Child sexual exploitation practitioner jobs
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37 hours per week / £32,565 per annum / fixed-term Maternity cover (12 Months) / working Monday - Thursday 9.00-1700, Friday 9.00-16.30.
At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.
YMCA is our specialist project supporting children and young people across Sussex and Surrey who are affected by, or at risk of, exploitation. Through education, awareness-raising and empowerment, we help young people understand healthy relationships, recognise harmful behaviours, and build safety and resilience.
We now have an exciting opportunity to join our WiSE team as a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner. In this vital role, you will work alongside the Service manager, an Early Intervention worker, and two experienced Practitioners. You will be co-located with the Exploitation team at Guildford Police Station, working collaboratively with partner agencies to support young people and contribute to multi-agency safeguarding responses.
The role involves a significant amount of lone working and frequent travel across Surrey to meet clients and attend meetings, with occasional travel further afield. Therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.
What you will be doing
In this role, you will hold a caseload of young people aged 10–25 who are vulnerable to sexual or criminal exploitation, providing intensive, person-centred support. You will work closely with professionals across multiple agencies to promote safety, disrupt exploitation, and empower young people to move towards safer, more stable futures. Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload of vulnerable young people, helping them stay safe and move away from the influence of perpetrators.
- Work collaboratively with partner professionals to design and deliver tailored support packages, offering specialist consultation where needed.
- Maintain accurate case records and contribute to clear, timely, and professional reports.
- Liaise effectively with Children’s Services, Surrey Police, and other agencies to disrupt abuse and support safeguarding and prosecution processes.
- Deliver training and awareness workshops to professionals, foster carers, and partner agencies to strengthen community understanding and responses to exploitation.
- Contribute to strategic development, deputising at relevant meetings and helping shape best practice across the service.
This is a challenging role; many of the young people you support may not recognise the risks they are facing or the abusive dynamics within their relationships. Supporting victims can at times be emotionally demanding and distressing. To ensure you feel supported and able to deliver high-quality practice, you will receive:
- One-to-one clinical supervision
- Weekly team meetings
- Regular line management supervision focused on both casework and wellbeing
We recognise the emotional weight of this work and prioritise a reflective, supportive environment for all team members.
If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
We are looking for someone who brings a strong combination of professional understanding, practical experience, and a commitment to safeguarding young people. You will ideally have:
- A relevant qualification in Youth Work, Social Work or an equivalent field — or significant comparable experience working directly with vulnerable young people.
- Proven safeguarding experience involving children and young people, with the ability to identify, respond to, and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Direct casework experience supporting young people aged 10–25, delivering structured, person-centred interventions.
- Experience facilitating group work that engages, educates and empowers young people.
- Experience delivering and risk-assessing outreach work, ensuring safe, effective practice in community settings.
- A strong understanding of the risks faced by vulnerable young people, including sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and harmful sexual behaviour.
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 29 March at midnight.
PLEASE NOTE that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.
YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.
Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Safe to Learn is looking for a creatively driven graphic designer for a fixed-term contract of initially 12 months. We are looking for someone who has a passion for communicating everything from research reports to branding and storytelling for children and their families, in all types of media, including the website.
This role would suit a graphic designer who is confident working independently, enjoys working in an often fast-based but varied, working environment, where attention to detail, flexibility and pace are essential. All while working with and being supported by a team of specialists.
If you have the necessary skills and experience and want to affect real change then join Safe to Learn.
Job description
Safe to Learn is a newly established network of teachers, parents, researchers, policymakers, young people and child safeguarding practitioners, working together to end antisemitism in UK schools. We co-produce evidence-based child safeguarding resources, tools and standards to address antisemitism and improve the school environment for all children, educators and support staff.
Safe to Learn is seeking a graphic designer to build on the work in progress by providing engaging print and web design in line with our brand guidelines for all assets, including printed and digital resources, such as emails, leaflets, web banners, landing pages and advertising banners for the website and online marketing and dissemination campaigns.
Responsibilities
1. Work collaboratively with the KCS Communications team to ensure all designed elements and communications have a consistent look and feel in line with existing style guides.
2. Work collaboratively with external partners and agencies.
3. Ensure all designed digital-based or printed communications are consistent with the brand guidelines.
4. Receive briefs from members of the KCS team and agree achievable deadlines.
5. Manage workload and prioritise briefs in line with agreed deadlines advising of any potential slippage.
6. Ensure designs meet the brief prior to handover for sign off.
7. Progress to final design following amends and final sign-off in agreed format (s) or implementation online where appropriate.
8. Provide support and cover for other design colleagues.
9. Keep up to date with new technology, software and systems.
10. Anything else that might be reasonably required.
Person Specification
Candidates with the following experience and commitment are encouraged to apply:
1. A demonstrable alignment with our mission and values.
2. A clear commitment to ending antisemitism and understanding of antisemitism, child rights, and child safeguarding and their underlying principles.
3. Demonstrable experience in graphic design, preferably in the charity sector.
4. Knowledge and proficient use of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Adobe Illustrator, Mailchimp.
5. Creative flair, demonstrable through extensive portfolio.
6. Enthusiastic, conscientious and motivated, with a high-level of attention to detail.
7. Experience of dealing with competing priorities and able to multi-task.
8. Use design skills in areas such as colour, composition, layout and typography to work on a variety of products and activities. These could include:
· websites, apps and social media channels
· advertisements
· reports and publications
· posters, flyers and banners
· exhibitions and displays
· corporate communications and campaigns in our brand identity.
9. The work demands creative flair, up-to-date knowledge of industry standards and a professional approach to time, workload and deadlines.
10. A commitment to inclusive design principles and designing for accessibility.
11. Experience of developing high-quality resources and educational materials for children and educators.
12. A positive, flexible, participatory and consultative approach.
13. Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to engage audiences at all levels.
Application Instructions
To apply, please send a CV, a portfolio of your recent work and a cover letter addressing each point in the person specification.
Should you need further information please contact:us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About the role
This is a senior leadership role and a key early appointment within EQUISS.
As Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding, you will lead the development of our advocacy and safeguarding work, shaping how EQUISS supports individuals navigating abuse, misconduct and safeguarding concerns across the equestrian sector.
You will establish and oversee the organisation’s advocacy service and support line, including recruiting and managing advocacy caseworkers, and ensuring individuals receive safe, informed and survivor-centred guidance. You will also lead the development of safeguarding frameworks, case management systems and organisational safeguarding practice.
As a founding leadership role, you will help shape the safeguarding framework of a new independent organisation, providing strategic oversight of the EQUISS safeguarding training programme and contributing safeguarding expertise to the development of our standards and accreditation frameworks, ensuring learning from advocacy informs sector practice.
Working closely with the leadership team, you will help establish EQUISS as a trusted organisation driving stronger safeguarding, clearer reporting pathways and greater accountability across the equestrian sector.
As a developing organisation operating with a small and collaborative team, this role requires someone who is comfortable balancing strategic leadership with practical delivery. We are looking for a compassionate and inclusive leader who can support and develop others, foster a culture of trust and reflective practice, and contribute positively to building the organisation as it grows.
Key responsibilities
Strategic leadership and safeguarding oversight
- Provide strategic leadership for EQUISS’ advocacy and safeguarding work
- Establish safeguarding frameworks, case management processes and risk management structures across the organisation
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, providing oversight of complex safeguarding cases and ensuring appropriate referrals and partnership working
- Ensure EQUISS maintains robust safeguarding governance, confidentiality and data protection standards
Advocacy and support services
- Lead the development and delivery of EQUISS’s advocacy service and support line.
- Recruit, manage and support advocacy caseworkers, ensuring high-quality, survivor-centred support and safe case management practice
- Shape how EQUISS supports individuals navigating reporting processes, organisational complaints and statutory systems
- Oversee case management systems and triage processes to ensure safe, consistent and effective responses to safeguarding concerns
Safeguarding training and sector learning
- Provide strategic oversight of the EQUISS safeguarding training programme, ensuring training reflects the realities of safeguarding within equestrian environments and aligns with best practice across sport and safeguarding sectors
- Lead the recruitment, management and quality assurance of safeguarding trainers, including freelance trainers, consultants and subject-matter experts delivering EQUISS training programmes
- Work with trainers and external partners to develop and refine training content, ensuring consistency, accuracy and high standards of delivery
- Establish processes for trainer induction, guidance and quality assurance to ensure training is delivered in line with EQUISS safeguarding principles and standards
- Ensure learning from advocacy work informs training content, sector guidance and safeguarding practice
Contribution to standards and sector improvement
- Contribute safeguarding expertise to the development of EQUISS standards and accreditation frameworks, ensuring safeguarding expectations reflect best practice
- Use insight from advocacy and safeguarding work to inform sector learning, standards development and organisational guidance
- Support the development of sector resources that help organisations strengthen safeguarding practice
Sector engagement and partnerships
- Build relationships with safeguarding professionals, statutory agencies and specialist support organisations
- Represent EQUISS in sector conversations relating to safeguarding, welfare and organisational accountability
- Contribute to knowledge-sharing, policy discussions and initiatives aimed at improving safeguarding standards across the equestrian sector
Culture, learning and survivor-centred practice
- Ensure EQUISS’s work remains grounded in survivor-centred principles, independence and transparency
- Embed learning from lived experience into service design, safeguarding practice and training development
- Foster a culture of reflective practice, safeguarding vigilance and professional integrity within the organisation
Person specification
Qualifications
- A relevant professional qualification or degree in safeguarding, social work, psychology, law, education, criminology or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
- ISVA, IDVA or CHISVA qualification, or willingness to work towards one
- Advanced safeguarding training, including Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training and Safeguarding Level 4 or Level 5 training, or equivalent senior safeguarding training
- Evidence of continued professional development in safeguarding practice
Essential experience and knowledge
- Significant professional experience in safeguarding, advocacy or victim-survivor support, ideally within violence against women and girls (VAWG), sport, welfare or related sectors
- Strong understanding of independent advocacy models, including ISVA and CHISVA frameworks, and how these operate alongside statutory services
- Experience overseeing complex safeguarding cases, including risk assessment, referrals and partnership working within multi-agency safeguarding environments such as police, social care and safeguarding hubs
- Experience leading and managing teams, including providing supervision or reflective practice support to staff working with complex safeguarding or advocacy cases
- Experience recruiting, supporting or overseeing trainers, facilitators or external practitioners, ensuring quality and consistency of delivery
- Experience supporting or working with individuals affected by sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, modern slavery or related forms of abuse
- Demonstrable understanding of trauma-informed and survivor-centred practice
- Strong knowledge of UK safeguarding legislation and guidance, including responsibilities relating to children and adults at risk, and experience contributing to organisational safeguarding policies, procedures or governance frameworks
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgement in complex safeguarding situations, maintaining confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries
Leadership and personal qualities
- A compassionate and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to support staff working with complex and sensitive safeguarding issues.
- Ability to work effectively in a small and collaborative team, contributing to the development of systems, processes and culture as the organisation grows.
- Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust with colleagues, partners and those seeking support.
- A collaborative mindset and willingness to work flexibly in a developing organisation, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on delivery where required.
Desirable
- Experience working within sport, equestrian environments or athlete welfare contexts.
- Experience contributing to sector standards, accreditation frameworks or safeguarding policy development.
- Membership of, or engagement with, a relevant professional safeguarding body or network.
About EQUISS
EQUISS is an independent organisation working across the equestrian sector to improve safeguarding, welfare and accountability. We support individuals affected by abuse and misconduct, work with organisations to strengthen safeguarding practice, and drive systemic change through training, standards and advocacy.
Our work brings together three key areas: supporting individuals navigating concerns, strengthening safeguarding practice across the sector, and campaigning for meaningful reform where systems are failing.
As a developing organisation, EQUISS is building the structures, services and standards needed to ensure safeguarding and welfare are prioritised across the equestrian world.
Please note: There will be a requirement to travel for this role.
Employment package:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- A personal pension plan provided through NEST after 3 months
- Private Healthcare insurance after successful completion of probationary period
- Reporting to CEO
