Independent Sexual Violence Advocate

Vacancy at Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

Independent Sexual Violence Advocate

Salary £ 30034.80

Milton Keynes and Aylesbury

The postholder will be responsible for delivering Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) support to survivors of sexual violence across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. As an ISVA, the postholder will provide practical and emotional support to survivors who are engaging or considering engaging with the criminal justice system, addressing their safety concerns and supporting them to liaise with appropriate agencies and services.

This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and open to women only. (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part
1). We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people. If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please do get in touch by phone  or email ()

Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes (SAASSBMK) provides support to anyone over the age of 16, regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality or socio-economic background, who has experienced sexual violence.

We have provided an IDSVA service since 2022 to survivors of all genders over the age of 16 across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

• To provide inclusive, trauma informed advocacy support to service users with diverse needs, including those who are neurodivergent (e.g autism, ADHD, learning differences), adapting communication styles and approaches to ensure accessibility and engagement.
• To recognise and respond to the intersection between trauma and neurodiversity, understanding how trauma may present differently and ensuring support is tailored to the individual’s communication, sensory, and emotional needs.
• To provide Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) sessions to new or returning ISVA service users, ensuring smooth entry to SAASSBMK services or appropriate external signposting or referring.
• To identify and assess the risks and needs of survivors, including conducting Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessments.
• To hold one-off sessions with survivors considering reporting their experience, to provide information about the criminal justice system and help them to make their own choices.
• To support survivors who choose to report their experience to Police or other formal institution, explaining the procedures and their rights within the system, including NFA decisions, charging decisions, verdicts, sentencing, submitting Victim’s Right to Reviews, CICA applications and police complaints where necessary.
• To facilitate access for survivors who want to attend the SARC and/or report to the police, accompanying survivors to appointments, interviews and court as required, understanding and facilitating access to special measures as needed.
• To liaise with police and other criminal justice agencies or institutions on behalf of the service user, with the service user’s consent and adhering to our confidentiality policy.
• To advocate on behalf on survivors with other professionals to help them access services, including sexual health services, mental and physical health services, employment, housing, debt and immigration services.
• To provide non-therapeutic emotional support to ISVA service users, in line with a feminist empowerment model.
• To recognise, respect and address the needs of survivors who face particular barriers when seeking help, including those from…