Advocacy intern jobs

We are looking for a committed individual with strong experience of working with vulnerable women to provide essential, tailored casework support for residents living in Ella’s’ safe house accommodation. You’ll need to be caring and professional, passionate about the vision and mission of Ella’s, and able to maintain and develop strong partnerships with other community organisations and groups, both locally within boroughs and London-wide. The ideal candidate will be welcomed into a small but dynamic organisation, supporting and empowering women to recover from the trauma they’ve been through, and build lives that are safe and free.

Special conditions
● You will be asked to provide a basic DBS check.
● Due to the nature of this work, this role is for women only.
● The postholder is expected to take part in the out of hours on-call service.
● Ability and willingness to work flexibly, and at other Ella’s locations.

Two reasons why you should join Ella’s
1. You will make a difference: Ella’s is a London-based organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Join us, and be a crucial part of ensuring survivors have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free.
2. You will work in a great place: We are a passionate, growing organisation. Of our staff, 100% say they would recommend Ella’s as a place to work. As a team, we are strong, women-led, authentic, professional, fun and supportive of one another.

Job description 

The purpose of this role is to provide essential, tailored casework support for residents living in Ella’s’ safe house accommodation. The main responsibilities of this role are:

● Provide one-to-one support for safe house residents This includes ensuring that survivors understand their rights and that these are met, coaching survivors to identify and work towards their personal goals, supporting survivors to access appropriate services/treatment providers and ultimately be supported into independence.
● Manage social work students, placements and interns.
● Maintain and develop borough related relationships.

We are looking for a passionate individual who has strong experience of working with vulnerable women, is aligned with the vision and mission of Ella’s and can maintain and develop strong partnerships with other community organisations and groups, both locally within boroughs and London-wide. The ideal candidate will be welcomed into a small but dynamic organisation, supporting and empowering women to recover from the trauma they’ve been through, and build lives that are safe and free. The role also offers opportunities to contribute to the direction and vision of Ella’s.

Key tasks
Casework provision
● Provide high quality casework support to residents (housing, financial, legal, mental health, and physical wellbeing support)
● Support survivor empowerment to speak out and self-advocate
● Carry out regular risk assessment with survivors and respond to any safeguarding concerns as per Ella’s’ safeguarding procedures
● Provide day-to-day support and build trusting relationships with the service users
● Be sensitive to the rapidly changing emotional and physical needs of the service users and respond accordingly
● Manage all paperwork, processing any personal data in accordance with Ella’s’ policies and procedures
● Ensure casenote records are recorded within 24 hours of each service user contact using Ella’s’ case management system
● Assist service users with administrative tasks as required: reaching out to supporting agencies, booking appointments, form-filling, and attending appointments
● Assume an advocacy role during external appointments, if required
● Assist in writing covering letters and support letters to compliment service users’ application forms, advocate for the service user in specific needs, or to keep other organisations updated as required
● Research the requirements for benefit applications and assisting service users to complete (as required)
● Liaise effectively with other agencies involved in the care or support of service users to ensure their needs are sufficiently met
● Manage referrals and new intakes
● Help create survivor led support plans
● Work collaboratively with other accommodation caseworkers
● Encourage and supporting survivors to attend sessions and activities inside and outside of Ella's

Volunteer coordination
● Oversee social work students and/or interns placed within the safe house, with support from the service manager
● Ensure relevant policies and procedures are upheld by self, all volunteers and visitors who come into contact with survivors
● Adhere to and ensure all students and interns have a good knowledge of Ella’s’ casework management forms and recording systems and oversee the consistent use of these
● Provide regular supervision to students and interns Safeguarding, and health and safety
● Work in collaboration with the Safehousee and Facilities Manager
● Ensure all major incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns or potential hazards are managed, reported and recorded according to Ella’s’ policies and procedures
● Participate in the identification and assessment of risks and implement agreed working procedures to minimise their impact; writing risk assessments as required
● Promote awareness of health and safety amongst service users, including those who use emergency/on call systems, fire prevention and control systems as necessary
● Ensure the location confidentiality of Ella’s’ premises to protect survivors and safeguard staff and volunteers
● Participate in any relevant Safeguarding training and keep up to date with any changes to Ella’s’ safeguarding policies and procedures

Accommodation and risk management
● Run regular house meetings and house outings for residents
● Support residents with housing benefit and service charges
● Manage all paperwork in the premises, processing any personal data in accordance with Ella’s’ Data Protection Policy and procedures
● Handle emergency situations calmly and professionally
● Ensure all safety and security procedures are followed to keep self and others safe
● Maintain a safe and secure working environment
● Ensure the location confidentiality of Ella’s’ premises to protect survivors and safeguard staff and volunteers

Other/general duties
● Develop strategic partnerships with local agencies working within the Violence Against Women and Girls sector and other local organisations or businesses that could enrich the work of Ella’s
● Take part in the out of hours on-call service
● Attend any training required for the role, keeping up to date with any developments and changes within the sector
● Represent the work at Ella’s with integrity at all times
● Adhere to all of Ella's policies and procedures at all times
● Be an active member of the organisation, attending any team meetings that are required and contribute to Ella's’ strategic goals and input into its direction of growth
● Attend monthly supervision with the service manager and keep in regular contact
● Manage all paperwork, processing any personal data in accordance with Ella’s’ policies and procedures
● Support Ella’s’ fundraising and external communications by assisting with the gathering of stories, data and so on
● Complete any other duties as directed by the service manager which are within the scope of the role

See attachments for Person Specification and how to apply

We are looking for a motivated self-starter, and someone who is passionate about the work of CJA members. 

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will monitor and map the criminal justice policy landscape, tracking developments across the system. They will engage with MPs, civil servants and key stakeholders, bringing evidence from our membership and the voices of those impacted directly by the criminal justice system to government to influence change.

The postholder will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and have demonstrated evidence of impact in policy and public affairs. They should be confident in building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, be a collaborative and inspiring team player, show commitment to our values and share a passion for the CJA’s vision and mission.

Main responsibilities

Public Affairs (50% time)

• Develop and implement the CJA’s public affairs and influencing strategy to advance the CJA's objectives.
• Work with CJA members on influencing specific legislation, including campaigning around bills, writing amendments, and working with MPs and Peers to promote them within the legislative process.
• Stakeholder engagement (Parliament): Build and maintain relationships with key policy makers and parliamentarians through face-to-face meetings, providing briefings to MPs and Lords for Parliamentary debates, preparing written/oral questions, and attending Select Committees, APPGs, Parliamentary receptions and other relevant roundtables and events.
• Stakeholder engagement (other): Build and maintain relationships with other key stakeholders, including Police & Crime Commissioners, the Victims Commissioner, HM Inspectorates, civil servants, and other relevant bodies.

Policy and Research (40% time)

• Monitor policy and political debates and developments on criminal justice issues, horizon-scanning emerging policy issues, and where appropriate, disseminate and brief colleagues and CJA members.
• Maintain a repository of evidence briefings from CJA members.
• Identify proactive and reactive opportunities to promote and embed CJA and members recommendations and research.
• Produce high quality and influential policy briefs, reports, position papers, and responses to consultations, to advocate for changes in policy and practice put forward by CJA members.
• Lead on the monitoring of policy engagement and impact by using our evaluation tools and work with external evaluators as required to capture impact and utilise learning.
• Work with CJA members, people directly impacted by the justice system and other key stakeholders to harness and amplify their expertise and insights.
• Lead the co-ordination and establishment of member expert groups to inform our policy work.
• Develop opportunities for joint working with researchers / research organisations and manage that partnership work, including co-ordinating the CJA research symposium.

Other (10% time)

• Work with the Communications and Engagement Manager to respond to media and other communication opportunities to promote the CJA’s work and to contribute to national debate on criminal justice issues.
• Work with the CJA team to recommend and secure relevant speakers and presenters for CJA meetings and events. 
• Support the Communications and Engagement Manager to develop content for the website and other internal and external communications, such as blogs and articles.
• Contribute to the general administration and delivery of CJA programmes, events and overall objectives.
• Work with the Director to support the development of potential fundraising bids and reporting progress to funders.
• Conduct the duties of the job description in accordance with the operational policies of the CJA, including the Diversity and Adult Safeguarding Policies.
• Maintain good working relations with trustees, staff and other stakeholders.
• Maintain up to date and accurate records of contacts, engagement and stakeholder areas of expertise.
• Line manage any policy interns and / or other policy staff as required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required. 

About Ataxia UK

Ataxia is the umbrella term for a group of neurological conditions and Ataxia UK is the UK’s leading ataxia support and research charity. Ataxia UK collaborates with the global ataxia community through our Research team, and we are on the board of the international non-profit association, Euro-ataxia. Our Services team focuses on helping everyone affected by ataxia in the UK to live their best life. We have a Helpline and Advocacy service providing information, advice, and 1-2-1 support to help people access their rights; whilst the InControl Community Engagement service provides activities, engagement and volunteering opportunities to bring the ataxia community together and reduce feelings of isolation. 

About the Role  

You will be joining at an exciting time for Ataxia UK as we complete our 60th anniversary year.

This is a key role as member of our growing Fundraising & Communications department, responsible for the coordination and delivery of daily communications tasks and the design and creation of marketing assets.

Ataxia UK has a large and engaged community of patients, supporters, volunteers, fundraisers and professionals. The post holder will work with the Communications & Marketing Manager, the Fundraising department and the wider organisation to ensure we reach our networks across social platforms, website, and printed materials with dynamic branded assets. You will coordinate the delivery of the quarterly Ataxia Magazine, liaising with internal and external contributors, designers and printers. Working closely with the Communications & Marketing Manager, you will have the opportunity to help shape Ataxia UK’s new communications and brand strategy.  

Ataxia UK operates a hybrid- working policy, with full time staff working 5 days a week expected to work from our offices in Highgate a minimum of 2 days a week. This is adjusted to 1 day per week for part time.

About you 

You will be a creative and dedicated individual, with a passion for communications, looking for a new challenge and excited by the opportunity to help shape our new strategy. You will be someone who thrives in a project-management environment and able to work both independently and closely with colleagues and external suppliers.

Organised and details-focused, you are confident across socials, website SEO, CRM and a range of communications software such as Canva, InDesign etc. You will have a keen understanding of how the role can support our fundraising and you will have experience working closely with fundraising teams or on income-generating projects or events.  As a key member of the team responsible for our brand and messaging, you will have the skills and experience to ensure we positively represent the interests of the ataxia community, and you will be someone who shares our commitment to supporting those affected by ataxia.

Benefits of working for us.

• 25 days annual leave pro rata (rising to 30 with a length of service)
• Extra holiday day for your birthday
• Access to a free Employee Assistance Programme & Employee Hotline
• Flexible hybrid working
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity and co-parental leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer

Please see full Job Description for further details including Person Specifications. Your covering letter will be used to assess you against the person specification for this role.

Interviews will take place w/c 9th June 2025.