Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Louise Fox

Bristol,Avon

Summary

Compassionate IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) experienced in developing bespoke support plans for vulnerable individuals. Quickly builds rapport with service users to optimise assessments, interventions and programme outcomes. Specialises in violence against women and girls (VAWG) work.

Total of 14 years experience between domestic violence and criminal justice work, which often overlapped each other.

I have 6 years of experience in Probation and Prison work. I specialised in working with female offenders, and worked in a setting that initially was a pilot scheme with the aim of reducing the number of women that were sent to prison by setting up a community sentencing option as a diversion to custody.

I have a proven track record of managing risk at all levels.

I thrive under pressure and adapt to challenges with ingenuity and resilience.

Extensive experience in multi-agency settings, and an understanding of why this is necessary.

Significant experience of handling sensitive, confidential and distressing material and information, and knowledge around sharing information for disclosure purposes.

I apply professional curiosity and never shy away from taking positive action.

I have a keen eye for detail which allows me to problem solve, gather information and make informed decisions.

I am able to remain impartial and non-judgemental, and I focus my time on the job in hand.



Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education

Work history

National Peripatetic Domestic Violence Worker

Refuge
National
05.2017 - Current
  • To cover vacant posts across the organisation, nationally. This may be in Refuges, community based services, specialist services and/or co-locations.
  • Establishing the risks to and the needs of survivors of domestic abuse, identifying and prioritizing those at the highest risk.
  • Regularly seeking out and obtaining updated, relevant and pertinent information on any changes in legislation and policy regarding violence against women and girls.
  • Working in partnership with other agencies, keeping the safety of the survivor central to the partnership work.
  • Supporting service-users from the point of crisis by providing high quality, independent advocacy.
  • To provide advice to survivors around civil or criminal options, housing and homelessness legislation, benefits and debts, drug and alcohol support, mental health and wellbeing and safety and security.
  • Support survivors in navigating the criminal justice system, explaining investigations, supporting during interviews and with court attendance if required.
  • Develop and deliver individual support and risk management plans with the survivor and any children, and ensure this is updated regularly or any time there is a new incident or intelligence given. This is at times in partnership with other agencies.
  • To report any disclosures of criminality to the local police force, and support any investigation that may be carried out.
  • Ensure actions are complete by any given deadline (such as MARAC actions).
  • To advocate verbally and in writing in a range of settings including civil and criminal proceedings and with criminal justice professionals.
  • Manage a high caseload, including complex cases.
  • To make decisions quickly and efficiently, even if information is not complete, to ensure the safety, protection and risk management of the survivor, children, vulnerable persons or the wider public. Ensure that my decisions have a clear rationale.
  • Being an ambassador for the charity, working in partnership with other agencies to ensure an effective, coordinated community response to survivors of domestic abuse and their children.
  • Ensuring that any issues in relations to safeguarding children or adults at risk are brought to the immediate attention of the service manager, or senior operations manager.
  • Recognising, respecting and addressing the needs of service-users who face particular barriers when seeking help, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LBGTQ+ communities and disabled people.
  • To model pro-social behaviour, and challenge those that do not.
  • Supporting the empowerment of survivors, assisting them to recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse present in their own situations, and to help them regain control of their lives.
  • Ensuring that the confidentiality and security of information is maintained at all times, and internal procedures are followed.
  • Complete mandatory training on an annual basis to stay informed of working policies and practices, especially around GDPR and disclosures, equality, equity, inclusion and diversity.
  • Expand knowledge around new types of abuse, in particular technology facilitated abuse, by attending training and seeking advice from the specialist team.
  • Have a willingness to learn, and an understanding that sharing skills and knowledge is best practice.


Drug and Alcohol Group Work Facilitator

Bristol Drugs Project
Bristol
08.2010 - 04.2017
  • To deliver groups to service-users that wanted to explore the possibility of recovery across various locations.
  • To carry out regular one to one key work sessions with an allocated caseload to check in on wellbeing, usage of substances, provide advice on safe drug use, discuss triggers and sign post to appropriate sources of help.
  • Contribute to the development of group course content.
  • Source regular feed back from colleagues and service-users to improve on the services offered.


Support Worker

Avon and Somerset Probation Service
Bristol
09.2010 - 08.2016


  • Led group activity programmes to support independence and encourage community inclusion.
  • Manage a large number of cases at any given time, including those with complex needs and/or high risk.
  • Make monthly visits to the local prison to meet women who were being released soon, and to ensure they had accommodation in place to prevent homelessness upon release.
  • Go to other local services to present our service and encourage referrals.
  • Ensure the offenders license, supervision requirements and activity requirements were up to date and accurate.
  • Work with the allocated offender manager to report any breaches, compliance concerns, non-attendance, risk changes or relevant and proportionate information.
  • Complete referrals into multi-agency settings if necessary (such as MAPPA and MARAC) and attend to present the case.
  • Plan, deliver and manage a day service schedule for service-users to access.
  • Deliver groups on-site to female offenders with the aim of reducing reoffending.
  • Offer a flexible attendance schedule, or deliver a programme on a one to one basis to manage sensitive or high profile cases to ensure every offender was given the same access to programmes in a safe environment.
  • Responsible for developing an offending "pathway" of domestic abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse and sex working.
  • Self-funded training to become a specialist domestic abuse worker on site.
  • Delivered a weekly domestic abuse group for women that had experienced abuse regardless of their offending status.
  • Managed the highest attended group on site.
  • Opened up my group to women in the community which allowed offenders and non-offenders to share a space and learn from each other which contributed to re-offending rates decreasing.
  • Managed females on a community payback placement on site or accessing groups that were an appropriate placement.
  • Be on a rota to cover duty on the front desk by taking calls from self referrals, professionals or current clients, accepting referrals by email and adding them to a database.
  • Update service user records with accurate notes that reflect attendance and key work sessions.
  • Ensure risk management or safety plans were kept updated, reviewed and adjusted when required.
  • Complete drug and alcohol testing as required.
  • Make referrals into other agencies that could help our service users.
  • Remained professional at all times, and never acting in a judgemental or negative way when dealing with offenders.
  • Modelling pro-social behaviour and challenging those who do not.
  • Attending reflective practice sessions to support my practice and ensure I have support when dealing with difficult cases.
  • Write detailed reports that will be used in various settings such as child protection conferences, safeguarding meetings, police or courts.
  • Operate an "open door policy" so I was always available to my service users on allocated duty days.
  • Follow all policies on site, especially health and safety, lone working, security and GDPR.


Education

NVQ Level 3 - Domestic Abuse and Violence

SafeLives
Bristol
01.2022 - 07.2023

NVQ Level 1 - Domestic Abuse

Freedom Programme
Bristol
09.2011 - 09.2011

NVQ Level 1 - Domestic Abuse

Sue Penna Associates
Cardiff
01.2014 - 01.2014

GCSEs - GCSE

Oasis Academy Brislington
Bristol
09.1999 - 07.2004

Skills

  • Working in a busy, fast paced and pressurised environment
  • Able to prioritise workloads and manage multiple tasks at any one time
  • Computer literate
  • Fast learner and can pick up new processes quickly
  • Willingness to complete further studying or training to reach my full potential in any role
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Able to summarise key information in a short space of time
  • Ensure deadlines are met and outstanding actions completed
  • Very organised
  • Able to be professional at all times
  • Managing multiple complex cases at the same time
  • Can cope with traumatic information, but can seek support when I need it
  • Will seek advice, guidance and instructions from superiors
  • Able to pro-actively challenge inappropriate behaviours or attitudes when appropriate
  • Posses an understanding of equalities, inclusion and diversity
  • Can effectively communicate with a wide range of people in writing and verbally

Timeline

NVQ Level 3 - Domestic Abuse and Violence

SafeLives
01.2022 - 07.2023

National Peripatetic Domestic Violence Worker

Refuge
05.2017 - Current

NVQ Level 1 - Domestic Abuse

Sue Penna Associates
01.2014 - 01.2014

NVQ Level 1 - Domestic Abuse

Freedom Programme
09.2011 - 09.2011

Support Worker

Avon and Somerset Probation Service
09.2010 - 08.2016

Drug and Alcohol Group Work Facilitator

Bristol Drugs Project
08.2010 - 04.2017

GCSEs - GCSE

Oasis Academy Brislington
09.1999 - 07.2004

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Louise Fox