Practitioners together

Intersectional Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate training

IIDSVA

Our accredited advocate programme, rooted in Black feminist praxis and designed to support anti-oppressive, survivor-led responses. The first and only one led by Black and Black mixed-heritage women.

OCN London accredited 36 credits Online and in person

All about our training

The only accredited IIDSVA delivered by a Black and Black mixed-heritage by-and-for provider

Our Intersectional Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy training is rooted in Black feminist praxis. Our course modules are grounded in real multi-agency practice, authored by Black feminist scholars and aligned to OCN London objectives, and every block carries the same four threads through it.

Trauma-informed and person-centredIntersectional anti-racismWhole-family methodologyPerpetrator accountability

Cultural Social-Ecological Framework

A mapping of the systemic factors, culture and environment that shape survivor safety, from the individual through to policy.

Intersectionality and anti-racism

Deep work on cultural competemility and active anti-racist frontline advocacy, carried through every unit.

Specialist involvement

Training co-designed with experts in psychology, psychotherapy and academia, alongside frontline practitioners.

Our specialised units

What you will study

Four mandatory OCN London units and two further accredited units, the IDVA and the ISVA, followed by our own Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool (IRTT) block to bring the learning together into practice.

1

Understanding Domestic Abuse

Mandatory unit · 6 credits
2

The Core Skills of the Domestic Abuse Practitioner

Mandatory unit · 6 credits
3

Implementing Best Practice in Service Delivery

Mandatory unit · 6 credits
4

Whole System Response to Client Risks and Needs

Mandatory unit · 6 credits
5

Understanding the Role of an Independent Domestic Violence and Abuse Advisor (IDVA)

Accredited unit · 6 credits
6

Responding to Victims of Sexual Violence (ISVA)

Accredited unit · 6 credits
7

The Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool (IRTT)

Frieda block · not assessed

36

Credits

OCN London Level 3, across six accredited units

21

Training days

Three days a month, 10am to 4.30pm

Live

Delivery

Online, hybrid and in-room options

£2,400

Course cost

Standard rate per learner. Discounts apply.

Scroll down to see how the seven blocks run from November to May.

Your programme, November to May

Seven blocks, one a month

Each block is three training days on a Monday, a Wednesday and the following Monday, from 10am to 4.30pm. The four mandatory units come first, followed by the IDVA and ISVA units, and the programme closes with our own Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool (IRTT) block.

  1. 1

    Block 1 · November 2026

    Understanding Domestic Abuse

    Mon 2, Wed 4 and Mon 9 November

    Mandatory unit · 6 credits
  2. 2

    Block 2 · December 2026

    The Core Skills of the Domestic Abuse Practitioner

    Mon 7, Wed 9 and Mon 14 December

    Mandatory unit · 6 credits
  3. 3

    Block 3 · January 2027

    Implementing Best Practice in Service Delivery

    Mon 4, Wed 6 and Mon 11 January

    Mandatory unit · 6 credits
  4. 4

    Block 4 · February 2027

    Whole System Response to Client Risks and Needs

    Mon 1, Wed 3 and Mon 8 February

    Mandatory unit · 6 credits
  5. 5

    Block 5 · March 2027

    Understanding the Role of an Independent Domestic Violence and Abuse Advisor (IDVA)

    Mon 1, Wed 3 and Mon 8 March

    Accredited unit · 6 credits
  6. 6

    Block 6 · April 2027

    Responding to Victims of Sexual Violence (ISVA)

    Mon 5, Wed 7 and Mon 12 April

    Accredited unit · 6 credits
  7. 7

    Block 7 · May 2027

    The Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool (IRTT)

    Mon 3, Wed 5 and Mon 10 May

    Frieda block · not assessed

Learners also complete our pre-course e-learning before Block 1 begins.

IIDSVA training FAQs

What is We Are Frieda’s approach to training?

Our training is grounded in Black feminist praxis, which means we treat domestic abuse and sexual violence as the product of interlocking systems of power rather than isolated individual acts. Every unit asks learners to look at where power sits and what that means for the survivors in front of them.

Do you train in your own models and resources?

Yes. Alongside the OCN London unit content, learners work with the frameworks we have developed from our own research and practice, including the Friedom Framework, our Cultural Social-Ecological Framework and the Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool.

What gives you confidence in these models?

Our frameworks come out of research with racialised victim-survivors, including the needs assessment funded by the West Midlands Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool (IRTT) has been endorsed by the Office of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

Who is the training for?

The programme is for people working, or preparing to work, with victim-survivors, including IDVAs, ISVAs, outreach and advocacy workers, and practitioners in related services who hold risk.

Why is it called Intersectional IDSVA?

The I reflects the thread that runs through every unit, which is an intersectional analysis of how race, gender, class, disability, sexuality and migration shape both the harm survivors experience and the responses they receive.

What qualification will I receive?

Learners work towards the OCN London Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Abuse: Prevention and Early Intervention, with the Level 3 Diploma available as an enhancement. Six accredited units, each worth six credits, give 36 credits in total.

Which units does the programme cover?

The four mandatory units are Understanding Domestic Abuse, The Core Skills of the Domestic Abuse Practitioner, Implementing Best Practice in Service Delivery, and Whole System Response to Client Risks and Needs, followed by the IDVA and ISVA units.

What is the IRTT block?

The final block introduces the Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool, our own tool for tracking risk across the whole of a survivor’s context. It is not assessed, so it comes after the accredited content and brings the learning together.

What is the difference between the IDVA and ISVA units?

The IDVA unit covers survivors of domestic abuse at high risk of serious harm. The ISVA unit covers survivors of sexual violence, including the criminal justice process and the role of Sexual Assault Referral Centres.

Is there anything to complete before the course starts?

Yes. Learners complete a short pre-course e-learning module before the first training day, and you will receive access to it with your joining information.

How is the course assessed?

Each accredited unit is assessed against the OCN London criteria through a portfolio of written work and activities, submitted through our learning platform with feedback and support throughout.

When does the next cohort run?

The next cohort starts on Monday 2 November 2026 and finishes on Monday 10 May 2027. Training runs over 21 days, with three days each month on a Monday, a Wednesday and the following Monday.

What are the training hours?

Each training day runs from 10am to 4.30pm.

Is the training online or in person?

This cohort is delivered live online, and you will receive your joining link before the first session. We also deliver it in-room and hybrid for organisations booking a closed cohort.

How much does it cost?

The standard rate is £2,400 per learner. Discounts are available, so please contact us to talk through what applies to you or your organisation.

What happens if I miss a training day?

We understand that frontline work and life do not always fit neatly around a timetable. Let us know as early as you can and we will talk through how you catch up and stay on track with your assessments.

How do I book a place?

Email us at talkto@wearefrieda.org.uk to register your interest in the next cohort, and we will send the booking details and answer any questions.

If you are weighing up the role itself, we answer the common questions about what IDVAs and ISVAs do and how people come into the work. IDVA and ISVA FAQs →

Voices from the training

What learners say

I've done a lot of training over the years, but this genuinely made me think differently about my work. I've come away with a much better understanding of how to support the women I work with.
IDVA trainee
I really valued being able to have honest conversations about things we don't always get to explore in our day-to-day work. I've already found myself applying what I've learnt with the women I support.
Domestic abuse practitioner
The training challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting, particularly around my own practice and assumptions. It's given me a lot to reflect on and, more importantly, practical ways to make changes.
IDVA trainee
What I appreciated most was that the training didn't just tell us what good practice looks like. It helped us understand why it matters and how we can actually put it into practice.
Specialist practitioner
I've come away feeling much more confident in my role, particularly when advocating for women whose experiences aren't always understood by services. It's been a really valuable learning experience.
IIDSVA trainee
The thing that stood out to me was how real and relevant everything felt. We weren't just learning theory; we were talking about the actual challenges we face every day and how we can do things differently.
Domestic abuse practitioner

Where to next

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