Domestic Abuse Advocate Educator (IRIS) in West Bromwich

An excellent opportunity for a confident and compassionate Domestic Abuse Advocate Educator (IRIS) to deliver domestic abuse training, advocacy, safeguarding support, risk assessment and safety planning across general practices.

Salary: £25,590 – £27,873 per annum + Benefits

Location: Travel around Black Country areas, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton

Job Type: Full‐Time, Permanent

Working Hours: Monday‐Friday 9am‐5pm

Job Overview: We have a fantastic new job opportunity for an IRIS Domestic Abuse Advocate Educator to deliver specialist domestic violence and abuse training, support and referral guidance to general practice teams. As an IRIS Domestic Abuse Advocate Educator you will work closely with healthcare professionals, GP practices and external agencies to improve early identification of domestic abuse and support safe, effective referrals. The role involves providing practical and emotional support, undertaking needs and risk assessments, developing safety plans and managing a caseload of clients at standard and medium risk. Excellent communication, training delivery, safeguarding, advocacy, casework and partnership working skills are required, together with a compassionate and trauma‐informed approach.

Duties:

• Training Delivery: Organise and deliver domestic violence and abuse training to healthcare professionals in participating general practices.
• Practice Support: Provide ongoing consultancy, guidance and support to GP practice teams on responding to domestic abuse.
• Partnership Working: Build and maintain effective relationships with healthcare professionals, safeguarding forums, multi‐disciplinary teams and external agencies.
• Client Support: Provide direct casework, advocacy, information and emotional support to individuals experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
• Risk Assessment: Assess and regularly review the needs and risks of clients referred by general practices.
• Safety Planning: Work with clients to increase personal safety and the safety of any children, including housing, legal and welfare options.
• Referral Management: Monitor referrals from clinicians and ensure accurate records are maintained.
• Multi‐Agency Liaison: Refer to specialist services, IDVA, MARAC or safeguarding services where appropriate.
• Awareness Raising: Challenge attitudes towards domestic abuse and promote understanding of the needs of survivors.
• Reporting: Contribute to data collection, client outcome reporting and quarterly and annual service reports.

Candidate Requirements:

• Relevant Background: Degree level education or similar relevant professional qualifications or experience.
• Domestic Abuse Experience: Experience of needs and risk assessment and supporting individuals experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
• Professional Casework: Experience of working with victims of domestic abuse in a professional capacity.
• Safeguarding Knowledge: Experience of working with vulnerable adults and children, recognising safeguarding concerns and responding appropriately.
• Complex Needs: Experience of working with complex casework, including trauma, mental health, substance use, crisis intervention or child abuse.
• Partnership Working: Experience of building and maintaining partnerships with external agencies and stakeholders.
• Training Skills: Experience of arranging, delivering and reviewing training for professionals.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and presentation development.
• IT Skills: Ability to use Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Publisher, Teams and other virtual platforms.
• Driving Requirement: Current driving licence and access to a vehicle, with willingness to travel across the region.

Desirable:

• Case Management Systems: Experience of using an online case management system.
• Multi‐Agency Meetings: Experience of attending and responding to actions from meetings such as child protection conferences and MARAC.
• Report Preparation: Experience of preparing accurate reports for formal settings, case conferences or similar proceedings.
• Contract Delivery: Experience of working within a formal contracting environment and delivering against targets.
• Specialist Knowledge: Knowledge of civil and criminal justice remedies for victims of domestic abuse and their children.
• Motivational Interviewing: Understanding of motivational interviewing skills and evidence‐based engagement techniques.

Benefits:

• Mileage allowance
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to group clinical supervision with a BACP trained counsellor
• 25 days of annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays, with the possibility of extension after 3 years of service
• 1 wellbeing day (pro rata)
• Annual leave 'buy back' scheme for those who wish to purchase additional days
• Bi‐annual staff away days
• Regular internal newsletter created by staff
• Time off in lieu (TOIL) when overtime is required
• 5% employer contribution to pension

This role requires a DBS check.