Purpose

An IDVA is a specialist professional who works
with a victim of domestic abuse to develop a trusting relationship.
They can help a victim with everything they need to become safe and
rebuild their life, and represent their voice at a Multi-agency
Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), as well as helping them to
navigate the criminal justice process and working with the
different statutory agencies to provide wraparound support.
Safe Lives report that following support from an IDVA service, at
the closure of their cases:
• The majority of survivors reported cessation of abuse
• 84% of survivors reported feeling safer
• 73% of survivors felt their quality of life had
improved
Safe Lives (2022) https://safelives.org.uk/what-is-an-idva
Bristol City Council has been administering the Ministry of Justice
funding for these posts within Next Link on behalf of the Office of
the Police and Crime Commissioner following a decision made by
Cabinet on 24th January 2023. This arrangement enables a holistic
commissioning approach (with benefits for both commissioners and
providers), including oversight of service delivery and supporting
providers to problem solve any issues as they arise.
It has recently been announced that this funding is to be extended
for a further year. This report seeks approval to accept this
funding extension from the Ministry of Justice (via the Office of
the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset) to enable
continued funding of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
working as part of the Next Link Plus service.

Content

•To approve the acceptance funding from
the Ministry of justice via the Office of the Police and Crime
Commissioner for Avon and Somerset to continue the current
provision of IDVA services
•To vary the contract with Missing Link Ltd. (The Next Link
Plus Service) to continue to include this important service and to
increase the value of the contract accordingly.