Job summary
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust seeks to appoint aHealth Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (HISVA) 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 the Safeguarding Team and provide, practical advocacy and support for victims/survivors of sexual violence.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 on the identification and referral route into the service. 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, provide initial information, advice and support and facilitate referral into appropriate community based ISVA services for longer term support, working collaboratively with Victim Support, and adhering to Lime Culture best practice guidelines.
This is a service to victims of sexual violence aged 16 year and above, within and outside of the criminal justice system. This may also include victims of domestic violence where sexual violence is a predominant factor. You will risk assess and help clients keep safe, access their rights and support clients to access health and other services they require.
Main duties of the job
You will provide support and safety planning to victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, following appropriate pathways for referrals into community services.
You will also contribute to the development and maintaining of health's role in service provision for victims of Sexual Violence, and provide guidance and training about the service to health professionals in order for them to identify and refer potential victims of sexual violence or abuse.
You will maintain key working relationships with professionals including, but not limited to health, social care, police, charities and other agencies, acting as a liaison and working in conjunction with a variety of internal departments and external agencies.
About us
We have 10000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you'd never have done. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communicating with members of the public, victims, witnesses, and other professionals from outside agencies, divisions anddepartments.
- 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 any issues.
- 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 and procedures
- 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 sharelearning and best practice
- Work within a multi-agency setting and keep the clients safety central to all coordinated responses (this may include participation in the MARAC)
- 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.
- There will be a requirement to travel within Lancashire for this role you must be able to demonstrate an ability to travel independently.
- This job description serves to illustrate the type and scope of the duties currently required for the above post and to provide an indication of the required level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be variedfrom time to time but consistent with the nature, responsibilities, and grading of the post. They will not however change the general character of the job, or the level of responsibility entailed.Personal
- You will have strong communication skills and experience of partnership working, as the role will involve maintaining effective multi-agency relationships and contribute to multi agency working as required by the role and adhering to statutory protocols andprocedures.
- You will work to ensure safety, confidentiality, and risk minimisation for victims of sexual abuse and violence, supporting and enabling them to access services which maximise their safety and which support their emotional, physical, intellectual, and social well being.
- To operate within Lancashire Teaching Hospitals frameworks, adhering to the policies and procedures of the organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communicating with members of the public, victims, witnesses, and other professionals from outside agencies, divisions anddepartments.
- 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 any issues.
- 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 and procedures
- 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 sharelearning and best practice
- Work within a multi-agency setting and keep the clients safety central to all coordinated responses (this may include participation in the MARAC)
- 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.
- There will be a requirement to travel within Lancashire for this role you must be able to demonstrate an ability to travel independently.
- This job description serves to illustrate the type and scope of the duties currently required for the above post and to provide an indication of the required level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be variedfrom time to time but consistent with the nature, responsibilities, and grading of the post. They will not however change the general character of the job, or the level of responsibility entailed.Personal
- You will have strong communication skills and experience of partnership working, as the role will involve maintaining effective multi-agency relationships and contribute to multi agency working as required by the role and adhering to statutory protocols andprocedures.
- You will work to ensure safety, confidentiality, and risk minimisation for victims of sexual abuse and violence, supporting and enabling them to access services which maximise their safety and which support their emotional, physical, intellectual, and social well being.
- To operate within Lancashire Teaching Hospitals frameworks, adhering to the policies and procedures of the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Education
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths (grade C or above)
- 2 A-Levels or equivalent
- An approved and accredited ISVA qualification or willingness to work towards the same
Desirable
- Experience of working within the ISVA role
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Understanding of, and experience of, working with different agencies across Health, Social Care, Police, Education, Voluntary and Independent Sector
- Ability to manage change effectively
- Able to demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload.
- Experience of managing a caseload
- An understanding of the victims code of practice
- Knowledge of support available to victims of sexual violence
- Understanding of the impact of sexual violence on victims and children
Desirable
- Experience of working with victims of sexual violence or similar trauma
- Experience in the development of new roles and services and project management skills
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Understanding of the criminal justice system and the options available to the victim
- Experience of working with diverse communities
- Understanding of the principles of risk assessment and safety planning
- Understanding the myths and facts of sexual violence, rape trauma syndrome and the long term mental health effects of sexual violence and trauma
- Effective communication
- An understanding of Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults legislation, procedures and professional duties.
- Ability to work on own initiative and/or as part of a team
- Maintain confidentiality
- Computer IT skills
- Ability to maintain professional and personal boundaries
Person Specification
Qualifications and Education
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths (grade C or above)
- 2 A-Levels or equivalent
- An approved and accredited ISVA qualification or willingness to work towards the same
Desirable
- Experience of working within the ISVA role
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Understanding of, and experience of, working with different agencies across Health, Social Care, Police, Education, Voluntary and Independent Sector
- Ability to manage change effectively
- Able to demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload.
- Experience of managing a caseload
- An understanding of the victims code of practice
- Knowledge of support available to victims of sexual violence
- Understanding of the impact of sexual violence on victims and children
Desirable
- Experience of working with victims of sexual violence or similar trauma
- Experience in the development of new roles and services and project management skills
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Understanding of the criminal justice system and the options available to the victim
- Experience of working with diverse communities
- Understanding of the principles of risk assessment and safety planning
- Understanding the myths and facts of sexual violence, rape trauma syndrome and the long term mental health effects of sexual violence and trauma
- Effective communication
- An understanding of Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults legislation, procedures and professional duties.
- Ability to work on own initiative and/or as part of a team
- Maintain confidentiality
- Computer IT skills
- Ability to maintain professional and personal boundaries
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
