Foundation: Responding to young people affected by domestic abuse (YPVA)

Young people experience the highest rates of domestic abuse of any age group.

Our report Safe Young Lives highlights the fact that the abuse experienced by young people may look different to that experienced by adults.

The report also found that existing adult domestic abuse support is not always equipped to meet the needs of young people. It is important that support for young people is delivered in a way that is responsive to their needs, and that their specific issues are expertly addressed.

Our YPVA foundation training is supported by relevant specialists from many different fields, including civil law, harmful practices and tech abuse.

Please note the course uses the term ‘young people’ to describe those aged 13 to 20 and does not contain content with regard to children under 13 experiencing domestic abuse via a parental-type relationship.

Time commitment

The YPVA foundation course comprises 14 days of online training, delivered in three blocks; eLearning modules which must be completed prior to attending each block of training; and the completion of three assessed worksheets that are submitted online.

The first eight days of the foundation course cover the core essentials for anyone working with victims of domestic abuse, followed by five days focused on the specialist subject.

Learners must also attend a mandatory introductory session beforehand and are required to complete all 14 days of training.

The list below provides guidance on the recommended study time you should allow for:

• Guided learning (training blocks, pre-course reading and eLearning modules) – 120 hours
• Worksheets – 50 hours
• Notional study – 130 hours

Total course time requirement – 300 hours

Eligibility

Our YPVA foundation course is available to practitioners who meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Anyone with a current active caseload of adults in the community. This is to ensure that you have a varied range of case examples for your worksheets.
2. Has a line manager or equivalent role within an appropriate organisation, who can vouch for you for the entire time you are on the course and completing the worksheets.
3. Applicants must currently be employed in the role of an Young Person Violence Advisor (YPVA), Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), or in a directly equivalent domestic abuse advocacy role

Price

£2,450 per learner

Subsidies

A limited number of subsidised places are available specifically for by-and-for services. These reduced-fee places will be allocated through a random selection process from the pool of successful applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

Please ensure your application is completed as fully as possible, as the information provided will be used to determine eligibility.

Accessibility

We welcome learners of all backgrounds and abilities. We encourage you to share with us any details on accessibility and diversity needs so we can ensure the right support is in place. You can also contact us if you have any queries via [email protected].