A Vacancy at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
UHMB seeks to appoint a Health Independent Sexual Violence Advisor 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 small team providing proactive empathetic, practical advocacy 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 at the hospital on the identification and referral route into the service. Ensuring robust pathways are in place to support clients. 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, providing initial information, advice and support and facilitate referral into appropriate community-based ISVA services for longer term support. The role will be an integral part of the Trusts safeguarding team, working collaboratively with Victim Support, and adhering to best practice guidelines.
• To provide support and safety planning to victim’s of sexual violence and domestic abuse (SVA)
• Follow appropriate pathways for referrals into community services.
• Contribute to the development and maintaining of health’s role in service provision for victims of Sexual Violence.
• To provide guidance and training about the service to health. professionals in order for them to identify and refer potential victims of SVA.
• To maintain key working relationship with professionals including but not limited to health, social care, police, charities and other agencies.
• Liaison with and working in conjunction with a variety of internal departments and external agencies.
• Communicating with members of the public, victims, witnesses, and other professionals from outside agencies.
• 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 SVA support.
• Work with victims of sexual violence to help them access services to keep them safe.
• Make sure that Independent Sexual Violence Advisor national standards and procedures are observed, particularly those relating to safe practice, confidentiality, and information sharing.
We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.
FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.
WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.
All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.
• To provide support and safety planning to victim’s of sexual violence and domestic abuse (SVA)
• Follow appropriate pathways for referrals into community services.
• Contribute to the development and maintaining of health’s role in service provision for victims of Sexual Violence.
• To provide guidance and training about the service to health. professionals in order for them to identify and refer potential victims of SVA.
• To maintain key working relationship with professionals including but not limited to health, social care, police, charities and other agencies.
• Liaison with and working in conjunction with a variety of internal departments and external agencies.
• Communicating with members of the public, victims, witnesses, and other professionals from outside agencies.
• 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 SVA support.
• Work with victims of sexual violence to help them access services to keep them safe.
• Make sure that Independent Sexual Violence Advisor 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 issue.
• 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.
• 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 share learning and best practice.
• Work within a multi-agency setting and keep the client’s safety central to all coordinated responses (this may include participation in the MARRAC).
• 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.
This advert closes on Wednesday 30 Oct 2024