Housing IDVA

Based: Woolwich

Rate: £18 to £20 ph umb

Start Date: ASAP

Duration: Temp for 3 months

Hours: 35 hours per week – 2 days in the Woolwich Centre and 3 days in Greenwich

Our client, a specialist charity, is looking for a Housing IDVA to join their team. The Housing IDVA will provide individual support to women experiencing domestic abuse who present themselves with housing issues or are at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse.

Synopsis of duties:

• To provide advice and advocacy for women experiencing domestic abuse by offering crisis intervention, information, and support for those who have directly presented to the Housing with housing needs or are at risk of homelessness due to domestic or sexual abuse or violence or any other recognised intimate violence against women and girls.
• To devise emergency safety plans for survivors, liaising with social services, the Housing Inclusion and Support Team, and refuges to secure emergency housing if needed.
• To act as a point of contact for Housing and work collaboratively with partners to ensure the safety of survivors and their children.
• To provide targeted support where women have mental health, substance misuse, complex needs, or who face other challenges.
• Where needed, refer to appropriate support services if the survivor has support needs or requires a specialist service, e.g., male survivors to Respect or GALOP, frail older people to Adult Social Services.
• To carry out risk assessments of women for referrals to MARAC where applicable.
• To develop effective links and partnerships with police and the courts, and provide information, advice, and support to survivors going through the legal process, explaining the effectiveness of criminal and civil sanctions available.
• To attend MARAC to represent the needs of survivors, including joint work with the council and other housing bodies to resolve issues about re-housing, the woman’s safety, and legal actions.
• To comply with safeguarding requirements relating to children and vulnerable adults, and explain the safeguarding requirements to the survivor.
• Maintain and update accurate written and computer records of all cases and share a summary of this information with managers, ensuring that data protection (GDPR) regulations are followed (within the organisation as well as when communicating with partner organisations).
• To maintain contact with the survivor at regular (timely) intervals to provide support and ensure her safety, including updates of the risk assessment and safety plan.
• To respond within the bounds of confidentiality (GDPR), to requests from other agencies for consultations, or to facilitate direct contact between agencies and service users.
• To participate in multi-agency working parties and focus groups, when requested to do so by the Director or your manager.
• To provide advice and training at a range of locations as requested for both professionals and the public, including being the main point of contact for Housing staff when upskilling or advice is required by the team.

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years full-time equivalent experience of IDSVA work with women experiencing domestic violence, should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of recent legislation concerning domestic violence and the law.
• Experience in risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, particularly with clients with complex/multiple needs.
• Thorough knowledge of safeguarding practice, procedures, and legislation.
• Strong experience of supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse, forced marriage or ‘honour-based violence’.
• Enhanced Adult and Child DBS on the update service or dated within the last 12 months.

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency.