IDVAs are Independent Domestic Violence Advisors.
IDVAs are Independent Domestic Violence Advisors. SAFE has an IDVA for Mid and East Devon areas of the county. They provide support to survivors of domestic abuse living in the community who have been assessed as being at very high risk of further domestic abuse.
IDVAs work in a multi-agency setting, but are independent of all statutory agencies. They provide a range of options to improve the safety of adults and their children as well as empower people to make positive changes. They offer information and support, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy and practical and emotional support to enable survivors to make positive changes, reduce risk and minimise the risk of repeat victimisation.
IDVAs attend Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) in which agencies share information about high risk families and construct a safety plan around that family. The IDVA’s role is to represent and be the voice of the victim within this process, putting forward their views and feelings regarding their situation, whilst being ever mindful of managing risk and their safety.
All referrals to this service come from agencies and not from clients themselves.
IDVA SDVC
SAFE also has a separate IDVA working in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) in Exeter.
This worker provides a pro-active service to victims of domestic violence whose cases are being dealt with through the SDVC in order to keep them and their children safe. The SDVC IDVA works proactively within a multi-agency setting to ensure all agencies do their part. Their primary focus is to keep people safe through their work with victims and the work of other agencies.
The SDVC IDVA supports clients through the criminal justice system, explaining the procedures and the victim's role and rights within that system and ensures that victims are kept informed of the progress of the case at all times.
The work of IDVAs helps to ensure that all agencies involved in an individual case fulfil their obligations. More than 30 years of experience of working with survivors of domestic violence and abuse make SAFE uniquely placed to offer expertise in this field and to benefit from our established reputation of working in collaboration with other agencies. IDVAs have time to offer face to face contact with survivors and to offer access to longer term support needs such as Pattern Changing and Outreach services for survivors and their children.
The work of the IDVA team has clear and measurable outcomes in terms of improved safety and a reduction in repeat offences. Statistics show that 27% of Domestic Violence homicide cases have had no contact or engagement with police or other statutory agencies hence the importance of SAFE’s independent role and being part of wider Outreach services.
