Independent Domestic Violence Advisor; IDVA)

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Housing Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

Salary: £28,000 - £35,000

We advertise the full salary banding for our roles to provide transparency about what you can achieve in this position with us. The actual salary offered will be within that band, and dependent on skills and experience and whether you are a qualified IDVA.

Location: Hammersmith

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note:

Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role

We are excited to be taking the lead in the London Whole Housing Service Partnership (LWHSP) which will address and enhance the pathways of housing support for women experiencing domestic abuse, from removing them from immediate harm, to enabling recovery and resettlement across all levels of need. The LWHSP are seeking to build on our delivery across 11 East and West London boroughs of the Whole Housing Approach (WHA).

The Housing IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service to ensure the voice of survivors inform every stage of the process. You will specialise in working with clients for whom housing, and risk of tenancy breakdown is a factor. You will work within the team to make proactive contact and provide high quality advocacy and support based upon a client led needs and risk assessment to women, focusing on working with those aged 18 and over who access the domestic abuse service.

You will hold a caseload of survivors and will also be required to work as part of Advance’s duty team on a rota basis which will involve completing intake assessments and providing crisis intervention support.

About you

As a Housing IDVA, you will need to have a degree of flexibility for colocation work across London boroughs; providing support to women who have experienced domestic violence, focusing on individuals with housing or tenancy issues. Working in our fast-paced crisis intervention, advocacy and support service, you’ll ensure the voice of survivors inform every stage of the process. You will have your own caseload of survivors and will focus on working with those aged 18 and over who access our domestic abuse service.

You will bring experience in providing independent domestic violence advocacy and support for women who approach housing advice and assessment for help. Ideally experience in working with housing service providers, and advising women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies. You will have the…