IRIS Advocate Educator

Black Country Women’s Aid (BCWA) is an established charity working across the Black Country and wider West Midlands, providing accommodation and community support services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking. Services range from advocacy, civil remedies, support in court, individual and group support and access to a range of therapeutic interventions. All services are client and needs-led.

Within the Community Services Directorate, the following vital services are delivered:

• Community Domestic Abuse Support Services (Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley)
• Black Country IRIS (primary care) educator and advocacy service
• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Services (Black Country)
• Black Country Sexual Abuse Forum
• Black Country Counselling Service
• Domestic and sexual abuse, Children and Young person’s service (Black Country)
• West Midlands Stalking Service
• Ask Marc (Male abuse referral centre)

This position is located within the Community Domestic Violence and Abuse Support Service. The BCWA Community Domestic Violence and Abuse Support Service supports victims of domestic violence and abuse in Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall through a range of contracted/commissioning arrangements. The service works in partnership with other services within BCWA and key agencies to assess risk and provide tailored support plans for service users. Our integrated approach provides effective, holistic support for survivors of abuse using a trauma-informed approach.

The team supports male and female victims of domestic violence and abuse living in Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We have a team of supportive, dedicated, self-driven individuals who empower clients to make informed choices, helping them to live a life free from abuse.

The role involves delivering domestic abuse training, working in partnership with health and other agency professionals, and providing emotional and practical support, risk assessment and safety planning to standard and medium risk clients.

IRIS is a specialist domestic violence and abuse (DVA) training, support and referral programme for general practices. The IRIS Advocate Educator provides in-house domestic abuse training and ongoing consultancy for general practice teams and is an advocate to whom patients can be referred for support. As an Advocate Educator, you will provide tailored practical and emotional support to clients referred by trained GP practices. You will be part of a national network of IRIS Advocate Educators who deliver training to local GP practices to raise awareness of domestic abuse and improve early identification.

Black Country Women’s Aid is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for an enhanced disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions. Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. The post holder must be female.

As a responsible employer, we adhere to safer recruitment practice and all our employees are subject to the following recruitment checks: Right to work in the UK Under Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act. We therefore ask all candidates selected for interview to bring original documentation to show their Right to Work in the UK. A copy of these will be taken. References will be sought following your interview, one of which should be your current or most recent employer. All positions are subject to DBS checks at the relevant level.