IDVA

Salary: £25,954 per annum rising to £26,364 per annum on successful completion of probation and £28,002 per annum after accreditation.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Holiday: 25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service per annum plus bank holidays

Base: Brunswick House, Plymouth and around Plymouth

Area Covered: Community and outreach delivery across Plymouth

The Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) role will deliver a proactive, person-centred and trauma-informed support service to adults experiencing high-risk domestic abuse in all its forms. The role focuses on keeping victims and their families safe through support intervention, comprehensive safety planning, and coordinated multi‑agency responses.

The post holder will provide a premium service to those assessed as being at the highest risk, working assertively and flexibly to engage clients, including completing face‑to‑face outreach in community settings and their homes where required. Clients may present with complex and multiple needs, including substance misuse, mental and physical health issues, learning needs, criminal justice involvement, and other vulnerabilities.

The IDVA will work proactively within multi‑agency forums, including MARAC, to assess risk, share information, and develop robust safety and support plans. Strong advocacy and partnership‑working skills are essential to ensure victims are supported to access statutory and voluntary services appropriate to their risks and needs.

The role requires a highly motivated and adaptable individual who can work unsupervised on a day‑to‑day basis, effectively prioritising and managing a complex caseload while maintaining a strong focus on victim safety, empowerment, and recovery.

• To provide a pro‑active service to those experiencing high risk domestic abuse to keep them and their families safe, including access to support for the abusive person.
• To complete person‑centred individualised risk assessments and support plans to reduce risk and identify individual needs. To deliver appropriate support in keeping with the results.
• To provide advocacy, emotional, practical support and information to victims to address identified risks and needs including safety planning, housing and security, online safety, separation and post separation, children, health and wellbeing, legal, financial and any other additional support needs identified.
• To deliver support in the community, essential face to face support in the environment which best suits the client.
• To manage, support and prioritise daily referrals received, ensuring timescales are met in respect of first contact.
• To participate in the MARAC framework including:
• Referring High risk victims to MARAC
• Attending and participating in MARAC meetings
• Following up on actions agreed in MARAC
• Receiving referrals direct from MARAC
• To ensure, through liaison with both the client and partner agencies, that clients receive the support they require and to which they are entitled.
• To understand and actively use the legal framework relating to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children through local safeguarding procedures
• To support clients through the Criminal Justice System, explaining procedures, roles and rights within this.
• To assist the client in developing their own support networks.
• Where necessary, to act as a single point of contact for the client to address risk and need.
• To signpost clients to the most appropriate agency to meet their needs
• To effectively manage a caseload
• To ensure accurate and timely management of all electronic case management records within the Halo database.
• To follow procedures and protocols with other services so that the safety of the victim is…