Children's Domestic Violence Advocate

Children's Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA)

Women only occupational requirement: This role is restricted to women under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010. The nature of the work involves providing support to women who have experienced domestic abuse, and Safenet considers it a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a woman.

About Safenet
Safenet delivers domestic abuse services across the North West of England, including refuges for women and children, safe houses for men, and community-based support. We provide trauma-informed, survivor-led services and work with partners to help people stay safe and rebuild their lives.

About the role
We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and trauma-informed practitioner who can provide high-quality support to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The successful candidate will have strong safeguarding knowledge, experience of working with children, young people and families, and the confidence to manage risk, complete assessments and work effectively with partner agencies. They will be child-centred, inclusive and reflective in their practice, with the ability to build trust, advocate for children's voices and support safe, positive outcomes for children, young people and non-abusive parents/carers.

As a Children's Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA), you will safeguard and support children and young people affected by domestic abuse across the Continuum of Need, including Child Protection. You will deliver child-centred 1:1 and group interventions, complete child-focused risk assessments and safety plans, and ensure children and young people's voices shape the support they receive. Working with partner agencies (including through MARAC), you will contribute to coordinated responses that improve safety, wellbeing and long-term resilience.

Key responsibilities

• Provide emotional and practical support through 1:1 sessions and groupwork using trauma-informed approaches.

• Complete child-focused risk assessments (including SafeLives DASH RIC) and contribute to dynamic safety planning.

• Represent children and young people's needs in MARAC and other multi-agency forums, ensuring their voice informs decisions.

• Work with social care, education, health and criminal justice partners to coordinate support and reduce barriers to access.

• Help children and young people understand the impact of abuse, build resilience and develop age-appropriate healthy relationships.

• Work with non-abusive parents/carers to strengthen safe relationships, attachment and recovery.

• Identify and act on safeguarding concerns, including self-harm or suicidal ideation, and refer via appropriate pathways.

• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and monitoring information in line with organisational and funder requirements.

• Model inclusive, culturally sensitive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in all work.

What we're looking for

Essential

• SafeLives CHIDVA qualification (or working towards) and/or a relevant children and young people qualification (or working towards).

• Experience supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse, trauma or adversity.

• Experience managing a caseload and delivering consistent, high-quality support to children, young people and families.

• Experience working in multi-agency settings (e.g., social care, education, health, criminal justice).

• Strong safeguarding knowledge (including Children Acts 1989/2004 and Domestic Abuse Act 2021) and confidence escalating concerns.

• Ability to build trust and communicate effectively with children/young people and professionals, adapting to age and need.

• Strong record-keeping skills and a commitment to confidentiality and data protection.

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, including anti-racist and intersectional practice.

Desirable

• Women's Aid or Respect accredited training (e.g., DAPA) and/or Paladin Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC).

• Level 4 Diploma in Domestic Abuse; DASH risk assessment; trauma-informed care training.

• Experience supporting children and young people with complex needs (including self-harm or suicidal ideation) and knowledge of referral pathways.

• Knowledge of culturally specific forms of abuse and barriers to access for ethnic minority and migrant survivors (e.g., HBV, FGM).

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of adults, children and young people. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice.