Advocate jobs in westminster, greater london

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 x Senior Independent Domestic Violence Advocates to join the DRIVE team in London, working 37.5 hours a week.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

These roles are based in London with hybrid working between home and our office in London.

As a Senior IDVA you will:

• effectively manage and develop a high quality, innovative and pro-active domestic abuse service for victims and their children, including those at highest risk.
• need to ensure that the service prioritises the safety, security and dignity of service users and their children.
• lead in crisis situations, providing advice and guidance on safeguarding issues and information sharing.
• Work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse.
• Develop your team and address their individual development/performance needs, set individual and team objectives and undertake annual appraisals.

To be successful in these roles, you will need:

• a strong understanding of domestic abuse, including the impact on victims and their children, and the legal and practical remedies available to these clients.
• knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practice and legislation relating to equal opportunities and diversity, inclusivity, safeguarding and risk assessments.
• experience managing the delivery of domestic abuse services and managerial experience will also be necessary as well as having a thorough understanding of IDVA work.
• a proven ability to confidently use various IT systems including Case Management, Microsoft Office, Zoom, Outlook and other online applications/platforms.
• a SafeLives IDVA training certificate, a relevant degree, a vocational qualification or have equivalent experience.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

Contract: 2-year rolling

Location: Remote working (with occasional international travel for events)

(For non-UK candidates, please note that you would be hired via Deel either as a contractor or as an employee with local national benefits)

Reporting to: Policy & Advocacy Advisor

The organisation  

United for Global Mental Health was founded in January 2018. It exists to support and unite the global effort to promote good mental health. Through our campaigning, advocacy and financing work, we aim to create a world in which everyone, everywhere has someone to turn to in support of their mental health. Since 2018, we have worked with a variety of international and national partners to help us reach this goal.

The Initiative:    

The WHO Constitution and several UN human rights declarations affirm everyone’s right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. However, many countries’ laws and policies fall short of enabling this. Human rights violations and barriers to access persist, often due to the prioritisation of institutional care over primary and community-based services, and the existence of discriminatory laws, such as those criminalising suicide. Addressing these issues is a key focus of UnitedGMH’s human rights pillar under its current three-year strategy.

The Role: 

You have the opportunity to join this initiative, working as part of a global policy, advocacy and financing organisation that puts its national partners and persons with lived experience of mental health at the forefront of their advocacy efforts. You will work with the Policy and Advocacy Advisor and colleagues, to develop, coordinate, support and implement policy and advocacy projects including; influencing global, regional and national law and policy, conducting research, report writing, drafting policy briefs and positions, partnership building and management, supporting national partners with their advocacy and representing the organisation at online and in-person events, including at key global moments. You will be working to achieve the objectives of our strategic pillar on rights, delivering on the 2026 strategy and action plan for the project on decriminalising suicide worldwide and supporting the project to deinstitutionalise mental health care, as well as contributing to the work across the organisation. You will also have the opportunity to help shape our next three-year organisation strategy from 2027-2029. 

You:

You have a proven track record in international health policy and advocacy with an eye for detail and an entrepreneurial spirit. Confident to work across the range of advocacy and policy activities you are flexible, competent and take initiative, and have a desire to learn and grow.  You are a true team player; able to take both responsibility in managing important projects and relationships and unafraid to take on essential tasks to support the team.  You have a passion for international development, law and policy and mental health.

Responsibilities:

• Partner Support: Help to build and manage partner relations with external stakeholders including national and global civil society, research institutions, governments, UN agencies, donors etc. Support them with their national advocacy and assist them in developing and managing national coalitions to advance their work at a national level. 

• Stakeholder relations: Support, and sometimes lead, engagement with key governments, the UN and other international organisations. As appropriate, directly engage and manage relationships with key decision-makers and global and regional advocacy organisations.

• Engagement of Experts by Experience and young people: ensure experts by experience of mental health conditions and young people are provided opportunities to influence global and national policy through your projects 

• Grant and contract management: Lead in the identification of funders in your program area and develop funding proposals for work on policy, advocacy and financing; track and report on grant deliverables.

• Policy, advocacy & financing strategies: Lead the design and implementation of policy, advocacy and financing strategies for UnitedGMH and in collaboration with, or for, a range of stakeholders.

• Policy reports and papers: Draft policy reports and papers to support high level influencing.

• Briefings, policy packs and influencing language: Preparing briefings, policy packs and influencing language for senior government officials, Ministers, and other decision-makers as well as national partners as required.

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning: regularly update UnitedGMH’s MEL system with relevant data and information around your projects

• Communications: Support the internal and external communication activities of the organisation and develop project-based communications plans.

• Funder profiles: Maintain updated profiles on key mental health funders.

• Events: Organise meetings, events (including side-events at key global moments), workshops and small gatherings of partners and other stakeholders.

• Represent the organisation: Speak on behalf of the organisation on your project areas at key global moments and in-person and virtual events, webinars and conferences

Experience:

• You will have at least five years of experience working in country and/or global health policy, advocacy and/or financing for a UN agency, non-governmental organisation, think tank or decision-maker.

• You will have undertaken work related to public health and/or human rights and have a track record of advocacy with policy makers, brief/report writing and research.

• A background in health, including mental health, either professionally or through lived experience. 

• Demonstrable experience of having worked on health legislation and policy in low- and middle-income countries, including drafting, reviewing and/or having been part of consultative processes at a government level. Experience working on suicide prevention policies/strategies or the decriminalisation of suicide and/or the repeal of other discriminatory legislation will be preferred. 

• Low-to-middle income country level experience engaging with different stakeholders – persons with lived experience of mental health conditions, governments, civil society, donors etc.

• Experience of representing your organisation at key global, regional or national political gatherings

Skills:

• Project management and reporting.

• Networking and relationship management

• Ability to perform research and report writing 

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.

• Grant Proposal Writing. 

• Ability to work as part of a team but equally a self-starter capable of devising and delivering work under your own direction

• Experienced in and thrive working in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to respond quickly and effectively to changing agendas

• Strong organisational skills to plan, meet deadlines and successfully deliver events 

• Ability to multitask and prioritise workload over short time frames

• Knowledge of foreign languages is desired but not mandatory.

• A good knowledge of Microsoft Office and other project management tools e.g., Trello, Google Suite, among others.

Qualifications:

• A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. health, law, human rights) 

• Ability to work remotely and travel internationally

Benefits

• 28 days of holiday a year plus national holidays in your country of residency 

• Possibility of being hired by Deel as a local employee (with local pension and social security benefits) or as a contractor (decision up to the employee based on personal preference)

• Up to £1000 a year of allowance for coworking space

• Up to £500 a year in personal development training allowance

• A minimum of 1 in-person team retreat a year

• Possibility to work from anywhere in the world (where you have the legal right to work)

• Possibility to work compressed hours 

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme via HealthAssured

• [For UK-based staff] You contribute 5% of your salary and we pay for 3% (8% total)

Diversity and inclusion
Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to UnitedGMH’s core mission and values, and the organisation is dedicated to promoting this across our work and also within the workplace. We will ensure that this commitment is embedded in all operational aspects of the organisation and also implemented within our day-to-day working practices.

Reasonable adjustments statement
We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process. Should you have a disability and require a particular adjustment to be made to allow you to fully participate in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known to the person arranging your interview.

Interviews: There will be 2 interview rounds, and a short task for those who progress to the second round of interviews. Interviews will be arranged between the last week of November to the 12th of December.

Closing date: 9am on Monday 24th November

Application: To apply please submit your CV and a cover letter (800 words maximum) via Charity Job.

Platform’s North Sea Workers’ Transition project is building towards a managed phase-out of oil and gas extraction in the UK North Sea. We’re organising for an energy industry that protects the rights and livelihoods of the current oil and gas workforce and directs wealth back to communities, especially those impacted by industrial change.

We have been working with offshore oil and gas workers and their unions for 5+ years. In 2023, we published a groundbreaking set of 10 demands for a just energy transition away from fossil fuels co-created with offshore workers: Our Power: offshore workers’ demands for a just energy transition. Since publishing the report we have launched public advocacy and media campaigns based on these demands - working alongside industrial trade unions, national and grassroots climate groups, and oil and gas workers. We coordinate a first-of-its-kind coalition of industrial unions and climate groups working together on national worker transition demands.

As living conditions continue to decline and the climate crisis deepens, we are looking for a motivated and creative campaigner, who is able to lead the next stage of the project, and who has a strong understanding of anti-oppression and energy justice.

About the role

The Worker Transition Campaigns Manager will work closely with our Worker Organiser and Public and Community Ownership Campaigner, supported by our Organising and Advocacy Lead, Research Lead and Communications Lead.

You will be responsible for strategising, project managing and delivering the project. Activities will look like:

• Coordinating an existing coalition of climate groups and trade unions, including holding relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders across movements;
• Developing and delivering political advocacy and public campaigns strategies to win Our Power demands - including public ownership of energy - at a UK and Scottish Government level;
• Supporting the work of Platform’s Worker Organiser(s) to build links with energy workers and involve them in media, political meetings and/or campaigning activities.

This post would sit within Platform’s internal collective management structure and would therefore be expected to support the collective management of the organisation in addition to finance and fundraising-related responsibilities. This includes line managing 1-2 staff members after the 6 month probation period and attending collective management meetings. 

Role Details

Hours: 4 days (32 hours) based on a 40 hour work week (5 x 8 hour days including a 1hr lunch break).

Contract: Permanent

Proposed start date: ASAP, depending on notice period.

Salary: £36,824.41 for 4 days (32 hours) per week (£46,030.51 FTE) is our baseline salary, adjustable according to our Socially Just Waging System. Terms and conditions apply.

Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, enhanced parental leave, enhanced sick pay allowance. We offer Wellbeing and Training and Development funds to all staff. All policies subject to review.

Location: The role will be formally based at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG, but remote working is possible.

Most Platform staff are supported to work from home most of the time, but all permanent members of staff are expected to attend in-person meetings 3-4 times a year, usually at the London office, and other in-person meetings when required.

Responsible to: Management Group (MG), Trustees (in conjunction with the Treasurer) 

You can find more details about the person specification and job description on Platform's website. 

Rape Crisis South London are currently looking for a highly skilled and passionate professional Adult Counsellor to join our organisation on a part-time basis.   

 

The successful candidate will have good knowledge within the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) movement; experience working with the effects of Trauma, especially Sexual abuse trauma; experience of providing counselling by using an intersectional lens and able to demonstrate an understanding of how overlapping identities shape women’s experiences of trauma, particularly those from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
 

The successful applicant will demonstrate knowledge and experience of working integrative, maintaining clear therapeutic boundaries and adhering to the ethical framework the organisation’s professional body. They will be skilled in applying a range of therapeutic approaches and committed to feminist and anti-racist principles and embedding these values into all aspects of their practice.  
 

The position is offered on a permanent ( subject to funding) part-time basis with 3 days in the office.  
 

The post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010. 
 

Rape Crisis South London is an equal opportunities employer, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from women underrepresented in leadership roles in the violence against women and girls' movement.
 
 Please apply with an up-to-date CV and cover letter (of up to 1000 words) identifying how you meet the essential and any desirable qualifications, skills and experience..

 All positions are located in the UK and require the right to work in the UK.
 

Interviews will be rolling from week to week.
 

Closing date: 12 December 2025 with the interviews taking place in January 2026

Libraries Connected is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager to join our newly formed Policy, External Affairs, and Research Team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver impactful research and evaluation across the public library sector.

You’ll lead internal research and data projects, provide in-house evaluation for programmes, and manage external research partnerships—including with academic institutions. Your work will directly inform advocacy, communications, and strategic decision-making.

We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, experience in managing complex data, and the ability to translate findings into accessible outputs. You’ll be collaborative, detail-oriented, and confident working independently across multiple projects.

Job Title: Independent Gender Violence Advocate (IGVA)

Location: The Gaia Centre, Lambeth
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

The independent gender violence advocate will work closely with victims of gender-based violence from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of gender-based violence at the highest risk and their children.

The role will be part of increasing the ability of partner agencies to recognise, reject and respond appropriately and safely to all forms of gender-based violence (including domestic violence, sexual, financial and emotional abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour-based violence). The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. The post holder will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support. The job involves ensuring that women are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, enabling them to access their rights, make decisions and increase their life options.

You will work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. The job involves informing survivors of the full range of civil, criminal, and practical options that might increase their safety. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 26 November 2025

Interview Date: 4 and 5 December 2025

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation.  We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.  
 

Job Purpose:

Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending.

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to a caseload of women in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Undertake risk and needs assessments and co-producing bespoke support plans with women across the nine pathways to reoffending.
3. Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies.
4. Champion the core values of Women in Prison, including social justice and feminism in all internal and external communications, articulating their importance to the work we do.

For the full list of responsibilities, please download the recruitment pack.

About the Senior Trans Independent Victim Advocate role
 
Galop is looking for an experienced practitioner to provide effective support to LGBT victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK. You will work within the advocacy team to deliver advice, support, and advocacy to LGBT victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence each year.  You will act as a specialist lead within the advocacy team for work with Trans and Non-Binary survivors, including providing support, advice and expertise to your colleagues and externally. 
 
As a Senior Advocate, you will provide high quality advocacy and support to Trans and Non-Binary people who are subjected to abuse and violence, specifically domestic abuse and sexual violence, focusing on their needs, safety and recovery. This role builds on work that we have been doing for decades to support and empower LGBT people who have been victims of violence and abuse.  Your work will enable LGBT people to feel supported, heard and empowered in the face of abuse and violence, and pave the way to a safer future for our community. 
 
You will work directly with Trans and Non-Binary victims/survivors, offering them a space to talk and think through options, helping them plan what they want to do, and offering assistance in getting what they need from services. Your work will focus on needs specifically related to domestic abuse and sexual violence, including issues such as wellbeing, support with the criminal and civil justice process, safety and access to other services to enable survivors to cope and recover. You will be empathetic and thoughtful in your approach to understanding your clients’ needs, while remaining boundaried and mindful of self-care. 
 
You will manage a small number of specialist advocates providing needs-led support, information and advocacy to Trans and Non-Binary survivors of violence and abuse. You will also act as specialist lead for work with Trans and Non-Binary survivors within the advocacy team, providing support, advice and leadership to advocates on this specialism, to ensure that survivors get support that meets their needs. You will work with colleagues to ensure that survivors are supported in a trauma-sensitive way and that the needs of Trans and Non-Binary survivors are met, through sharing best practice and your expert knowledge and experience in delivering this work. This will include an understanding of the support landscape for Trans and Non-Binary survivors, the wider trans sector and the specific impact and support needs for survivors. You will contribute to the development of the TNBI service and work collaboratively across the organisation. You will need an understanding of legislation, the CJS, civil justice systems and domestic and sexual violence including ISVA/IDVA best practice.
 
You will have an in depth understanding of the spectrum of violence and abuse that Trans people are subjected to, including the causes, impact and barriers to accessing services. You will use your expertise to represent Galop with key stakeholders, advocating for the needs of the community. 
 
Location
Galop’s offices are located in London. This role will be hybrid working, with both home working and working from the office. 
 
Hours
Full Time (35 hours per week) 
 
Contract
Until 31 March 2027 (extension subject to funding)
 
Line manages
Advocates and caseworkers 
 
Reports to
Advocacy and Support Manager
 
Salary
Grade E £37,754.88- £39,761.08 (including inner London weighting of £4,212.01) 
 
Closing Date 
Applications should be submitted by 25^th November 2025
Interviews will be held on 2^nd and 3^rd of December 2025
 
REF-224 860

The Cardinal Hume Centre works to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness.

Job title: Support & Advocacy Practitioner

Westminster, London

Salary: £33,132 plus benefits

Contract: Permanent, full time (average of 35 hours in a 40 hour week) 

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you want to leverage your skills to combat homelessness for children and young people? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking to recruit a Support and Advocacy Practitioner to work collaboratively as part of a committed team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of personalised support that puts residents first and empowers them to achieve their goals and thrive in adult life. This is an exciting role in our Supported Accommodation team that will lead on co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans, involving key stakeholders such as Social Workers, Personal Advisors and other support providers where appropriate. You will engage residents to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills, assisting with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters. You will also identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training and support residents to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.

Please refer to the job description for further information. 

In your cv and cover letter please outline how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history. In your cover letter, please also answer the following 3 questions:

1. Tell us about your experience of working with young people who have experienced homelessness. What are the challenges and how have you provided support?

2. Tell us about your experience of safeguarding young people.

3. What attracted you to work for the Cardinal Hume Centre, and how would you ensure that our values are central to how you work with our residents?

If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to complete an application form before attending due to the safeguarding regulations within our supported accommodation.

This is a full-time role. You will work an average of 35 hours in a 40-hour week worked on a rolling rota (including weekends and Bank Holidays). Shifts are 8 hours (inclusive of a 1-hour unpaid lunch break) and include early, late and flexi/cover shifts.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Centre requires staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and undertake a DBS check. This role requires an enhanced plus barred lists DBS check. If you are successful and have previously spent time working abroad, you will be required to obtain evidence of no criminal conviction from those counties. This is a safeguarding requirement.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas. 

Benefits

· 26 days’ leave rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)

· Additional discretionary wellbeing and celebratory days

· Access to Blue Light Card discounts

· Pension: stakeholder pension scheme and we will match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%.

· Life assurance cover (after probation passed)

· Season ticket loan

· Training and development opportunities

We are recruiting for a IGVA to join our team in Barking & Dagenham; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: IGVA

Location: Barking & Dagenham
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a IGVA to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children seeking support from the community advocacy support service.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 17 November 2025

Interview date: Week beginning of 24 November 2025

Benefits
Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We are recruiting for a IDVA to join our team in Wandsworth and Richmond; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: IDVA

Location: Wandsworth and Richmond
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

Refuge is recruiting Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates for our new service in Richmond and Wandsworth to focus on supporting survivors of all forms of abuse.

As an Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate, the post holder will provide high quality independent advocacy. The job involves ensuring that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, enabling them to access their rights, make decisions and increase their life options.

We are looking for someone who is passionate, committed and cares about the work Refuge undertakes. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and the impact this has on survivors and their children. They will be able to work under pressure to effectively manage risk and provide needs-led support to clients with a variety of support needs.

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.  This is an opportunity to join a brand-new service and improve the local multi agency partnership to recognise, reject and respond to all forms of gender-based abuse.

Closing date: 9.00am on 21 November 2025

Interview date: 1 & 2 December 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title:                     Case Worker – CAPSA Services (Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy)  

Reports to:                  CAPSA Team Manager

Geographic focus: Lambeth

Salary:£30,500

Hours of Work: 37.5 per week (flexible working available)

Duration:1 Year Contract (with a potential to extend)

Benefits:26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pension contribution, Employees' Assistance Programme.

Purpose of the role

The CAPSA (Culturally Appropriate Peer Support and Advocacy) Worker role has been specifically designed to support Black people using the secondary mental health system. As a CAPSA Worker, you will provide both Generic Mental Health Advocacy and Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) to eligible individuals, including people detained under the Mental Health Act(MHA) 1983/2007, conditionally discharged restricted patients, those under Guardianship, and those on Community Treatment orders, as well as individuals considered for section 57 treatments.

You will play a key role in ensuring that the perspectives of Black service users are recognised and respected, addressing their unique and multiple needs, and promoting access to advocacy for all eligible individuals. You will raise awareness of advocacy, rights under the MHA, and the CAPSA service among professionals, individuals, and agencies.

In addition to direct advocacy, you will contribute to service development by supporting an effective administration system and helping evaluate the impact of advocacy for both service users and commissioners.

As part of CAPSA’s race-led approach to systems change, you will also help challenge systemic racism in mental health services, embed culturally competent practice, and promote equitable care within South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM).

Job summary

Black Thrive Lambeth has developed a co-designed, culturally appropriate peer support and advocacy service (CAPSA) on behalf of the Living Well Network Alliance (LWNA). CAPSA provides support to Black community members with mental health needs through peer support and advocacy, led by individuals with lived experience or lived understanding of mental health challenges. The service creates a space where experiences are respected, accepted, and valued equally.

The role involves building positive relationships with Black service users; offering one-to-one and group advocacy; supporting self-advocacy; gathering and sharing information to inform decision-making; and preparing monitoring reports and feedback. Advocates ensure that the views, wishes, and needs of Black service users are heard and acknowledged, addressing the impact of racism within traditional mental health services.

Duties and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Advocacy & Support for Black Service Users

• Work with individual Black service users to provide culturally informed advocacy, support, and representation to assist them in decision-making related to their care, treatment, and legal status.
• You will manage a caseload of up to 10 clients.
• This will consist of weekly meetings with clients and supporting them around their care in the mental health system, this will be both within inpatient services and CMHTs (Community Mental Health Teams) as well as in the community.
• Support Black service users in developing and maintaining their cultural identity by identifying strengths and advocating for culturally relevant mental health interventions.
• Develop trusting relationships with Black service users within appropriate boundaries to help them express their mental health needs.
• Assist service users in preparing for meetings, attend appointments with them if required, and advocate on their behalf where needed.
• Provide information and updates on the progress of advocacy issues and ensure clients understand proceedings.

Culturally Informed Peer Support & Recovery

• Use lived experience and cultural understanding to promote positive self-esteem and recovery through a culturally informed peer support model.
• Provide practical guidance to Black service users, and where appropriate, their carers, on self-care, resilience strategies, and managing mental health within a race equality framework.
• Promote service user involvement by empowering individuals to communicate their culturally lived experiences and mental health needs to professionals.
• Challenge peer support models, stigma, and discriminatory practices that fail to recognise the cultural needs of Black service users.

Community Engagement & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders and community members to develop a culturally informed advocacy and peer support model.
• Establish regular advocacy ‘drop-ins’ on wards and in the community, ensuring accessibility for Black service users.
• Signpost service users to culturally relevant community, inpatient, and online resources, as well as mainstream and specialist services.
• Liaise with, and when necessary, challenge NHS professionals, care teams, and local authorities to ensure due process and cultural competence in service delivery.
• To maintain a level of professionalism in all spaces always.

Role Expectations

• Maintain confidentiality, respect service users’ right to privacy, and ensure their dignity is always upheld.
• Keep accurate and timely records of advocacy and peer support work, providing regular verbal and written reports to the line manager.
• Attend team meetings, participate in one-to-one supervision, group supervision sessions, and complete mandatory training in peer support and other job-related areas.
• Raise safeguarding concerns following organisational policies and procedures.

GENERAL

• To attend and participate in meetings held by the CAPSA team and other bodies as required.
• To maintain records of hours worked and to complete accurate expense returns.
• To foster and develop an equality and diversity approach within the role, in line with Black Thrive’
• To promote the service through the distribution of publicity materials, liaising with statutory and voluntary services, and, where appropriate, through the media and presentations to local groups within the agreed company policies.
• To promote the role of advocates both within the Living Well Network Alliance (LWNA) and externally.
• To work well as part of the team in a way that promotes inclusivity and respect in a supportive environment.
• The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.

Qualities Required

Each quality is marked as either E (Essential) or D (Desirable).

Experience (E/D)

1. Understanding and/or experience of mental health legislation and the Mental Health journey process in numerous settings – E
2. Lived experience of racism or discrimination in wider society and in the provision of mental health services – E
3. Experience of identifying and meeting the needs of individual people – E
4. Experience and ability to develop and maintain relationships with various stakeholders – E
5. A commitment to working in an anti-racist and anti-oppressive way – E
6. Confidence in challenging stigma and discrimination within structural settings – E
7. Experience of working in an advocacy or healthcare setting – D

Knowledge and Skills (E/D)

1. Understanding and knowledge of assessment of needs – E
2. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences – E
3. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including via telephone, in person, over video link, and through presentations, demonstrating confidence and assertiveness – E
4. Emotional resilience and the ability to cope with sometimes challenging people and environments – E
5. Ability to work flexibly to meet varying demands on the service – E
6. Good organisational skills, including timekeeping and ability to travel to different locations – E
7. Excellent computer literacy and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office – E
8. An understanding and awareness of The Equality Act 2010 – E
9. Ability to act calmly and respond professionally to distress, disturbance, and unpredictability – E
10. Ability to work independently on own initiative and prioritise workload while working as part of a team – E
11. Commitment to learning through work-based learning and mandatory training – E
12. Knowledge of mental health legislation such as MHA 1983/2007, MCA 2017 – D
13. Understanding of the specific role, purpose, and responsibilities of an Independent Mental Health Advocate – D
14. Knowledge and/or awareness of safeguarding issues – D
15. An additional language (e.g., Portuguese, French, etc.) – D
16. Qualifications in Peer Support / Advocacy – D

We welcome applications specifically from Black people of African and Caribbean heritage, as the statutory requirement of the Equality Act 2010, Advance Equality in Mental Health 2020 and Parent Carer Race Equality Framework 2020, in order to address the importance of Black employee safety. These posts are therefore restricted to Black applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9 and Part 1.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. Still, we will treat applicants with a criminal record fairly and not unreasonably discriminate because of a conviction or other information revealed.

 

 

Help us tackle health inequalities and support people excluded from care.

You’ll coordinate and deliver DOTW’s (London-based) outreach clinics and national advice line, guiding volunteers and ensuring compassionate, high-quality services for people facing destitution, violence, trafficking, or homelessness.

We’re looking for someone with excellent coordination and advocacy skills, emotional resilience, and experience supporting vulnerable groups. You’ll lead with empathy, think on your feet, and keep service users’ safety and dignity at the heart of everything you do.

We offer clinical supervision, wellbeing support, and training in trauma-informed and safeguarding practice.

We warmly welcome applicants with lived experience of migration, homelessness, or exclusion from health services.

About us

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. We’re here for everyone who needs us. We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children through delivering risk assessments, interventions, training and consultancy.

About the role and you

We are recruiting for a Policy Officer within the Advocacy and Communications Team. You will report to the Director of Advocacy and Communications and work closely with all others in the team.

The purpose of this role is to strengthen LFF’s policy and advocacy efforts. You will be crucial in helping to develop strategic engagement, influence change and strengthen LFF’s impact on public policy, and in doing so, make a significant contribution to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

Bringing together your knowledge and experience engaging with various stakeholders, you will effect change by identifying opportunities to influence decision-making, analyse data to develop policy positions for the organisation, contribute to consultation submissions and provide advice on various policy matters.

Advocacy is one of three guiding principles in our 2025-2030 organisational strategy. It underpins all of our work – we advocate for a greater focus on preventing abuse before it happens, not just within the halls of parliament but through all aspects of our work from frontline practice to influencing national policy.

This role sits within the wider Advocacy and Communications Team which supports the promotion of all areas of our work across various channels: websites, social media, press and PR, marketing and digital advertising. Working with the wider team, we are striving to better showcase our advocacy work both internally and externally.

Our ideal candidate will have a strong track record of policy development, an understanding of the UK legislative process and a commitment to our mission to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation.

For a more detailed job description, please request a job pack.

What you’ll get from us

We offer the following benefits:

• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week; we ask for 3 days in the office per week for the first month)
• NEST pension
• 33 days’ annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period)
• Up to 5 days’ learning and development per year
• Flu jabs & eye tests
• Season ticket loans
• Charity discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Option of private healthcare with Benenden

How to apply

We really welcome informal conversations with prospective candidates about the role and the charity in advance of the deadline.

To apply, please download the job pack and return your completed documents by Monday 24th November. Stage 1 interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3rd December and stage 2 interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th December for shortlisted candidates.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check for this position.

#policy #advocacy #communications #engagement