Login to Apply

Role:               Housing IDVA

Based:            Greenwich

Rate:               £17.50 per hour umbrella

Start Date:      September 2024

Duration:         Temp ongoing

Hours:             37.5 hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm - 1 day working from home

Our client, a specialist charity is looking for a Housing IDVA to 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 point of contact for Housing and work collaboratively with partners to ensure safety of survivors and their children

To provide targeted support where women have mental health, substance misuse, complex needs or face other challenges. Where needed, refer to appropriate support services if the survivor has support needs or requires a specialist service, e.g. male survivor 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 facilitate direct contact between agencies and service users.

To participate in multi-agency workings 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  

To keep up to date on research, policy development and other literature relevant to the project. Attend relevant conferences and seminars on behalf of the project. 

To attend training as identified with your manager and in liaison with the Housing Inclusion & Support Service.

Essential Requirements

Have a knowledge of help-seeking barriers and support needs of victims of domestic abuse (in heterosexual or same-sex relationships).

Have a good understanding of domestic abuse including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.

Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children

Understand safeguarding issues, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.

Direct service delivery to victims of domestic abuse or other vulnerable people.

Have excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals. Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice.

Have a strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency