Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Victim Support is recruiting for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to be co-located at Luton & Dunstable Hospital. This is a full time role, on a fixed term contract until 31st March 2025. 

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?

Basic Salary: £26,010 per annum (Unqualified) £28,050 per annum (Qualified)

Contract type: Fixed Term

End date (if fixed term): 31/03/2025

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your Birthday
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

We are looking for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to be based at Luton & Dunstable Hospital this role will compliment the Hospital IDVA based at Bedford Hospital. This is a full-time post on a fixed term contract until 31st March 2025. The aim of this role is to support victims of domestic abuse predominately risk assessed as standard/medium to compliment our high risk service across Bedfordshire. This is a key role at the hospital working alongside the safeguarding team to ensure that victims of domestic abuse have access to appropriate support. 

As an IDVA you will be:

• Providing a high quality support and advocacy service to victims of domestic 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 through the delivery of training to hospital staff and local partner agencies 

You will need:

• Experience of working in support and advocacy with victims of domestic 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 abuse victim’s/service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting.