This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Furthermore, this post is restricted to women from Black and Minoritised backgrounds due to the nature of the role. The Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
The post holder will be responsible for delivering specialist domestic abuse advocacy and support to Black and Minoritised women over the age of 16 who have experienced any form of domestic abuse and forms of harmful practices.
The post holder will provide service-user-centred support, including needs and risk assessments, and will develop safety and support plans to reduce risk, increase safety, and support women to cope and recover from domestic abuse.
They will have an excellent understanding of the causes and effects of domestic abuse on women and children, as well as an understanding of the criminal justice system, MARAC, safeguarding procedures and safety planning options available to support survivors of domestic abuse.
The Specialist IDVA role will also be responsible for designing and delivering specialist training on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) that can happen within Black and Minoritised communities including (but not limited to) Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Forced Marriage, and ‘so-called’ honour-based violence.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide one-to-one crisis intervention, information, guidance, advocacy and support to women referred to Imece who have experienced domestic abuse and harmful practices.
2. Deliver weekly casework to women who have been assessed at ‘high risk’ due to domestic abuse. This will include risk management and safety planning, criminal and civil remedies, exploration of housing options and support to access housing, support with mental health and wellbeing, immigration and welfare rights, and support to keep her children safe.
3. Risk management and Safety Planning will include MARAC and Safeguarding referrals, effective multi-agency working with a range of partners including Police, Social Services, and Health Providers etc.
4. Ensure women are made aware of their rights and options in all areas needed to reduce risk of domestic abuse, increase their safety, and support them to live lives free of domestic abuse.
5. Support women who are survivors of domestic abuse to understand power and control, the effects of domestic abuse and to increase their awareness of the signs of domestic abuse and how to access support for their future safety.
6. Identify and respond to any needs and/or safety concerns for children of the women the Specialist BAME IDVA is supporting; ensuring that any risks/needs identified are addressed directly with the woman and where necessary referrals are made to relevant agencies.
7. Work collaboratively with multiagency partners inclusive of participating in conferences in respect of children and adults at risk as required, providing reports and undertaking actions as necessary.
8. Ensure compliance with all of Imece’s legal and contractual reporting requirements
9. Adhere to all Imece’s policies including (but not limited to) case recording and monitoring protocols, confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection.
10. Deliver BAME Specialist VAWG training, as and when agreed with Service Manager, to other professionals and Black and Minoritised Communities. General Duties
11. To liaise with a range of agencies to promote the interests of Black and Minoritised women as it relates to their advice and information needs.
12. To maintain detailed knowledge of relevant areas of family law, immigration law (Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession), social welfare law; including benefits, housing, debt and employment.
13. To promote and ensure compliance with Imece Women’s Centre’s Diversity Policy and strategies; to value diversity and equality of opportunities and find innovative and creative ways of engaging with all sections of the local community.
14. Participate in supervision, training and meetings as required and work as a member of the team to ensure effective delivery of service and individual workplans.
15. Work across teams and undertake such other duties, appropriate to the grade and character of the work, as may reasonably be expected.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Experience of providing specialist domestic abuse advocacy and support to women experiencing domestic abuse and harmful practices.
- A strong understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on women and children.
- Experience of undertaking risk assessments, safety planning and managing high-risk cases.
- Knowledge of MARAC, safeguarding procedures and multi-agency working.
- A good understanding of the criminal justice system and the legal and practical options available to survivors.
- Experience of working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
- Excellent communication, advocacy, organisational and case management skills.
- A commitment to working within a survivor-centred, trauma-informed, rights-based and culturally responsive framework.
- The ability to design and deliver specialist VAWG training to professionals and community groups.
Pay: £28,000.00-£31,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
