Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Victim Support

  • Bedford, Bedfordshire
  • Contract
  • Full-time
  • 17 days ago
Victim Support is recruiting for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to support high risk victims of domestic abuse living in Central Bedfordshire. This is a full time role on a fixed term contract until 31st March 2026, which may be extended subject to funding. Hybrid working would be available for this role.Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?If yes, then we’d love to hear from you…..County/BoroughBedfordshireOffice locationBedfordFull time/Part timeFull timeHours per week37.5Work scheduleMonday - FridayBasic Salary£28,611.00 Per Annum - Qualified £26,830.20 Per Annum - UnqualifiedContract typeFixed TermDBS required?EnhancedEnd date (if fixed term)31/03/2026Police vetting required?NoClosing Date15/09/2025Ref No6321Documents(PDF, 168.19kb)What we offer:At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:
  • Flexible working options including hybrid working
  • 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
  • An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
  • Pension with 5% employer contribution
  • Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
  • High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
  • Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
  • Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
  • Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
  • Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
  • Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression
About the role:We are looking for an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA). This is a full time role on fixed term contract. Hybrid working would be available for this role. The aim of this role is to support victims of domestic abuse who live in Central Bedfordshire. This role will be part of our other wider specialist services covering Bedfordshire.As an IDVA you will be:
  • Providing a high quality support and advocacy service to victims of domestic abuse.
  • Managing a caseload; identifying and assessing risks and needs, providing a tailored crisis intervention service trough individual safety planning, advocacy, emotional and practical support.
  • Working with other agencies and advocating on behalf of service users in order to help them access services to keep them safe.
  • Working within a multi-agency framework consisting of partners as well as MARAC and other local partnerships to offer a coordinated response to domestic abuse.
  • Promoting the service and raise awareness of domestic abuse through the delivery of training
You will need:
  • Experience of working in support and advocacy with victims of domestic abuse is advantageous
  • To be able to prioritise work and deal with competing or conflicting demands/needs and interests and promote organisation interests and values.
  • To ideally hold a SafeLives IDVA accreditation, relevant degree, vocational qualification or relevant experience of delivering a service and working with domestic abuse victim’s/service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting.
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.About Us:Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.
As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we’ll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.How to apply:To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website, and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.We looking forward to hearing from you.We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

Victim Support