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Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: 123 Borough Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3AN

Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working agreements including blended home-office working, generous annual leave allowance including one free day per year for birthdays, competitive pension scheme, enhanced sick pay. Clinical Supervision

Closing date: Wednesday 30th November 2022, 12 noon

Interview dates: Week commencing 12th December 2022

Interview details: Interviews will be comprised of a written exercise followed by questions from a panel of staff and service users from My Sister’s Place.

This post is open to Women only:  Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1) applies to this post.

My Sisters Place are looking to recruit Independent Domestic Violence Advocates with a range of specialisms one of which being housing.

Based in central Middlesbrough, My Sister’s Place provides specialist services to people who have or are experiencing domestic abuse. We are seeking full time Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) to work with victims of domestic abuse within our dynamic team.

Our holistic approach requires high performing individuals with excellent people skills, and a resilient personality to deal with difficult issues with strong focus on clients.  Clear adherence to confidentiality and safeguarding is essential.  We are a busy, responsive service dependent on good teamwork and strong multi-agency working, offering a challenging and rewarding role making a difference in Middlesbrough.

Enhanced DBS checks required prior to commencement of post. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Job Description

Purpose of the role:

To provide high quality pro-active service to victims of domestic abuse within a multi-agency framework addressing risk and meeting identified needs.

One of the IDVA roles available is focused on triage and assessment of referrals. This role does not hold cases for ongoing IDVA work, instead it is about fast-paced assessments of risk requiring excellent problem-solving and multi-agency collaboration.

Specific Responsibilities:

  1. Ensure effective access for domestic abuse survivors and encourage engagement with the service by assessing and responding to referrals, making contact, and completing a telephone or face-to-face assessment where appropriate.
  1. To provide advocacy, support, and advice to service users on safety and practical issues which may include but is not exclusive to, Housing and Tenancy issues, Debt Management, Welfare Rights, Immigration, Legal Protection and access to Employment and Education.
  1. Deliver trauma informed support through robust risk and needs assessment and individual safety and support plans
  1. To comprehensively assess the needs and risk for service users experiencing domestic abuse, carry out risk management, safety planning and support; and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs.
  1. Provide advice to clients and professionals including responding to repeat referrals where they do not wish to re-engage in services but require brief advice or intervention.
  1. Advise service users of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, making referrals, coordinating the provision of multi-agency support where necessary, and pro-actively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are minimised
  1. Proactively assess the needs and safety of any children that are affected by domestic abuse, ensuring these are addressed directly with the service user and take appropriate action to safeguard them.

Duties:

  1. Prioritise high risk cases and provide a pro-active, short- medium term crisis intervention service.
  1. Maintain accurate and timely recording of case notes and data collection of referrals received and relevant information and actions.
  1. Initiate, complete and review robust risk/needs assessment and Individual Safety and Support Plans (ISSP) that include delivery of high-quality face to face or telephone crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and support, in respect of criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, children’s legislation and other appropriate interventions.
  1. Safeguard cases by referring to adults and children’s social care and MARAC/MATAC/MAPPA where appropriate or other multi agency safeguarding processes in line with MSP policies and procedures and ensure that relevant cases are sent to Managers for QA and allocation.
  1. Follow up pending referrals.
  1. Manage a case load ensuring each client receives the appropriate service, individual to their needs.
  1. Attend and participate in multi-agency meetings such as MARAC, MATAC, MAPPA, Child and Adult Safeguarding Meetings to support engagement and advocate for clients.
  1. Work proactively with MARAC, South Tees MACH, and other relevant multi agency approaches to keep the survivor’s perspective and safety at the centre of proceedings, maintain referral routes and increase access and earlier intervention resulting in better results for families.
  1. Support the lead IDVA for MARAC and MATAC in preparation for meetings and completion of actions where appropriate.
  1. Attend the Special Domestic Abuse Court as and when required.
  1. Support service users to secure appropriate protective orders and support with DIY Injunction applications where necessary.
  2. Maintain positive relationships with partner agencies to provide the best outcomes for survivors accessing the centre.
  1. Maintain case records to a high standard and ensure the confidentiality of all survivors accessing the service in line with MSP policies and procedures.
  1. Work proactively to raise awareness and upskill professionals by working with colleagues to successfully develop and deliver training.
  1. Work with Line Managers and Head of Service to ensure case recording and monitoring systems are kept up to date and secure and write internal and external report where required including for safeguarding conferences, meetings, management, and others.
  1. Support Managers on the induction of new staff, contributing to induction packs and plans
  1. Support Team Leader and Service Manager in the development and delivery of student placements through learning and development by supporting induction plans and mentoring where required. 
  1. Attend managerial supervision and participate in annual appraisal and performance by Line manager.
  1. Engage in clinical supervision and reflective practice approaches.
  1. Complete training when required in line with company polices.
  1. Use appropriate institutional advocacy to maximise positive outcomes and use the appropriate reporting mechanisms to highlight persistent or recurring issues that arise.
  1. To have an awareness of both local and national government legislation and how it impacts on the work of the project and the communities in which the project works.
  2. Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work.

Person Specification

Please refer to website or contact recruitment at recruitment@mysistersplace.co.uk for person specification and full recruitment pack.

My Sister’s Place Employment Benefits

Annual Leave

All staff commence their employment with 26 days annual plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees). In the leave year following 2 year’s service you will receive an extra day’s leave each year (up to a maximum of 30 days).

All staff receive an additional day’s leave for their birthday each year following 12 months service.

Birthday Benefit

MSP operate a Birthday Benefit Policy where you are given a day off work on your Birthday.

Pension Scheme

All employees are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme.  Employees are able to ‘opt out’ of the scheme should they not wish to take part in the scheme.

Sick Pay

We operate a contractual sick/injury pay scheme which, on completion of twelve months service, provides payment during periods of certificated sickness for 4 weeks at full pay and 6 weeks at half pay.

Eye Tests

The organisation will pay for an eye test and partial costs for spectacles for employees where VDU use is an essential part of their work and where vision impairment meets certain criteria. 

All new staff are subject to a six-month probationary period.

Contact

Lynsey Gibson
01642 241864
recruitment@mysistersplace.co.uk

Apply now

The closing date for this job is 30 November 2022 - 12:00pm.