Joint role – IDVA and Recovery Worker
Responsible to: Team Leader
Hours: Full time 35 hours
Salary: £25,883 + 3% pension contribution increasing to £28,630 + 3% pension contribution upon six months probation completion and accredited IDVA qualification.
Based in: Truro covering all of Cornwall, including health, community, court and outreach settings.
Contract: Fixed term, subject to continued funding.
Holiday: 30 days including public holidays.
Description
The postholder will be employed by The Olive Project, which holds responsibility for employment, HR, supervision and professional development.
The Olive Project recognises the intersecting identities BMVS live within and are proud to partner with organisations who acknowledge these lived experiences and are committed to providing holistic, culturally competent and anti-oppressive support.
This role is jointly funded through partnership arrangements within the Safer Futures programme and delivers defined elements of service on behalf of:
- The Safer Futures IDVA Service (lead provider: The Women’s Centre Cornwall)
- The Safer Futures Recovery Service (lead provider: Barnardo’s)
Both services are delivered through established multi-agency partnerships including Intercom Trust, Konnect Communities, West Cornwall Women’s Aid, The Olive Project, Clear and statutory partners.
The leading providers, the host organisation and the service recognises that Black and Minoritised Victims and Survivors (BMVS) experience additional barriers to disclosure, safety and access to support, including institutional racism, immigration insecurity, language barriers, cultural stigma, and a justified mistrust of statutory services. This role requires an understanding of these barriers and the ability to provide culturally competent, anti-racist and inclusive advocacy.
Purpose of the Role
To deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, domestic abuse support across crisis advocacy and recovery pathways, enabling survivors to access safety, protection, healing and longer-term stability.
The postholder will provide:
- Risk-led Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) for Black and Minoritized Victims and Survivors (BMVS) experiencing domestic abuse, and
- Recovery-focused emotional and wellbeing support for BMVS who are post-crisis and rebuilding their lives.
Role Structure & Time Allocation
The role is structured across two funded service strands:
- 50% – Safer Futures BMVS IDVA Service - Crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning and legal/system advocacy
- 50% – Safer Futures Recovery Service - Trauma-informed recovery support, group work, resilience-building and transition planning
The postholder will work flexibly across these strands with clear boundaries, supervision and workload management to ensure safe and effective practice.
Key Responsibilities – across the whole role
Deliver survivor-led, trauma-informed, support that prioritises safety, dignity, choice and empowerment.
Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case records in line with GDPR, organisational policies and funder requirements.
Work effectively within multi-agency systems, sharing information appropriately and contributing to coordinated responses.
Manage a varied workload across multiple settings, maintaining professional boundaries and wellbeing through clinical supervision, case supervision and reflective practice.
Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and service development activity.
Challenge all forms oppressive practice from statutory and voluntary bodies and professionals and report incidents of discrimination to their line manager. This includes but is not limited to homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, ableism and xenophobia.
Adhere and uphold the values of The Olive Project, safeguarding responsibilities and anti-oppressive commitments.
Key Responsibilities – BMVS IDVA Responsibilities
Provide a high-quality, front-line Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy service, by identifying and prioritising high-risk cases and delivering proactive, risk-led, short- to medium-term crisis intervention focused on safety and risk reduction, including tailored support, advocacy and practical assistance.
Refer to internal Olive Project services once the risk has reduced from high risk to ensure that support continues and risk does not elevate.
Identify, assess and respond to risk using evidenced based risk assessment tools, anti racist tools and professional judgement, ensuring BMVS, and where relevant their children remain central to all decision-making and safety planning.
Work in partnership with survivors to develop and review individualised safety and support plans, responding dynamically to changes in risk and circumstances.
Support survivors to recognise the dynamics and impact of domestic abuse, empowering them to make informed choices and regain control over their lives.
Risk assess and regularly review the risk assessment and deliver service in keeping with the result
Offer support around insecure immigration status by making referrals to immigration specialists and support organisations.
Access qualified interpreters to provide effective communication with BMVS who have English as an additional language.
Attend multi agency meetings to advocate for the needs and wishes of BMVS.
Provide practical and emotional support in relation to criminal and civil issues, housing, health, education, employment, welfare benefits, counselling, legal aid and children’s support.
Key Responsibilities – Safer Futures Recovery Service Responsibilities
Provide trauma-informed one-to-one recovery support to BMVS survivors of domestic abuse.
Facilitate structured recovery and wellbeing groups, sometimes in partnership with other agencies.
Support individuals to build confidence, resilience, emotional wellbeing and coping strategies for long-term safety.
Work collaboratively with survivors to develop personalised recovery and safety plans that evolve over time.
Use appropriate recovery tools, activities and assessments to guide progress.
Develop and implement planned exit and transition pathways, supporting safe and confident movement on from the service
Person Specification
Essential
● Commitment to anti-oppression, equality, equity and justice and/or lived experience of racism and discrimination.
● Ability to understand how racism, misogyny and oppression can impact the experience of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
● Experience of working with black and minoritized victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
● Experience of conducting needs and risk assessments
● Experience of managing risk
● Experience of providing needs-led support to clients with a variety of support needs
● Experience of building and maintaining partnerships with other agencies
● Experience in working with vulnerable people
● Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary service or multi-agency network.
● Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing people who have experienced domestic abuse and its short and long term impact.
● Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding
● Knowledge of domestic abuse legislation, including civil and criminal law remedies available to survivors
● Knowledge and understanding of trauma and its impact
● Ability to plan own workload, manage time effectively and deal with changing and competing demands
● Ability to communicate with distressed people empathically
● Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries
● Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with both clients, colleagues, trustees and other professionals.
● Ability to communicate effectively with a range of professionals
● Ability to use email, Microsoft Office and other relevant IT systems.
● Flexible in approach
● Efficient and punctual
● Non-judgmental
● Willingness to critically assess own performance and reflect on own practice
● Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities
● Willingness to undertake further training as required
● Attend in-house training and induction, and other training as identified as part of your professional and personal development plan
● Attend and constructively participate in regular support and supervision, reviews and appraisals
● Attend staff meetings, away days and wellbeing activities
● Ready to undertake an enhanced DBS check.
● Must have the right to work in the UK at time of application
Desirable
● Undertaken IDVA Qualification Training
● Fluent in a second language
● Own their car and a full driving licence or ability to access regular and reliable transportation.
Please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]
The deadline for applications is 10th August 2026 at 6pm.
Pay: From £25,883.00 per year
Work Location: In person
