-workers. 7. To ensure effective and safe personal practice, awareness of vicarious trauma and boundaries. 8. Participate in relevant meetings, supervision and internal and external trainings. 9. To ensure personal knowledge is up to date with key legislative and legal requirements. 10. To undertake any other duties as directed by the line manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of the post.

Person specification:

Experience

2 1. At least two years experience of work in a relevant field 2. Experienced in multi agency working 3. An understanding of equal opportunities and experience in implementing this in practice 4. Excellent understanding of and experience in working with child protection issues 5. Experience of organising, planning, evaluating and reporting on your own work

Knowledge 6. A thorough understanding of domestic violence including causes and consequences. 7. Completed Safelives Independent Domestic Violence Advocates Training course 8. A level 3 qualification in a relevant field, ie. Social work, law, psychology, social policy.) or relevant field or a level 4 qualification in a different field with an additional 2 years relevant experience (Please note that other qualifications may be relevant, you will need to clearly demonstrate this on your application form) 9. A thorough understanding of health and safety issues especially those relevant to DV, lone working 10. Excellent knowledge of the criminal justice system relating to domestic violence 11. Excellent knowledge of civil remedies used in order to keep service users safe and reduce their risk.

Skills 12. An excellent ability to maintain strict confidentiality, tact and discretion. 13. Effective listening, communication (including written ) and interpersonal skills 14. Ability to work flexible hours including availability to do out of hours work including evenings 15. Ability and commitment to work as part of a team and able to work on own initiative 16. Excellent time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and manage a complex and demanding workload. 17. Ability to manage difficult behaviour in a calm and professional manner 18. Able to manage self care with effective stress management strategies. 19. The emotional and physical stamina to deliver excellent work under pressure. 20. Ability to maintain accurate up to date case notes and record statistical data and reports as necessary 21. Excellent administrative skills including competency in Windows based software and IT packages 22. Available to do out of hours work, including evenings and the ability to work flexible hour. 23. A full driving license and access to a vehicle. We welcome applications from disabled women who cannot drive (due to their disability) and we will consider alternative arrangements to enable this requirement to be met.

Special notes or conditions: . Applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal record check before employment starts . The job involves flexible working hours including responding to crises and out of hour’s meetings and events.

June 2016