Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) are part of the Community Safety and Wellbeing team within the Communities Directorate. These key roles identify, assess, and assist victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence and abuse, increasing their safety and the safety of their families. We are committed to working with victims/survivors with a wide range of needs, including those with multiple and compound needs, disabilities, and complex health considerations.
About the job
Salary: £36,363 to £39,152 per annum.
Location: County Hall North (Parkside), North Street, Horsham, RH12 1XH
Contract: 12 month Fixed Term Contract / or FTC until 26/08/2027
Working pattern: Full time 37 hours
You will undertake direct work with clients who are experiencing domestic and sexual abuse, ensuring they receive an inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed service. This includes supporting individuals who have additional vulnerabilities due to physical or mental health conditions, disabilities, learning difficulties, substance misuse, or other complex and compounding needs.
You will work within a multi-agency setting and keep the client’s safety central to all coordinated responses. You will support colleagues and partner agencies to provide the best possible service to victims/survivors. The role will include crisis management of victims/survivors at high risk, delivering trauma-informed support and advocacy that promotes the safety of the victim/survivor and their children.
You will receive regular supervision and have access to peer support, continuous professional development, and opportunities to contribute to service improvement.
This role will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. You will be expected to travel throughout the county to locations that will require you to have your own transport. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.
Day to day you will:
- Manage a caseload, focusing on all levels of risk in a proactive way, incorporating risk assessment, safety planning, and person-centred support.
- Work with clients with multiple needs, including mental and physical health challenges, neurodivergence, learning disabilities, homelessness, offending and substance misuse.
- Work directly with survivors and take responsibility for providing advocacy, information, emotional and practical support with a responsibility for maintaining a focus on keeping individuals safe.
- Support the empowerment of survivors and assist them in recognising the dynamics of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
- Be both organised and adaptable, with the ability to respond to complex situations calmly and effectively.
What you’ll need to succeed
You will be a team player whilst also being able to work on your own initiative to manage crisis situations. You will have a passion for supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence and be committed to inclusion and accessibility. You will be able to communicate effectively with multi-agency partners, so that the voices of clients with complex needs, health issues, and disabilities are heard and acted upon. You will be confident in influencing partners to improve practice and outcomes for all clients, including those in health and social care settings.
Required experience and skills
(These will be used as the shortlisting criteria please refer to these in your Covering letter)
Key Skills:
- Excellent crisis management skills with the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations, especially where compound and health-related needs are present.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to provide advice to victims with empathy, clarity, and accessibility while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Strong advocacy skills to influence positive change within multi-agency frameworks.
- Ability to assess risk and understand the impact of health needs and disabilities on safety and support planning.
- Experience in analysing complex issues and developing tailored, holistic, trauma informed solutions.
- Ability to provide consultation and deliver training on the intersection of domestic abuse and multiple needs to professionals across sectors.
Qualifications and/or experience:
- Relevant qualification at degree level in a related subject or demonstrable experience supporting individuals in stressful and complex situations.
- SafeLives IDVA qualification, or willingness to work towards this.
- Experience working in multi-agency environments with victims/survivors with additional health and social care needs.
- Understanding of legislative frameworks and safeguarding processes for both adults and children.
- Experience managing a complex caseload and navigating service systems on behalf of clients with disabilities and multiple compound needs.
- Valid and full driving licence.
For a full detailed list of the skills and qualifications required for this position please refer to the attached Job Description.
Rewards and Benefits
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance.
- You will benefit from a generous amount of annual leave, plus the opportunity to buy additional leave, an excellent local government pension scheme as well as a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers.
- For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.
Further Information
The reference number for this role is (CPP01399).
For further information regarding the role; please contact Natalie Whitmore (Domestic Abuse Service Manager) at [email protected] For an informal conversation regarding the application process, please contact Rachael Doolan (Recruitment Specialist) at [email protected]
How to Apply
Click apply below, upload your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should:
- Outline your motivations for applying.
- Explain the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills in the attached job description to show what skills you have and your level of experience utilising these skills).
Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you therefore discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.
Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.
Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
