Health Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Job overview
East Lancashire NHS Trust (ELHT) seeks to appoint a Health Independent Sexual Violence Advisor to be part of a service transforming the access to sexual violence services for victims in Lancashire. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of small team providing proactive empathetic, practical advocacy support for victims/survivors of sexual violence.The successful applicant will be required to work between Blackburn and Burnley hospital sites.
The role includes building and maintaining relationships with allied partners and stakeholders and raising awareness of the project and the issues facing victims/survivors of sexual abuse. The role will also include guiding and supporting health professionals at the hospital on the identification and referral route into the service.Ensuring robust pathways are in place to support clients. You will specifically aim to reach victims who may or may not have reported the sexual violence or abuse to the police and health care professionals, providing initial information, advice and support and facilitate referral into appropriate community-based ISVA services for longer term support.
The role will be an integral part of the Trusts safeguarding team, working collaboratively with Victim Support, and adhering to Lime Culture best practice guidelines providing.
Main duties of the job
To provide support and safety planning to victim’s sexual violence and domestic abuse Follow appropriate pathways for referrals into community services.
To provide guidance and training about the service to health professionals in order for them to identify and refer potential victims of sexual violence
To maintain key working relationship with professionals including but not limited to health, social care, police, charities and other agencies.- Assess the needs and risk of victims of sexual violence, offering information about their options to enable them to make an informed decision about their care
- Manage referrals as needed
- Maintain records of all cases and provide data as requested and contribute to monitoring information for the project. Making senior managers aware of any successes or escalate issue.
Consider child protection issues when engaging with clients assaulted in a domestic setting and follow child protection policies
Support colleagues, through peer supervision, and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, to provide the best possible service to victims of sexual violence
Work within a multi-agency setting and keep the client’s safety central to all coordinated responses.
Respect the diversity of the community in which the project works, and support clients to access services on an equitable basis
Working for our organisation
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) was established in 2003 and is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
We employ 10,000 staff, some of whom are award winning and internationally renowned for their work and achievements. We treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. Our high quality healthcare services are offered across five hospital sites and various community sites.
We have a total of 1041 beds:
- 709 beds at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
- 240 beds at Burnley General Teaching Hospital
- 32 beds at Clitheroe Community hospital
- 67 beds at Pendle Community Hospital
At ELHT our objectives are to:
- Put safety and quality at the heart of everything we do
- Invest in and develop our workforce
- Work with key stakeholders to develop effective partnerships
- Encourage innovation and pathway reform, and deliver best practice
Our values are:
- Put patients first
- Respect the individual
- Act with integrity
- Serve the community
- Promote positive change
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide support and safety planning to victim’s sexual violence and domestic abuse
Follow appropriate pathways for referrals into community services.· Contribute to the development and maintaining of health’s role in service provision for victims of Sexual Violence.
To provide guidance and training about the service to health professionals in order for them to identify and refer potential victims of SVA- To maintain key working relationship with professionals including but not limited to health, social care, police, charities and other agencies.
- Liaison with and working in conjunction with a variety of internal departments and external agencies..
- Assess the needs and risk of victims of sexual violence, offering information about their options to enable them to make an informed decision about their care
- Provide impartial and accurate information on reporting to the police and/or civil justice remedies;
- Operate within legal and professional boundaries at all times and ensure a thorough understanding of the legal limitations of ISVA support.
- Work with victims of sexual violence to help them access services to keep them safe
- Make sure that ISVA national standards and procedures are observed, particularly those relating to safe practice, confidentiality, and information sharing.
- Manage referrals as needed
- Maintain records of all cases and provide data as requested and contribute to monitoring information for the project. Making senior managers aware of any successes or escalate issue.
- Follow procedures and protocols with other services so that the safety of the clients is kept central to any process
- Consider child protection issues when engaging with clients assaulted in a domestic setting and follow child protection policies
- Support colleagues, through peer supervision, and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, to provide the best possible service to victims of sexual violence
- Promote the Health ISVA service externally and represent the organisation when required.
- Engage with regional ISVA colleagues and specialist agencies to share learning and best practice
- Work within a multi-agency setting and keep the client’s safety central to all coordinated responses.
- To demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering high standards to the service with an emphasis on quality at all times
- Respect the diversity of the community in which the project works, and support clients to access services on an equitable basis
- Comply with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements.
- Promote a health and safety culture within the workplace.
- Attend line management supervision and clinical supervision.
- Be able to work flexible hours where necessary.
- To be responsible for improving your performance by participating in the
continuous Personal Development (CPD) process with your manager.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria- GSCE English and Maths (grade C or above) or equivalent
- An approved and accredited ISVA qualification or willingness to work towards an accredited ISVA qualification
- Teaching/training qualification or experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria- Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate effectively across all disciplines
- Ability to work in partnership, network, influence, problem solve, overcome barriers and apply solution focused approaches
- Good time management skills with ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
- Excellent presentation skills with ability to support and educate others in relation to sexual violence and domestic abuse.
- Ability to work well within a team and under own initiative
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with service users and staff
- Computer IT literate
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Experience of working with victims of sexual violence or similar trauma and supporting victims
- Knowledge of Sexual Violence; its impact on victims and their children. Including child protection and legal responsibilities
- Has an understanding of the myths and facts of sexual violence, rape trauma syndrome, the long term mental health effects of sexual violence, self-harm, suicidal feelings and attempts
- Knowledge of perpetrators abusive behaviours within relationships including family relationships, male victims, same sex relationships and older adults.
- Good understanding of the criminal justice system and civil options available to victims
- A good understanding of the importance of confidentiality and safeguarding.
- Experience of advocacy work including undertaking of risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning and management of cases where complex/multiple needs are present.
- Knowledge and understanding of legal frameworks, national and local policies and strategies in all aspects of violence against women and girls and in particular in relation to Health’s statutory responsibilities.
- Experience in working collaboratively with other professionals and agencies with complex issues and in complex situations
- Experience of managing projects
- Thorough knowledge of safeguarding practice, procedures and legislation
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria- Highly motivated and enthusiastic
- Adaptable, flexible and approachable
- Knowledge and confidence around escalation, respectful professional challenge and conflict resolution
Other
Essential criteria- Access to a vehicle for work purposes – ability to travel and provide cross-site cover
- Flexible working to meet the needs of the service around 9am to 5pm core hours
It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
- This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
- Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
- Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)
If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.
The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary.However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.
The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.
This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post
The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.
We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.
We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible. By telephone 01254 732075 or email [email protected] or write to Employment Services, Parkview Offices, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH