Apprenticeship training course
Domestic and sexual abuse support worker (level 4)
Provide early intervention, specialist advocacy, emotional and practical support to those who are experiencing and recovering from domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
- Qualification level
-
4
Equivalent to higher national certificate (HNC). - Typical duration
- 18 months
- Apprenticeship category
- Care services
- Maximum funding
-
£8,000
Maximum amount government will fund
for apprenticeship training. - Also known as
-
- Black and minoritised specialist advocacy worker
- Black and minoritised specialist support worker
- Children and young people's domestic violence abuse IDVA support worker
- Children, young people and families domestic abuse support worker
- Domestic abuse prevention advocate DAPA
- Domestic abuse support worker
- Domestic violence helpline worker
- Domestic violence outreach community support worker
- Independent domestic violence adviser IDVA
- Independent domestic violence advocate IDVA
- Independent sexual violence adviser ISVA
- Refuge support worker
- Specialist ISVA
- Skills
-
Skills an apprentice will learn
- Recognise crisis situations and respond within the required timescales in line with organisational policies and procedures.
- Carry out risk assessments, safeguarding and safety planning using risk assessment tools.
- Assist and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence who may have experienced inequality, discrimination and or forms of injustice.
- Engage with survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence from marginalised and disadvantaged groups and diverse social backgrounds and identities in ways that respond to their individual identities.
- Challenge intersectional gaps in service provision and or redress them.
- Raise awareness about the intersections of multiple forms of disadvantage and their relevance to domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
- Use own organisation’s case management systems in line with organisational policies and procedures.
- Use information sources to advise survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence on protective sanctions, orders and remedies they can access through court processes and or refer them to appropriate specialist advice.
- Support survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence through police investigations and or court processes within the context of own role.
- Act as an independent advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
- Adapt your communication method and style to meet the needs of the survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
- Use communication aids to meet survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence’ specific needs.
- Facilitate or assist in running programmes to aid recovery and promote the empowerment of survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence.
- Use trauma-informed and needs-led approaches when assisting survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to participate in service provision activities.
- Raise awareness of the importance of accountability of perpetrators’ actions.
- Refer and signpost survivors of domestic abuse and or sexual violence to other relevant voluntary or statutory multi-agency partners.
- Reflect on own practice and access available supervision and case management support.
- Maintain own continuous professional development and revise practice based on feedback received.
- Work within the boundaries of legislation and organisational policies and procedures and apply these to the responsibilities of own role.
- Establish, develop and manage professional relationships with survivors of sexual violence, setting out the boundaries of the relationship within own area of competence.
- Recognise the importance of self-care, taking appropriate action when required.
- Empower survivors to contribute to the co-design of services and provide them with a safe environment to do so.
Full information on Domestic and sexual abuse support worker (level 4) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.