Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (CIDVA)

Job Vacancy: Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (CIDVA)

Role Purpose: You will support young people individually or in groups to build confidence, improve emotional well-being, and understand safety and the dynamics of domestic abuse; you will help young people develop their own support networks, listen to their voices to identify key issues, and build strong professional relationships to ensure their needs are met during and after the intervention.

• Salary: £25,116 per annum
• Hours of work: 35 hours per week (to be worked flexibly)
• Reports to: The Den Manager
• Holiday entitlement: 29 days per year (plus bank holidays)
• Pension: Auto enrolment into the workplace pension scheme
• Location: Empowerment Charity, 333 Bispham Road, FY2 0HH
• Closing Date: 28/09/2026

Our mission is to work alongside people across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who feel unheard, ensuring they are empowered to create real and positive change in their own lives and the lives of others.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

• To make proactive contact with the young person within the timescale laid out in service procedures.
• To listen to young people assisting them to identify the issues which are concerning them.
• Risk-assess and respond to the needs of young people who are continuing to live with perpetrators.
• Ensure that young people are aware of and get the services to which they are entitled.
• To provide or facilitate advocacy for young people seeking help from other agencies.
• Support young people to attend court and understand the legal process
• Help young people develop their own support network.
• Support young people either on a 1-1 or group basis to develop their confidence and emotional well-being, understand safety and dynamics of domestic abuse.
• Keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in Service User’s situation with regard to safeguarding.
• To build strong professional working relationships to ensure the needs of the child continue to be met both during and after our intervention.
• Make safeguarding referrals to Children’s Social Care when appropriate.
• Work in close partnership with other Domestic Abuse agencies
• Manage own caseload by maintaining accurate records of all cases, monitor outcomes and work in a proactive way to support and further develop service provision.
• Contribute to the design and facilitation of weekly group support sessions ensuring flexibility to respond to the needs of young people.
• Contribute to the development of a young person’s forum to elicit their views and prepare reports that will feed into the strategic planning of local service provision.
• Produce regular comprehensive reports highlighting positive areas of work, case studies, areas of concern, summary of outcomes etc.
• Plan and deliver training and awareness raising sessions to multi-agency teams in conjunction with colleagues.
• Understand the legal framework relating to the protection of children including the policy and procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.
• Contribute to accurate monitoring reports and statistical information.
• Attend and participate in Multi Agency Risk Reduction Assessment Conference (MARRAC) meetings as deemed appropriate, following up on agreed actions.
• Attend a range of domestic abuse and multi-agency meetings as deemed appropriate and feed back to team members and the service manager.

About You

Staff Development

• To be flexible and responsive to individuals and the needs of the service.
• To attend and participate in team meetings.
• To attend and participate in supervision process.
• To participate in relevant training and development opportunities.
• To develop others and one’s own knowledge and practice.
• To take responsibility for own development.
• Contribute to the development and effectiveness of team working.

General Responsibilities

• To demonstrate kindness and respect at all times to the people who engage with this service and to colleagues.
• To comply with all policies and procedures relating to the service.
• Ensure accurate records and documentation are maintained in line with both statutory and organisational requirements.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining cultures and strategies in which people are respected and valued as individuals.
• Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace in line with relevant legislation at all times.
• Staff will be required to work flexibly and attend meetings, training and supervision to ensure the effective operation of the service.

Person Specific

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A proven ability to develop positive and empowering relationships and to motivate and enthuse disaffected/excluded young people.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge and experience of children’s safeguarding.
• Negotiation, liaison and mediation skills.
• Knowledge of organisational systems – including competent use of IT systems.
• Knowledge/understanding of the effects of domestic abuse on children and young people.
• Good interpersonal communication and organisational skills.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated approach with ability to think creatively and apply initiative.
• Ability to work constructively as part of a team.
• Ability to work under the constraints of confidentiality.
• Ability to manage time effectively, and working under pressure and to tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest standards of work.
• Creativity and the ability to generate ideas and contribute to continuous improvement.

Experience

• Experience of working with children and young people (CYP).
• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Experience/knowledge of local authority safeguarding children procedures and multi-agency approach to safeguarding.
• Experience of different methods of communicating with children and young people.
• Experience of managing and monitoring risk.

Personal Qualities

• A demonstrable belief in the rights of service users and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
• Passionate about promoting justice and fairness.
• Positive, professional attitude and non-judgemental approach.
• Kindness and Flexibility.
• Honesty and Integrity
• Reliability (in terms of tasks given and attendance).
• Commitment to the organisations vision, mission and values.

General

• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations. (GDPR)
• To demonstrate kindness and respect at all times to the people who engage with this service and to colleagues.
• To put the people who we support at the heart of everything we do.
• To comply with all policies and procedures relating to the service.
• Ensure accurate records and documentation are maintained in line with both statutory and organisational requirements.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining cultures and strategies in which people are respected and valued as individuals.
• Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace in line with relevant legislation at all times.
• Staff will be required to work flexibly and attend meetings, training and supervision to ensure the effective operation of the service.
• Reliability (in terms of tasks given and attendance).
• Commitment to the organisations’ vision, mission and values.

Special Requirements:

• Driver with a car (If you have a disability which does not enable you to drive a car, Empowerment will discuss reasonable alternative arrangements for travel).

Your car insurance cover will need to include business use as you will be using your car in the course of carrying out this role.

• This post is subject to an enhanced application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).