Independent Domestic Abuse Support Service

The aim of the service is to reduce the risk of harm to survivors and their children of domestic violence and abuse. The Service will work with people of all genders, aged 16 and above who reside in the B&NES local authority area and will be an active member of the B&NES Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership through the Domestic Abuse Partnership. The Service will play a central role in multi-agency approaches to reducing instances of domestic abuse and will coordinate multi-agency support as well as practical solutions to aid recovery, improve the safety and well-being of the victim and their family. The service will employ Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA’s) with a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. IDVAs to deliver a specialist service and support case work to individuals referred to the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) because they have been identified as high risk of serious harm or homicide. The IDVA will be proactive in implementing safety plans and risk management which includes practical steps to protect victims and their children. The safety plans are overseen by MARAC meetings which determine any further actions required to safeguard the individuals and families discussed. The Service will provide a range of programmes, interventions and activities that are delivered by appropriately qualified practitioners and professionals including being SafeLives accredited and will have experience in providing independent domestic advice support to a range of survivors. The Service will also provide a central point of information, advice and signposting for any victim of domestic abuse, their friends and family and local B&NES professionals from any agency. The Service will use risk assessments to provide support and safety planning for the highest risk victims of domestic abuse across the area. One-to-one support will be delivered quickly at the point of crisis for high-risk victims, as well as to those at standard and medium risk levels depending on capacity and priorities. Early interventions and advice will also be offered to all survivors who require it. The service will put in place individual plans for ongoing support for each survivor with partner agencies.