Jargon Buster: What is an IDVA?

Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) are trained specialists who are independent of statutory agencies and who provide a service to victims at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members, with the aim of securing their safety and the safety of their children.

Serving as a victim’s primary point of contact, IDVAs normally work with their clients from the point of crisis, to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop safety plans.

IDVAs work in a multi-agency setting, providing a range of options to improve the safety of adults and their children as well as empower people to make positive changes. They offer information and support, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy and practical and emotional support to enable survivors to make positive changes, reduce risk and minimise the risk of repeat victimisation.

IDVAs attend Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) in which agencies share information about high risk families and construct a safety plan around that family. The IDVA’s role is to represent and be the voice of the victim within this process, putting forward their views and feelings regarding their situation, whilst being ever mindful of managing risk and their safety. A further role of the IDVA is to help to implement safety plans which will include actions from the MARAC as well as sanctions and remedies available through the criminal and civil courts, housing options and services available through other organisations.

 

In Essex the IDVAs work with high risk victims that are going through the criminal justice system and referrals are received from the police.