Foundation: Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) training

The course aims to enhance your practical knowledge, helping you provide the best possible support for all victims of domestic abuse and their children, specialising in high risk.

 

Course overview 

The IDVA foundation 14-day course is designed for domestic abuse practitioners, those working in IDVA or IDVA-type roles, and service managers who currently manage, or are preparing to manage, caseloads of domestic abuse victims.

 

On completion, learners gain an accredited OCNLR Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Abuse: Prevention and Intervention.

 

The course draws on expertise from sectors such as criminal justice, family law, child protection, Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), and housing. It covers key areas including Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) processes, anti-racist practice, and supporting minoritised groups. Overall, it equips learners with the comprehensive knowledge and skills needed to support victims, survivors, and their children within a multi-agency, whole-family framework.

 

If you have already completed the IDVA foundation training, check out our specialist training

• Specialist: Responding to young people affected by domestic abuse (YPVA)
• Specialist: Older person violence advisor (OPVA) training
• Specialist: Responding to victims of sexual violence

Time commitment

Our IDVA 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 will cover the core essentials for anyone working with victims of domestic abuse, followed by five days focused on a 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 IDVA 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 Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), or in a directly equivalent domestic abuse advocacy role.

 

Price

£2,450 per learner. This training is tax exempt.

For practitioners based in Wales, please refer to our Wales: IDVA foundation training which is fully-funded.

Wales: IDVA foundation training

 

Subsidies

How to apply

Applications for the IDVA foundation Autumn 2026 course are now closed. 

If you cannot make any of the courses currently on offer, please register your interest below, and we’ll contact you when future dates are confirmed.

Register your interest

Additional information about the application process can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

 

Accessibility

We welcome all learners to our inclusive and supportive learning space.

Learners with disabilities or who require reasonable adjustments are always welcome on all of our courses, and we strive to meet our duty to provide reasonable adjustments wherever possible. If you have specific access needs for this course, or others, please contact us in good time to discuss how we can support you with available resources.

We encourage you to share with us any details on accessibility and diversity needs so we can ensure the right support is in place and know that we will treat your information confidentially. You can also contact us if you have any queries via [email protected].