Independent Domestic Violence Advocate; IDVA

About us

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.

Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.

Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.

We run services and dedicated women’s centres for those who are at risk or struggling with challenging circumstances, including women in the criminal justice system and those with experience of trauma, selling sex or sexual exploitation.

We understand that women and girls have experiences which are different to men and can experience vulnerabilities that are specific to their gender. Childhood abuse and domestic abuse are common features in the lives of the women we support which impact on their health and wellbeing. Underpinning all our services is an in-depth understanding of trauma and a focus on recovery, resilience and community integration.

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a full time Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) to our established team in North Tyneside. Our IDVA team works with people who are referred to our service who are survivors of domestic abuse and violence. We offer support and guidance on how to find safety, how to build confidence and support them through the steps they take to creating a safer and healthy future for themselves.

We are the main contracted service within North Tyneside and the IDVA team works as part of our Integrated Care Service, offering support and guidance at point of crisis. Our team is made of experienced and training IDVAs alongside our outreach and refuge staff. You will have a base with the team in our North Tyneside based refuge however there is a lot of travel for appointments to meet the people you are supporting.

This is a high caseload and demanding job, a need for resilience, compassion and empathy is essential. You will receive training, regular line management, case management and clinical supervision to support you in every step of this role. This is an extremely rewarding role and significant in making positive changes into a number of people’s lives and we would love to hear from you if you have experience of supporting survivors of domestic abuse and want to work for our amazing service.

• Maternity Leave 20 weeks fully paid + up to 52 weeks of leave.
• Paternity Leave 2 weeks paid.
• Adoption Leave - same benefits as Maternity Leave.
• 25 Days Holiday, two Wellbeing Days plus your Birthday & Bank Holidays off.
• Pension & Life Cover at 4x salary.