Police Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Location: Worthing Police Station

Salary: £16,489.50pa (£32,979pa FTE)

Hours: 20 hours per week

Temporary (up to 1 year), Part Time

PARAGON are a specialist team within The YOU Trust and our mission is ‘together empowering change’ for individuals, families, and our communities. We are committed to ending violence against adults and children, and do this through empowering individual and communities to change.

PURPOSE

This is a specialist Police IDVA role working closely with the Police and people who are experiencing domestic violence, regardless of assessed risk level, but where targeted and specialist support is required.  You will provide high quality advocacy and support, carry out safety assessments, co-producing safety plans and identifying strategies and formulating action plans.  You will ensure the work of the Police is represented within the plan, reviewing agreed actions and engaging with each victim and ensuring they are advised of all safety measures.  The Police IDVA will provide advice, guidance and consultancy to police staff on a case to case basis.  The role involves multi-agency working and engaging with local partners, especially those who work closely with the Police.   You will be required to prepare reports for court and other meetings such the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and other victim focused meetings and be able to attend the Police station for meetings.

VALUES

• I am person centred in my work responding to customers’ needs with dignity and respect

• I act with integrity and am trustworthy respecting the confidential nature of my role

• I pursue excellence in all that I do

• I am innovative in my thinking recommending new ways of working which respond to what matters to internal and external customers

• I am can do in my approach to my work asking how I can achieve things rather than whether I can and I am proactive in my work

WHAT I WILL DO WITH OTHERS

• I will provide practical and emotional support to clients experiencing high and medium risk domestic violence and abuse

• I will deliver a crisis response to clients alongside Police officers, offering independent, face to face support, sometimes at the time of an incident

• I will engage with victims to agree actions and formulate plans to carry out actions that have been agreed with police officers after an incident/s of domestic abuse

• I will provide consultation, guidance and advocacy to police staff, guiding their interventions to improve responses to victims of domestic abuse

• I will ensure that our joint interventions meet national best practice and will offer training and mentoring if the work is not of a high enough standard in line with Leading Lights, YOU and Police national standards

• I will escalate issues to senior officers and support changes to practice if needed

• I will be proactive in identifying and supporting people experiencing abuse in marginalized communities, by being involved in meetings, forums and team meetings, promoting the service, guiding the police response and the work we do

• I may hold a case load and will support police investigations, including interviews and taking victim statements

• I will be responsible for my own client allocations, interventions and work with little day to day supervision from my line manager

• I will work with my manager, colleagues and peers to support and proactively develop a peer network of survivors where, together, we can inform practice and interventions

• I will complete evidenced based risk assessments, such as the DASH RIC, addressing the risk of harm to each person I work with, their children and wider family (when required)

• I will work with clients and complete MARAC referrals when indicated by risk levels or professional judgment

• I am part of a team who participates and contributes to MARAC, ensuring any outcomes are communicated to the client and incorporated into any interventions and risk plans

• I will advocate on behalf of the client and ensure their voice is heard at MARAC

• As part of my work I will embed equality and anti-racist practice in all I do and adjust my practice where required, seeking innovative solutions to support people where ethnicity or life choices or experiences make it hard for them to access services

• I advocate on behalf of the people I work with ensuring their voice is heard and their needs are met in a variety of settings, including civil and criminal proceedings and with criminal justice workers

• I am responsible for inputting data on all my client work into a bespoke case management system including Police systems and keeping it up to date

• I will engage with regular clinical supervision to ensure the safety of my work and that I offer nationally accepted best practice at all times

• I work with internal and external partners to advocate on behalf of all victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse

• I will develop and maintain effective professional working relationships both internally and externally for the best interests of clients

• I am responsible for the safety of adults and children within our service and following safeguarding processes

• I will work with the local safeguarding teams to ensure appropriate support is offered to children and young people living with high risk domestic abuse

• I will provide a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all clients and their children

• I will work with my team to deliver a professional and excellent service at all times

• I will work with the Manager and others to produce reports for stakeholders

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential evidence required against which short listing will take place and to be tested at assessment centre and interview.

• Relevant qualification or equivalent to Diploma/Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent work level experience

• Nationally recognised IDVA qualification or willingness to commence/complete IDVA training within a year of appointment

• In-depth experience of supporting women, men and children who have been subject to domestic violence and abuse

• Experience of undertaking strengths, needs & risk assessments

• Ability to carry out safety planning and assessments of property

• Knowledge of target hardening/sanctuary intervention

• Experience of working in partnerships with statutory agencies

• Experience of undertaking DASH RIC

• Experience of effective multi-agency and partnership working

• Experience of person-centred service delivery and enabling client involvement

• Knowledge of best practice in relation to domestic violence and abuse in refuge and community based settings

• Knowledge of the function of the MARAC

• Knowledge of the different types of domestic abuse including stalking, sexual coercion and economic abuse

• Knowledge of civil and criminal remedies and the legal system as it relates to those experiencing domestic abuse

• Knowledge of best practice in relation to children, young people and families experiencing domestic abuse

• Knowledge of the dynamics and impact of domestic abuse and how best to support victims and survivors

• Knowledge of and commitment to diversity and inclusion

• Knowledge of local, regional and national domestic violence and abuse agencies

• Knowledge of trauma informed practice and how it relates to domestic abuse

• Knowledge of motivational interviewing and how to use the principles in practice

• Skilled at effective crisis resolution

• Skilled at IT including office packages such as excel, power point and word

• Ability to effectively manage and prioritise own case load

• Ability to effectively lone work, managing own work load

• Ability to develop and present well-structured cases in settings such as MARAC and criminal and civil proceedings

• Ability to self-reflect and develop and improve practice through training and review

• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and where required to attend police stations

• Ability to attend external appointments

• Ability to work flexibly within an evolving and changing pilot project

• Ability to work mainly from home, coming to the PARAGON offices in Horsham and attending police stations where required

• Ability to work across the contract area and travel across the YOU area for training and meeting purposes

• Car driver with use of car and car insurance for work purposes

Our Benefits:

If you choose to begin a career with our organisation, you are guaranteed:

*       Competitive rates of pay and paid travel time, including a higher mileage rate for car sharing. 

*       Enhanced annual leave entitlements, with the opportunity to buy and sell holiday. 

*       Matched pension scheme contributions, plus Death in Service Benefit and salary sacrifice options.   

*       Enhanced sick pay allowances and paid compassionate and emergency dependent leave.

*       Excellent and professionally certified training, as well as access to fully-funded apprenticeship programmes. 

*       Real opportunities to develop in your profession. 

*       Free health and wellbeing advice via a 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme. 

*       Everything you need to carry out your role free of charge, which may include a mobile phone, safety equipment and other necessary technology, a uniform where applicable, and of course a nice cup of tea or coffee throughout your day! 

*       Access to discounts across lots of your favourite stores and online shopping sites.   

The You Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our clients. Applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate Adult and Child protection screening, including employment references and DBS check.

Where a role involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to adults and/or children it is an offence to apply for the role if you have been barred from engaging in such regulated activity. 

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