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.
About the Service - Women and Children's Services
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.
About the Job
We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a full time Independent Domestic Violence Advisor /Sexual Violence Advisor (IDVA/ISVA) to our established team in Newcastle.
Our IDVA/ISVA team works with people who are referred to our service who are survivors of Sexual Violence within domestic abuse and violence. Offering support and guidance on how to find safety, dealing with court proceedings, recognising positive relationships. how to build confidence and supporting them through the steps they take to creating a safer and healthy future for themselves.
We are the main contracted service within Newcastle and the IDVA/ISVA team works as part of our Integrated Care Service, offering support and guidance at point of crisis. Our team is made up of experienced and training IDVAs alongside our ISVA, Outreach and refuge staff. You will have a base with the team in our Newcastle 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 peoples lives and we would love to hear from you if you have experiencing of supporting survivors of domestic abuse and want to work for our amazing service.