Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Barnet Council
Service Area: Family Services / Violence Against Women & Girls
Hours: 36 hours per week
Start Date: 12 October 2026
End Date: 03 January 2027
Duration: 12 weeks
Number of Roles: 1

Working Pattern

Mainly office based.
Face-to-face work required.
Home visits and community visits required.
This is not a home-working role.

Location

2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London
NW9 4EW

Pay

PAYE Rate: £25.02 per hour

Job Overview

Barnet Council is seeking a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to provide high-quality, independent and trauma-informed support to victims of domestic abuse who are at risk of harm.

The role will involve assessing need and risk, developing safety plans, delivering focused interventions, advocating for victims and survivors, supporting them through criminal, civil and family justice processes, and working closely with statutory and community partners.

The successful candidate will contribute to the set-up and delivery of the Barnet Domestic Abuse Support Hub, managing a caseload within an appropriate supervision framework and supporting Barnet's wider Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

Important – Please Read Carefully

This is a specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisor / IDVA role.

Candidates must hold a Level 3 accredited IDVA qualification in supporting victims of domestic abuse, such as SafeLives IDVA training or equivalent.

Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years' post-qualification experience.

An Enhanced DBS is required.

The role requires strong knowledge of domestic abuse legislation, safeguarding frameworks, DASH risk assessment, safety planning, trauma-informed practice, MARAC, MAPPA, protective orders, special measures, civil, family and criminal justice processes.

This is mainly an office and face-to-face role. Visits will be required to see families, including community and home visits where needed.

Candidates without a Level 3 IDVA qualification, 2 years' post-qualification experience and Enhanced DBS suitability are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and practical support to victims of domestic abuse
• Provide independent and trauma-informed support
• Assess need and risk
• Complete safety planning
• Use DASH and other risk assessment tools
• Develop tailored support plans
• Deliver focused domestic abuse interventions
• Support victims and survivors through criminal justice processes
• Support victims and survivors through civil justice processes
• Support victims and survivors through family justice processes
• Support court attendance where required
• Support special measures applications
• Facilitate access to safe accommodation
• Facilitate access to health services
• Facilitate access to legal advice
• Facilitate access to other relevant support services
• Undertake proactive casework to reduce risk
• Carry out community and home visits where needed
• Undertake assertive outreach work
• Engage victims and survivors with multiple needs
• Work jointly with partner agencies
• Participate in case reviews
• Chair case reviews where required
• Attend professional meetings
• Report to Court and other forums where required
• Deliver actions within agreed timescales
• Advocate for victims and survivors
• Meet agreed service targets
• Assess and balance risk and protective factors
• Communicate effectively with victims and survivors
• Ensure views are heard and recorded accurately
• Build respectful, honest and safe working relationships
• Undertake risk reduction interventions
• Use problem-solving skills in professional relationships
• Use research findings and statutory guidance to inform practice
• Promote the rights of victims and survivors
• Deal promptly and effectively with child and adult safeguarding matters
• Act as a key partner in MARAC, MAPPA and safeguarding forums
• Liaise with housing, health, education, police and social care professionals
• Gather agency views for holistic assessment of need and risk
• Maintain good communication with partner agencies
• Respond to agency contacts and requests in a timely manner
• Share information appropriately under data protection and GDPR requirements
• Support service development projects
• Promote integrated and multi-disciplinary working
• Deliver training on domestic abuse and gender-based violence
• Attend CIN, CP, Adult and Families review meetings
• Act as a single point of contact for victims and survivors where appropriate
• Advocate for victims' voices in service planning and delivery
• Identify systemic barriers and contribute to strategic forums
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date case records
• Devise written intervention plans based on assessed need and risk
• Review risk and needs assessments regularly
• Update support plans accordingly
• Provide written and verbal reports based on analysis of complex evidence

Essential Experience & Skills

• Level 3 accredited IDVA qualification
• SafeLives IDVA training or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years' post-qualification IDVA experience
• Experience supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• Experience providing trauma-informed support
• Experience completing DASH risk assessments
• Experience completing safety planning
• Experience managing domestic abuse caseloads
• Experience undertaking proactive casework
• Experience supporting victims through criminal justice processes
• Experience supporting victims through civil or family justice processes
• Experience supporting court-related processes
• Experience working with MARAC
• Experience working with MAPPA or safeguarding forums
• Knowledge of Domestic Abuse Act 2021
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989
• Knowledge of Care Act 2014
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks
• Knowledge of protective orders and special measures
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice
• Understanding of intersectional needs of victims
• Strong risk assessment skills
• Strong safety planning skills
• Strong advocacy skills
• Strong case management skills
• Strong written report writing skills
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with statutory and community partners
• Ability to manage confidential information
• Understanding of GDPR and data protection
• Ability to undertake home and community visits
• Ability to work face to face with victims and families
• Ability to complete an Enhanced DBS check

Desirable

• Experience working within a local authority VAWG service
• Experience supporting a domestic abuse support hub
• Experience delivering domestic abuse training
• Experience attending CIN or Child Protection meetings
• Experience attending Adult and Families review meetings
• Experience chairing case reviews
• Experience working with housing, health, police, education and social care partners
• Experience supporting victims with multiple needs
• Experience undertaking assertive outreach
• Experience identifying systemic barriers
• Experience contributing to VAWG forums or DA Champions networks
• Experience working with MARAC Steering Groups
• Experience preparing reports for court or formal forums
• Knowledge of Barnet or London domestic abuse services

Additional Information

This role is mainly office based and face-to-face.

There is some flexibility, but this will be service led.

Visits will be required to see families, including community and home visits where needed.

Candidates must have an IDVA qualification.

An Enhanced DBS is required.

Candidate submission deadline is 28 September 2026.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference: OR116063

Screening Questions

1. Level 3 IDVA qualification?
2. 2 years post-qualification IDVA experience?
3. DASH/safety planning experience?
4. Court/protective orders experience?
5. MARAC/multi-agency experience?
6. Can you work face to face in Colindale?

Skills: IDVA, Domestic Abuse, DASH, MARAC, Safeguarding, VAWG, Safety Planning, Trauma Informed, Case Management, Enhanced DBS