Female Black & Minoritised Ethnic Communities Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (BME ISVA) Job Title: Black and Minoritized Female Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Working with Adult Victims of Rape or Sexual Assault.
Responsible to: Specialist and Adult Team Leader
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
To Cover: Mon to Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm
Includes Saturday working on a rota system (around 1 in 16)
Contract: Maternity Contract
Salary: £30,518 - £32,061 per annum depending on experience
Location: Office is located in Bristol (required to travel across Avon and Somerset and will include some Home Working). Driving Licence essential
Award Winning Service Safe Link
Would you like to work for an award winning service by providing specialist sexual violence support to Black and Minoritised Ethnic Communities victims who live across Avon and Somerset? We have a rewarding and exciting opportunity available for a Female Black and Minoritised Ethnic Communities Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (BME ISVA) to join our team based in Bristol (with requirement to travel across Avon and Somerset). You will join us on a Maternity Cover Contract working full-time 37.5 hours each week on a rota basis (8.30am - 4.30pm and 9.30am - 5.30pm on alternate weeks, an occasional Saturday morning on a rota (around 1 in 16) and to be available to work until 8 pm if required). You will provide support and advocacy to victims who have experienced rape or sexual assault. In return, you will receive a competitive salary of Point 16 £30,518 - Point 19 £32,061 per annum (depending on experience) plus benefits.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
- This post will provide support and advocacy to adult victims (18+) of rape and sexual abuse across Avon and Somerset.
- The role involves empowering victims to increase their options; make positive choices/decisions; increase their confidence; safety and to enable and empower them to cope and recover from their experience.
- To work alongside our colleagues from Operation Bluestone, you will attend police stations to deliver training, co locate in two stations in A&S, attend ABE's when needed at short notice this would be up to 8pm when necessary.
- Working with the victim and their family to establish a support network and create a complete package of support, within and outside the criminal justice system.
- To promote the service, establish positive, proactive and innovative working relationships with partner agencies and coordinate the provision of multi-agency support.
- To liaise effectively and collaboratively with appropriate agencies and community groups to ensure the best access to services and meaningful community engagement for service users.
- Providing training to professionals about rape and sexual abuse, discuss barriers and the support that is available to survivors in Avon and Somerset.
- Work collaboratively within an integrated team of ISVA's working across Avon and Somerset supporting with victims who are adults (18+); children and young people (U18) and historic victims (adult or children and young people).
Champion service user empowerment and involvement by ensuring our services:
- Are accessible to all potential service users;
- Value and respect service users as the experts of their experience;
- Work in strength-based and solution-focused ways with clients;
- Facilitate agreed actions into practice; and
- Use service user feedback and involvement to improve our service
- Have a Think Family approach
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Referrals and Assessments
1.1 Promote the service through building positive relationships with current, potential referrers and service users to ensure a steady flow of appropriate referrals.
1.2 Take referrals from with the Bridge, Lighthouse, self-referrals and those from voluntary and statutory agencies.
1.3 Carry out risk and needs assessments with the victim, co-produce support and risk management plans with them (and if appropriate carer), ensure their needs and circumstances are reflected within all safety and support plans.
1.4 Regularly review and amend the plans, respond flexibly as the individuals needs and risks change.
1.5 If the rape or sexual assault is domestic, carry out a DASH risk assessment and make referrals to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) as necessary and carry out follow-up actions agreed in the MARAC.
1.6 Liaise closely with victim and referral agencies and keep them informed of progress and outcome of their referral/assessment.
1.7 Develop and maintain effective communication systems with key partners including the BRIDGE, Police, PROTECT, CPS, Court Service, Lighthouse, Health, SARSAS, Victim Support Witness Service and other voluntary sector organisations across the Avon and Somerset.
2. Support
2.1 Build rapport and trust with service users through regular support sessions, which can be a combination of face to face appointments, telephone, email, text, and skype/facetime/zoom.
2.2 Advocate on behalf of service users in a professional and respectful manner, encouraging and enabling service users to have their own voice and develop self-resilience.
2.3 To liaise closely with carers and responsible adults as necessary.
2.4 To liaise with other agencies including Social Services, health visitors, housing, education providers, employers, police and to share information, as appropriate, in line with Missing Link's confidentiality policy.
2.5 Support service users within the context of their family and help them to develop positive family relationships.
2.6 Support and empower service users with forming positive relationships and articulating sexual boundaries and personal space.
2.7 Where relevant make referrals to sexual health services and support service users to attend.
2.8 Maintain knowledge of local services, encourage engagement and reduce the service user's isolation.
2.9 Enable and encourage service users to take advantage of all services relevant to their needs and safety such as legal advice, housing support, benefits entitlement, education, medical treatment, counselling etc. Assist clients in gaining access to solicitors, advice agencies, housing departments.
2.10 Provide support as part of an integrated approach by working in partnership with other voluntary and statutory agencies (e.g. the police, local authority, social services, housing, youth service, education/ training/ employment agencies, primary health services, mental health, counselling and substance misuse services) to ensure efficient mechanisms for referrals and to advocate for service users to ensure their needs are met.
- Children and Young People's voice is central to informing services.
- Addresses safety, educational, health and emotional needs.
- Supports them understand their experience.
- Equips them with skills to recover and grow up to form positive, equal, safe relationships.
2.12 Using the Cope and Recover framework by supporting victims to cope with the immediate impacts of the crime and Recover from the harm experienced.
2.13 Deliver high quality services adhering to national standards including following the Revised Victims Code of Conduct.
2.14 Support service users to increase independence and support their recovery by developing their own support networks, taking up training, education and employment opportunities, maximise income, reducing debts etc.
2.15 Support and advise service users on legal options and the criminal justice system / police process which can include making a personal witness statement, arranging pre-trial visits and advise service users on how to respond to possible outcomes, as well as informing service users on the investigative and prosecution processes of the criminal justice system.
2.16 Liaise closely with the police, CPS, Witness Service and other service providers on behalf of the service user, having particular regard to any domestic abuse, safeguarding children or adult at risk issues and requirements.
2.17 Provide follow up support after court has ended and provide information and support in relation to making Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims.
2.18 Recognise, respect and address the needs of service-users who face particular barriers when seeking help to access the service, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LGBT communities, disabled people, women and men with complex needs and other hard to reach groups.
2.19 Safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk; working within Missing Link's safeguarding policies, South West Child Protection Procedures and local procedures for safeguarding adults at risk. Monitor all safeguarding concerns and make appropriate referrals to First Response/Care Direct as necessary.
2.20 At an appropriate time and in a planned way, negotiate and agree with service user the planned withdrawal of Safe Link's support.
3. Record keeping and monitoring
3.1 Maintain up to date, accurate, legible and accessible records of all work and contact with service users, other agencies/professionals and others (e.g. carers, families), ensuring that they meet the requirements of data protection and confidentiality.
3.2 Ensure all client records, outcome and monitoring data is accurately recorded using the Oasis case management system and any other record/monitoring systems . click apply for full job details