What is the IDVA Service and how can it help?
Our key priority is to increase the safety of survivors of domestic abuse, and that of their children. All of our IDVA’s have specialist knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse and how it impacts on the victims, both individually and as a family.
Referrals for the service are received from the MARAC system. Once the IDVA’s receive the referral, a qualified member of staff will make contact with the victim.
We will then work with the victim to devise a safety plan specific to their individual needs, providing important information to them and signposting them to specialist services. These services include counselling, housing services, legal services, refuge provision and ways to increase the client’s security and safety in their home.
The IDVA service liaises closely with police and other agencies, keeping clients up-to-date with criminal proceedings and court dates.
The IDVA will:
• Represent the client at MARAC, working from point of crisis towards independence and abuse free lives.
• Provide one point of contact for all clients.
• Provide a confidential, non judgemental and empathic service.
• Explore and explain the rights of our clients, offer support through criminal and civil proceedings.
• Work with our clients to devise a safety plan specific to their individual needs.
• Provide information and signposting to specialist services including counselling, housing services, legal services, refuge provision and look at ways of increasing our clients security and safety in their own homes.
• Maximise the safety of our clients by working closely with other agencies in order to reduce the risk of harm that they may face from their abuser.
• Liaise closely with police and other agencies, keeping our clients up-to-date with criminal proceedings and court dates.
How is a referral made to the IDVA Service?
Click here to view a chart on Referral Pathways for this service.
Referrals to the IDVA Service come from MARAC and directly from other agencies. If your agency is referring a case to MARAC, please also send a copy of the referral to Somerset Changes.
We do not accept self-referrals, and prioritise work with high risk clients who have been referred to MARAC or who been referred to the service based on professional judgement.
For further advice on referring a case to MARAC, or how to access IDVA intervention, please call 01823 282106.
The office is open Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm.
If you are experiencing domestic violence and would like access to the IDVA service, please call the DAFFS Helpline: 0800 69 49 999.
In the case of an emergency call 999.