Read an interview with a local Independent Domestic Violence Advocate

As part of our ongoing commitment to raise awareness of Domestic Abuse, we sat down for a chat with an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) in Cheshire East. 

Our short interview with a local IDVA

Why is Domestic Abuse support important?

It's important to make sure that we provide safety options for customers to be able to leave their partners or if they decide to stay in the relationship. 

We give them safety, support, planning, and make sure that the children really are not being subjected to whatever is going on.

We work with people of all genders, ages and vulnerabilities. For some, the abuse is normalised as it spills out into their adult life from childhood - some don't recognise the behaviour as abusive.

Tell us about your day-to-day as an IDVA

We are the first point of call for the customer, explaining the support process, completing risk assessments, and advocating for their wishes during multi-agency meetings.

Our first port of call is to decipher the immediate risk and mitigate it, this forms the support plan.

Multi-agency work is important for providing well-rounded support and avoiding mistakes or mismanagement. It's an essential avenue for sharing information that we wouldn't otherwise have.

Where does housing come in?

Our work can be a little trickier if we have a customer with a private landlord. In order to work on securing properties for victims, we must gain permission from the property owner first. This can be a real obstacle. There are many cases where the landlord will want that individual out of the property, which is quite difficult to deal with. 

Working with social housing is often easier as we'll have a safeguard lead who we can refer directly to - like the Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding Officer at Peaks & Plains - who can conduct a target hardening assessment at the property and complete joint visit with us IDVA's. It's all about further adding to the clients safety and support plan.

Why should these victims have to uproot their lives? That's why it's so important that we all work together to advocate and support vulnerable people. 

How can I find support for domestic abuse?

Are you experiencing a pattern of threatening, degrading or violent behaviour in your home? You don't need to suffer alone. Get you support here.