Health Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (Health IDVA) in Canterbury

Please note: This post is restricted to women under schedule 9, Part 1, Equalities Act 2010.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Health IDVA provides vital support to those affected by domestic abuse, helping them access the specialist services they need and navigate challenges in their daily lives. You will work directly with patients with a wide range of experiences and needs, offering advocacy, guidance, and practical support. A key part of the role is raising awareness among community healthcare professionals about the impact of domestic abuse, particularly on mental health, through training, guidance, and ongoing support, so that patients are identified earlier and supported more effectively.

This role addresses a need in community healthcare, where many patients are not recognised as survivors of domestic abuse. By combining domestic abuse expertise with a therapeutic approach, the Health IDVA will provide direct support to patients while helping community services and healthcare teams feel confident and equipped to respond appropriately. You will be supported by the Head of Adult Services and HIDVA Managers. You will have the opportunity to complete a formal domestic abuse qualification once you pass your probation (if not already qualified).

Through this work, the Health IDVA will help ensure that patients receive timely, compassionate support while also strengthening the skills, confidence, and understanding of community services and professionals. By building strong partnerships and sharing expertise, the role will contribute to a more coordinated and effective response to domestic abuse, ensuring that patients are supported at every stage and that services are better equipped to meet their needs.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support to Survivors
  • Hold a caseload of clients, including NHS staff.
  • Ensure survivors are fully informed of their rights and options, and explain the criminal and civil legal remedies available to them.
  • Promote enhanced safety and wellbeing for victim-survivors accessing community healthcare, including NHS staff.
  • Conduct needs and risk assessments, including DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Abuse Risk Assessment), to determine appropriate levels of support.
  • Develop and implement safety plans collaboratively with clients to address their needs in a timely manner.
  • Assist clients in accessing appropriate legal, financial, housing, medical, educational, and employment services, as well as counselling and community support networks.
  • Work in partnership with police, housing providers, and other agencies to advocate for survivors and facilitate referrals to ongoing support services.
  • Attend Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences when required (MARAC) and make referrals where appropriate.
  • Recognise and address the needs of survivors who experience additional barriers to accessing services, including those from minority groups or with protected characteristics.
  • Uphold safeguarding responsibilities for children, young people, and adults, in line with Child Protection Procedures and safeguarding policies.
  • Maintain accurate client records, monitoring data, and outcome information. Prepare reports and evaluations as required for service monitoring.
  • Participate in an out-of-hours rota, providing a HIDVA service within the hospital on Friday evenings and weekends as scheduled.
• Partnership Working and Training
  • Promote the Health IDVA service and establish formal working links with GP practices and other healthcare providers (such as dental, health visiting or mental health teams).
  • Attend safeguarding, handover and partnership meetings to raise awareness of the service and share our knowledge so earlier identification of domestic abuse within community healthcare settings can be achieved.
  • Deliver training sessions to community healthcare staff to raise awareness of domestic abuse, safe enquiry and appropriately responding to disclosures.
  • Contribute to multi-agency safeguarding meetings and local domestic abuse forums to share learning and strengthen partnership working.
• General
  • Uphold the values and good name of Rising Sun at all times represent the organisation in a way that is consistent with its philosophy and ethos and in line with all Rising Sun’s policies.
  • Actively participate in clinical supervision, training and development opportunities.
  • Develop your understanding of trauma informed work and embed in your day-to-day practice.
  • Maintain an up-to-date working knowledge to be able to advise women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, such as housing options, legislation and welfare.
  • Comply with organisational policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Data Protection and Health and Safety.
  • Undertake other duties and responsibilities in keeping with the nature of this post, as may be required from time to time.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up and will be reviewed from time to time. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following experience, knowledge, skills and attitudes.

• Qualifications
  • Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) qualification (desirable)
  • Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) qualification (desirable)
  • Health qualification (desirable)
• Knowledge and Experience
  • At least 3 years’ experience of working with survivors of domestic abuse, including high risk clients, and assessing client risks and needs.
  • Experience of co-producing short- and longer-term risk management, safety and support plans with survivors and their children.
  • Experience of delivering training (desirable).
  • Experience working with the police, social services and MARAC.
  • Experience of lone working and able to work on own initiative.
  • Experience working with people with mental health needs, substance misuse, other complex needs.
  • Experience of working in a hospital / healthcare setting (desirable).
  • Knowledge of criminal and civil legal remedies and housing law relating to domestic abuse.
  • Knowledge of domestic abuse risk assessment tools including DASH and extensive understanding of the MARAC process.
  • A thorough understanding of safeguarding relating to adults with care and support needs and children.
  • Up to date knowledge of the welfare benefits system and the ability to ensure service users maximise their benefit entitlement (desirable).
  • Knowledge of local services and DA Specialists across Kent & Medway (desirable).
• Skills and attributes
  • Ability to network face to face and virtually, to develop new contacts and partnerships.
  • Ability to train professionals on recognising domestic abuse and responding appropriately (desirable).
  • Ability to motivate yourself and work independently on your own initiative.
  • Solution focused and creative in approaching new challenges.
  • Competent using Microsoft office programmes, in particular MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Passionate about the aim and principles of Rising Sun.
  • Committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding and maintaining confidentiality.
  • Able to drive and have access to a reliable car (post holder will be required to attend meetings and across our areas of work).
  • Able to work some evenings and weekends.
  • Eligible to live and work in the UK.

Benefits

We offer a number of benefits to team members including:

• 25 days annual leave per year.
• A bonus day of leave for your birthday.
• 3% matched pension contribution.
• Access to Rising Sun’s counselling service.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health care cash plan for you and your children for a number of health treatments (e.g. dental, optical, physiotherapy etc.) and also discounts in shops and attractions.
• Up to four weeks sick pay in any 12 month period (eligible after probation period).

How to apply

If you feel this role would be a good fit for your skills and experience, visit our website to download an application form and apply, demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the person specification in your personal statement. We request no contact from agencies or media sales please.