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Am I crazy or could I do this?

4 replies

NewDirectionRequired · 03/08/2019 17:32

Was just reading a thread where the op is looking for for domestic abuse advocate. It piqued my interest so went for a Google. Found a job advertised on Indeed that gave more information. I have always wanted to get involved in this field. I am early 40s so figure I have another 30 years of my working life left so time is on my side. I am educated only up to GCSE level but can fit in study around my job to achieve the requirements. Does anyone do this job? Does anyone have any tips? Am I fooling myself? I come from a childhood filled with dv and latterly a relationship. Any advice would be very welcome. Many thanks.

Oh and the job I googled is this www.indeed.co.uk/m/viewjob?jk=33c53878a9b4b0e7&advn=8028284704266719&adid=300409910&from=serp&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indeed.co.uk%2Fjob%2Fdomestic-violence-and-abuse-advocate-33c53878a9b4b0e7&desth=2bb02102c67d2169a22795ed863bfb0f&prevUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indeed.co.uk%2Fm%2Fjobs%3Fq%3DDomestic%2BViolence%2BAdvocate&tk=1dhc1lp6f9tos800&dupclk=1&acatk=1dhc1m9c692ta802&pub=6917c08ec3ecf6012dd26f3773156e870cace3277f6b99df
So I know I need to start from scratch but I can do that.

OP posts:
NewDirectionRequired · 03/08/2019 20:01

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
something2say · 03/08/2019 20:24

Have you any experience in that or a related field? Dont mention personal experience in interview, as the job is triggering and they'd immediately flag you as could come undone by the reality and pace of the job. How things are now might hurt you for example, compared to how it was when we were young.

I'd say, get some relevant experience and then yes go for it. I loved being an idva and working in safe houses. I've never turned back.

Research H&S in work with vulnerable people, power dynamics, safeguarding etc..

cottonwoolsnowmen · 03/08/2019 20:55

How do you think you would cope if you had clients who weren't like you and didn't respond like you to what you went through? For example, who returned to a relationship or weren't ready to face what was happening? Or had children and exposed them to similar situations you were as a child?

Some people with experience of DV can make brilliant IDVAs and some don't. In some of those latter cases because they compare all the abuse they come across professionally to their own experiences and write off anything that doesn't match what happened to them as "not abuse" or "not serious", which is dangerous. Or because they flounder when faced with people who aren't like them in how they're affected or how they cope.

It could also bring up a lot of old distress for you. Do you have support around you? How do you think you'd cope? Would you be able to switch off if you were worried about someone? Or if someone had disclosed something really harrowing to you? Would you be comfortable keeping people at arm's length boundaries wise?

It's wonderful you want to help others in this way, just be cautious that you aren't blinded by idealism.

cottonwoolsnowmen · 03/08/2019 21:00

Sorry, meant to say, the suggestion to get some relevant work experience to see what it would really be and feel like is a good one. It would help you assess whether it's really right for you and how you imagine.

That applies to other jobs too - there were similar comments on threads about midwifery and clinical psychology recently. People spend years training, powered by idealism and hopes of changing lives, only to finally reach the workplace and discover it's nothing like they hoped or imagined.

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