Two women talking amongst a group of trainees.

Foundation: Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) training

Our foundation Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) training enhances practical knowledge of domestic violence, helping you provide the best possible support for domestic abuse victims, survivors and their children.

Key course features

Our IDVA foundation course aims to support you with the following content topics:

Helping victims and their children feel safer through the provision of a quality IDVA response.
Develop your confidence and skills through group work, coaching and one-to-one feedback sessions
Share experience and best practice with other IDVA learners while engaging in reflective practice
Improve practice within your service
Advocate for domestic abuse victims, survivors, and their children in multi-agency settings

98%
of learners told us they felt more confident in their role after receiving our 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, IDVAs, 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, SARCs, and housing. It covers key areas including 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

Engaging with knowledgeable trainers and guest speakers. There have been a wide variety of resources shared which we can take back, share with colleagues and put into practice. Lots of books and programmes, podcasts recommended to further our learning.

Previous learner

Time commitment

The IDVA foundation course comprises 14-days online training, delivered in three blocks; e-learning 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 all foundation courses 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 recommended study time you should allow:

Guided learning (training blocks, pre-course reading and e-learning 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:

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.
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.
Applicants must currently be employed in the role of an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), or in a directly equivalent domestic abuse advocacy role

There were lots of learning points including understanding the typologies of domestic abuse. This will allow me to relate this to practice and understand the typology in abusive relationships.

Previous learner

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

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.

How to apply

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

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.

Please note: Learners with disabilities or who required reasonable adjustments are always welcomed on all our courses, and we strive to meet our duty to provide reasonable adjustments wherever possible. If you have specific access needs for this or other courses, as always, please contact us in good time to discuss how we can support you within 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].

Foundation: Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) training

Key course features

of learners told us they felt more confident in their role after receiving our IDVA training.

Course overview

Time commitment

Eligibility

Price

Subsidies

How to apply

Accessibility

FND2601

FND2603

FND2604

Accredited training at SafeLives

SafeLives Scotland Training

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