Young Person's Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

Young Person's Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) x 1 Position Available

In 2021 the Domestic Abuse Act was ratified, providing the first legal definition of domestic violence and abuse, covering any person over the age of 16 who has experienced abusive behaviour from someone personally connected to them.

Let us introduce ourselves…

Black Country Women's Aid (BCWA) is an established charity working across the Black Country and wider West Midlands providing accommodation and community support services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Services range from advocacy, civil remedies, support in court, individual and group support and access to a range of therapeutic interventions.

All services are client and needs led.

Community Services Directorate

Within this directorate the following vital services are delivered
Black Country Women's Aid Community Services include;
, Community Domestic Abuse Support Services (Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley)
, Black Country IRIS (primary care) educator and advocacy service
, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Services (Black Country)
, Black Country Sexual Abuse Forum
, Black Country Counselling Service
, Domestic and sexual abuse Children and Young person's service (Black Country)
, West Midlands Stalking Service
, Ask Marc (Male abuse referral centre)

This position is located within the Community Domestic Violence and Abuse Support Service

The BCWA Community Domestic Violence and Abuse Support Service supports victims of domestic violence and abuse in Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall through a range of contracted/commissioning arrangements.

The service works in partnership with other services within BCWA and key agencies to assess risk and provide tailored support plans for service users.

Our integrated approach provides effective holistic support for survivors of abuse using a trauma-informed approach.

The team:
Our specialist Community Domestic Abuse Support Service supports male and female victims of domestic violence and abuse living in Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall through a range of contracted/ commissioning arrangements.

The service works in partnership with other services within BCWA and key agencies to assess risk and provide tailored support plans for service users.

Our integrated approach provides effective holistic support for survivors of abuse using a trauma-informed approach.

We have a team of supportive, dedicated, self-driven individuals who empower clients to make informed choices, helping them to live a life free from abuse.

The Role:
Job Title: Young Person's Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) (ages 16-21 (or up to 25 for Looked After Children))
Positions available: 1 full-time position (37.5 hours), based in Sandwell, Dudley & Walsall.


Salary: £24,310.04 (unqualified)/ £26,430.04 (qualified)
Closing date: 19 May 2023, however, BCWA reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications
All interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams

Is this you?
A fantastic new opportunity has arisen to work within Black Country Women's Aid as a Young Person's IDVA with victims/survivors aged between 16-21 (or up to 25 for Looked After Children) experiencing domestic abuse, honour-based violence, and forced marriage.

The work may also include additional age-based abuse profiles and risks e.g.

online abuse/cyber-stalking and sexual exploitation.

We are looking for a qualified/unqualified IDVA (training may be provided for the right candidate) to join our dynamic team.

We are looking for someone with extensive experience of supporting victims/survivors of domestic abuse, managing a caseload and understanding the principles of safeguarding children and adults.

The post holder will have a good understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and how this can affect victims, particularly young people transitioning into adulthood.

Ideally, they will have experience in developing and delivering training.

The Role:
The Young Person's IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast-paced, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service to ensure that the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process.

A key part of the role will also include working with key agencies such as youth services and educational settings to improve their awareness of domestic violence and the impact this can have on young people.

This can only be done by establishing positive, proactive and innovative working relationships with services providing support to young people and partner agencies within the Black Country.

Important information for all positions

Black Country Women's Aid is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

It will be necessary for an enhanced disclosure to be made to the Criminal Records Bureau for details of any previous criminal convictions.


Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

The post holder must be female.

Employment checks
As a responsible employer we adhere to safer recruitment practice and all our employees are subject to the following recruitment checks:

References

Following your interview, two employment references will be sought.

One of these should be your current or most recent employer.