Nlottinghamshire Women's Aid

Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd

Offering Choices, Improving Lives

This page is under construction

IDVA Service

Aims and objectives of IDVA service
The Independent Domestic Violence Advocates service (IDVA) works as an independent service working within the Police Public Protection Unit B division. The IDVAs attend an accredited CAADA (Coordinated Action against Domestic Abuse) advocacy training program and hold a nationally recognised qualification. The role of the IDVA is delivered through high risk referrals received from the Police Public Protection Unit, high risk cases as identified though the Risk indicator checklist and cases referred to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process, covering the Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood districts.

The main purpose of IDVAs is to address the safety of victims at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Serving as a victim’s primary point of contact, IDVAs normally work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop safety plans.

The service is pro-active in implementing the plans, which address immediate safety, including practical steps to protect women and their children, as well as longer-term solutions. These plans will include actions from the MARAC as well as sanctions and remedies available through the criminal and civil courts, housing options and services available through other organisations. The role of the IDVA is to support and empower women to act for themselves where possible and work with them over the short- to medium-term to reduce their level of risk and put them on the path to long-term safety.

Since they work with the highest risk cases, IDVAs are most effective as part of an IDVA service and within a multi-agency framework. The IDVAs role in all multi-agency settings is to keep the client’s perspective and safety at the centre of proceedings.

Studies have shown that when high risk clients engage with an IDVA, there are clear and measurable improvements in safety, including a reduction in the escalation and severity of abuse and a reduction or even cessation in repeat incidents of abuse. (Safety in Numbers: a study commissioned by the Hestia Fund and funded by The Henry Smith Charity and The Sigrid Rausing Trust – published on 24th November 2009)

The IDVA Charter

Principle 1: SAFETY
Safety of the client, their children, any other vulnerable associate, and of the IDVA is the highest priority at all times.

Principle 2: RISK
The focus of the IDVA project is to give a premium service to high risk clients.

Principle 3: DIVERSITY
The project will respect the diversity of the community in which it works and apply ant discriminatory practice to all aspects of their work and support clients to access its services on an equitable basis.

Principle 4: DYNAMICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Underpinning all work with clients is the understanding that domestic violence is unacceptable and an abuse of human rights. Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour where the abuser, wishing to dominate the survivor, uses violence in order to establish and maintain authority and power.

Principle 5: INDEPENDENCE
The primary role of the IDVA is to advise and support the client to ensure their increased safety. The independence of advocacy from any particular agency is necessary in achieving this aim.

Principle 6: ACCOUNTABILITY TO STAKEHOLDERS
The management of the project ensures that staff are well managed and supported in their work, the funds have been used in a transparent way that promotes sustainability, and that quality of service to the client is maintained at all times.

Principle 7: COORDINATION
The project recognises that multi agency work is key to providing the most effective service to victims of domestic abuse, promotes a coordinated response, and works to improve policies, procedures and practices of all partner agencies.

Principle 8: RESPECT
All clients and staff of the service are treated with respect, dignity and sensitivity and the

service adheres to the code of ethics which upholds the seven principles of public life namely openness, honesty, integrity, accountability, selflessness, objectivity and leadership.

Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales number 1822489 and a Registered Charity Number 513843
© nottswa last updated on 5 June 2010