Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

As an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), you will provide specialist, trauma-informed crisis support to high-risk victims of domestic abuse. You'll work with individuals at critical points in their lives, helping them increase their safety, navigate complex systems, and make informed decisions about their future. You'll play a key role within the MARAC process, working proactively with police, housing, health, children's services and the legal system to reduce risk and improve outcomes. Our IDVA team is varied, with roles focused on:

• Housing links
• Young people
• Ethnic minority communities
• Victims whose perpetrators are engaged with the DRIVE perpetrator programme
You may be asked to work within one of these specialist areas, so relevant experience is highly valued. This is a 1-year fixed-term post to cover maternity leave, with the potential for extension. For more information or to chat about this opportunity please contact Julia.Cullum@cambridgeshire.gov.ukWhat will you be doing? What You'll Be Doing
• Managing a caseload of high-risk domestic abuse cases
• Completing risk assessments and safety planning
• Providing tailored crisis intervention by phone and face-to-face
• Acting as a strong, trusted advocate with housing, courts, police and other agencies
• Contributing to MARAC and wider partnership working
• Putting survivor voice, choice and safety at the centre of everything you do, Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, along with our employee network 'IDEAL' and self-organised peer support groups help us to foster an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action.
  
  Are you an experienced domestic abuse professional ready to use your skills where they truly matter? Do you thrive in fast-paced, meaningful work where your expertise can help people rebuild safety, choice and control?, You'll be a resilient, compassionate and confident professional who brings specialist domestic abuse knowledge and a calm approach in complex situations. You will have:
• A-level, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent (essential)
• Degree or SafeLives IDVA qualification (desirable)
• Proven experience supporting victims of domestic abuse
• Strong understanding of domestic abuse, risk, and relevant legislation
• Excellent communication, advocacy and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work independently while thriving as part of a supportive team
• A clear commitment to safeguarding adults and children
• Ability to travel and work across Cambridgeshire
  
  Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.
  
  We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage…
• A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
• Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards
• An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes