Job Description

Health & Social Care IDVA

Location: Westminster Social Care & Hammersmith
Contract: 3 Months min.
Hours: 35 hours per week (Hybrid)

The primary focus will be working with women whose families are involved with Family Children Services, ensuring survivor voices inform all decisions. You will offer high-quality advocacy and support, conducting risk and needs assessments while providing trauma-informed guidance to women experiencing domestic abuse.

A key aspect of the role involves close collaboration with Social Care professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to adopt a trauma-informed approach in their work. You will serve as the domestic abuse subject matter expert on-site, training professionals and ensuring a holistic, survivor-centered response.

• Deliver high-quality crisis intervention, advocacy, and proactive support to survivors regarding risk management, safety planning, legal options, housing, health, welfare rights, and child protection legislation.
• Conduct risk and needs assessments, create tailored safety plans, and facilitate access to relevant services, including MARAC.
• Work within Family Children Services to enhance professionals' understanding of domestic abuse and improve survivor support.
• Act as an advocate for women within a multi-agency setting, ensuring their rights and safety remain a priority.
• Provide consultation and training to Social Care professionals, embedding a trauma-informed approach to domestic abuse cases.
• Maintain detailed case records, write reports, and contribute to safeguarding conferences, team meetings, and external reviews.
• Participate in multi-agency working groups, ensuring survivor voices shape service improvements.
• Promote best practices in safeguarding, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
• Work with survivors to ensure their perspectives are included in service development and improvement.
• Provide emotional and practical support to women experiencing domestic abuse, ensuring a client-centered approach.
• Support the development and implementation of best practices for professionals in housing, health, and welfare services to improve their response to domestic abuse cases.
• Contribute to policy development, ensuring survivor experiences inform institutional changes.
• Deliver training workshops to external agencies, raising awareness about domestic abuse and its intersection with social care.

• A strong understanding of domestic abuse, including its effects on survivors and children, along with best practices in safeguarding and risk management.
• Experience supporting women with complex needs and child safeguarding concerns.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including criminal and civil legal remedies, housing, welfare rights, and children's safeguarding.
• Advocacy skills, with the ability to influence decision-making and facilitate access to services.
• Experience of working in partnership with statutory agencies, particularly Social Care.
• The ability to deliver training and upskill professionals to improve domestic abuse responses.
• Strong crisis management skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills to work effectively with multi-agency partners.
• The ability to work independently while contributing to team initiatives.

Submit your CV or contact Oliver Jefferson on (url removed)