Job Description – Coventry Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

Responsible to: / Advocacy Co-ordinator / Salary: c £23K pa pro rata / Direct Reports: / N/A
Location: / Coventry Police Station / Work Pattern: Part time: 21 hours (3 days) Fixed term for 1 year
or
28 hours (4) per week Fixed term for 2 years
Monday – Friday 9.30am -5.30pm
Job Purpose: / The Independent Domestic Violence Advocate will:
·  Provide court-based independent advocacy and support to survivors of domestic violence who are accessing the criminal justice system
·  Work with survivors from the point of crisis, assisting them through the court process and offering intensive support to help ensure short and long term safety.
·  Maintain multi-agency links and partnerships through protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors of domestic violence.
·  Empower service-users by providing them with emotional and practical support, thus enabling them to access their rights, empowering them to make decisions and increasing their life options.
·  Inform survivors of full range of civil, criminal and practical options that might increase their safety.

Main Responsibilities:

Casework Management

1.1 To undertake advocacy casework prioritising responses to women at high risk following an initial assessment of client needs, working within a structured key-working relationship.

1.2 To provide one to one emotional, practical, legal and advocacy support to women through the development of an individual support plan, including risk assessments, safety planning and assistance in accessing other relevant services such as education, training, counselling, housing and legal services.

1.3  To seek to ensure that women who face barriers to seeking help are able to access the advocacy service

1.4  To develop and maintain good working relationships and links with outside agencies, referring service-users to appropriate specialist agencies where necessary as part of a support plan and in consultation with the service-user

1.5  To notify the line manager of complaints received and participate in follow up investigations as required and in line with relevant Refuge policies and procedures

1.6 To ensure that any issues in relation to child or adult protection concerns are responded to in line with Refuge policy and are brought to the immediate attention of the line manager.

1.7 To work within the confines of confidentiality and ensure that professional boundaries are always maintained when working with residents, staff and external bodies and to work within Refuge’s Code of Conduct.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation and Information Management

2.1  To participate in the collection and maintenance of information on relevant referral agencies and local services.

2.2 To ensure high quality and effective statistical monitoring is undertaken at all times in accordance with Refuge’s procedures

2.3 To produce reports as requested by the line manager and the executive assistant for the director of operations.

2.4 To maintain accurate, confidential service-user records of contact details and interventions, ensuring that personal information isup-to-date and that it iskept secure and confidential at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Refuge policies and procedures.

2.5  To ensure that feedback from service-users and agencies is actively sought to inform the continuous improvement and development of the service.

3. Professional Development and Training

3.1 To keep up-to-date with developments in legislation, policy and local/national government initiatives that address domestic violence.

3.2 To attend and prepare for regular line management meetings and to participate in individual appraisals in accordance with Refuge policy.

3.3 To attend internal or external training events, meetings or forums, as requested by the line manager and in line with the post-holder’s professional development plan.

3.4 To attend regular team meetings.

The above is provided for guidance and is not an exhaustive list of all accountabilities that the post holder may have over time.

1

May 2010