Secondment Opportunity

Job Title
Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)
Department
VIAWG Taskforce -Safeguarding Team
Reports To
Safeguarding Manager
Duration
12 to 18 months (secondment / fixed‑term contract)
Location
London (Buckingham Palace Road), Birmingham or Leeds -with national travel as required
Working Pattern
Full‑time (37 hours per week). Blended approach of home and office working available, requiring minimum 3 days per week in the office.
Vetting
Recruitment Vetting (5 years minimum UK residency)

About the VIAWG Taskforce

The new Violence and Intimidation Against Women and Girls (VIAWG) Taskforce provides a nationally coordinated, trauma‑informed policing response that aligns with the Government’s Safer Streets Mission and new VAWG strategy, the NPCC VAWG Framework, and the principles of Operation Soteria.

The Taskforce comprises five Proactive Operational Teams delivering high‑visibility and plain‑clothes operations -including Operation Vigilant -to identify and disrupt predatory sexual behaviour across the rail network. These are supported by a specialist Safeguarding and Prevention Hub responsible for intelligence development, offender management, protective orders, safeguarding triage, environmental design, stakeholder engagement and independent victim advocacy.

The Safeguarding Team within the Hub is led by the Safeguarding Manager and includes two VIAWG Coordinators, a Stakeholder Engagement and External Scrutiny Officer, a Designing Out Crime Officer, and the ISVA and IDVA secondments. Together, this team ensures BTP delivers a consistent, trauma‑informed, victim‑centred safeguarding response to VIAWG‑related incidents.

About the Role

We are pleased to offer a secondment opportunity for an experienced Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) to join British Transport Police’s newly established Violence and Intimidation Against Women and Girls (VIAWG) Taskforce.

The VIAWG Taskforce delivers a nationally coordinated, trauma‑informed policing response aligned to the Government’s Safer Streets Mission, the NPCC VAWG Framework and the principles of Operation Soteria. It comprises five Proactive Operational Teams and a specialist Safeguarding and Prevention Hub. This role sits within the Safeguarding Team, reporting to the Safeguarding Manager.

This is an exceptional opportunity to bring independent, specialist domestic abuse expertise into a national policing environment and directly influence how BTP supports victim‑survivors of domestic abuse connected to the rail network. You will be the first dedicated IDVA within BTP, shaping the role from the ground up and embedding best practice that will endure well beyond the secondment period.

The postholder will provide specialist, independent advocacy and support to victim‑survivors of domestic abuse identified through the Taskforce’s safeguarding triage, DARA risk assessments, Proactive Team operations and wider BTP reporting. You will work alongside VIAWG Coordinators, detectives, analysts and partner agencies to ensure victim‑survivors -particularly those assessed as high risk -receive timely, consistent and trauma‑informed support, effective safety planning and coordinated multi‑agency intervention.

Key Responsibilities

Work closely with the VIAWG Coordinators to provide specialist advisory input during safeguarding triage, helping identify cases where IDVA support or intervention may be required, particularly where DARA assessments indicate high risk or domestic abuse dynamics form part of a wider VIAWG incident.

Provide an IDVA‑informed advisory perspective at Multi‑Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), representing victim‑survivor interests at a broader strategic level and contributing specialist insight to multi‑agency risk management discussions, without undertaking advocacy or support for individual cases.

Provide specialist advice to BTP officers, investigators and the wider Taskforce on the dynamics of domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, honour‑based abuse and the impact of abuse on victim behaviour, disclosure and engagement.

Liaise with external specialist services including local domestic abuse services, refuge providers, local authority housing and safeguarding teams, probation, health services and other IDVA providers to promote coordinated practice and ensure BTP decision‑making is informed by current best practice.

Identify gaps in domestic abuse referral pathways within BTP and the wider rail environment, feeding recommendations to the Safeguarding Manager and Stakeholder Engagement Officer to inform service improvement and partnership development.

Support the Domestic Abuse Scrutiny Panel, contributing a specialist domestic abuse perspective to case review, quality assurance and organisational learning.

Contribute to the development and delivery of training for BTP officers and Taskforce staff on recognising domestic abuse indicators, understanding coercive control, conducting effective risk assessments and making appropriate IDVA referrals.

Maintain accurate and confidential records of advisory activity in line with data protection legislation, organisational policy and the requirements of any commissioning or regulatory bodies.

Embed IDVA-informed learning and insight into Taskforce and wider BTP practice, ensuring the secondment delivers sustainable organisational change and long-term enhancement of victim-survivor centred practice, rather than a time‑limited individual contribution.

About You

Essential Criteria

A qualified, practising IDVA with demonstrable experience of providing independent advocacy and support to victim‑survivors of domestic abuse, with a focus on high‑risk cases.

Completion of a recognised IDVA training programme (e.g. SafeLives IDVA Foundation course or equivalent accredited qualification resulting in an OCN Level 3 Certificate or above).

Thorough understanding of the DASH risk identification checklist and experience of conducting risk‑led assessments and developing safety plans.

Proven experience of representing victim‑survivor interests at MARAC, with an understanding of multi‑agency risk management processes.

Strong understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse, including coercive control, economic abuse, honour‑based abuse, forced marriage and stalking.

Experience of working within multi‑agency frameworks, including MARAC, MASH, strategy discussions and partnership forums.

Strong understanding of trauma‑informed practice and victim‑centred approaches, with the ability to apply these in a policing environment.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to build trust and rapport with victim‑survivors and to communicate effectively with police officers, investigators and external partners.

Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and information‑sharing frameworks across England, Wales and Scotland.

Ability to manage a high‑risk caseload independently, prioritise effectively and work under pressure in an emotionally demanding environment.

IT literacy including confidence with case management systems and report writing.

A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an understanding of how intersecting characteristics affect the experience of domestic abuse and access to support.

Desirable Criteria

Experience of working within or alongside a policing environment.

Experience of supporting victim‑survivors in a transport or public space context.

Understanding of the Angiolini Inquiry, Casey Review, Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Operation Soteria and the NPCC VAWG Framework.

Experience of contributing to training delivery for non‑specialist professionals on domestic abuse recognition and response.

Experience of supporting organisational change or service development within a statutory or voluntary sector setting.

Knowledge of protective orders relevant to domestic abuse (DAPO, SPO, restraining orders) and the role of IDVAs in supporting applications.

Eligibility

This secondment is open to external applicants currently employed by a recognised specialist voluntary sector organisation providing domestic abuse support services. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The secondment requires the agreement of the applicant’s current employer. BTP will work with the seconding organisation to agree terms, including any cost‑sharing arrangements.

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting (5 years minimum UK residency required), including a full background and financial disclosure.

Medical: We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing.

References: We’ll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.

How to Apply

Applications will be via an up‑to‑date CV and an online application form. As part of this application, please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59pm, 28 April 2026.

Inclusion & Diversity:

We are committed to building a workforce where everyone feels they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams, improves our services and helps us better represent and support the communities we serve.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strive to create a workplace that is fair, respectful and accessible to all. We actively work to challenge discrimination, remove barriers and ensure equity throughout our recruitment and employment practices.

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or selection process, please let us know - we are happy to support you. Your talent, your potential, and your unique perspective matter here.

For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme

Join Us:
Ready to take the next step in your career? At BTP, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, make a real impact, and be part of something extraordinary.

Find out why BTP could be the perfect fit for you - About Us - British Transport Police

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For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team -RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.

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Secondment Opportunity - Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA)