Domestic violence advocate jobs in Birmingham

Specialist & Expert Advocate for Children - based in Scotland

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse AAFDA

Remote – Based in Scotland with regular travel across Scotland

Salary – £33,000 pa

Full-time

Fixed term for 12 months (potentially 36 months dependent on funding)

Closing Date – 10th April 2026

AAFDA is a growing charity, and we are looking for a specialist Children’s Advocate to be based in Scotland. Although home based, travel will be required across Scotland. We welcome applications from candidates who are registered social workers and who have professional experience of working with people who have experienced domestic abuse.

We are also committed to diversity and strongly encourage applications from those with Black and/or Minoritised backgrounds.

AAFDA was founded by Frank Mullane in memory of his sister Julia Pemberton and her son Will who were both killed by her ex-partner in 2003.

Scotland is expected to introduce Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews (DHSRs) in April 2026. We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of the Scottish legislative system and good understanding around domestic abuse and how it impacts on children to join our growing charity. Each year, in Scotland, around 25 families lose a loved one to fatal domestic abuse, perhaps one third of this number being domestic homicides and the others being suicides following domestic abuse. The actual number of domestic abuse related suicides remains unknown.

Many of these families suffer significant problems including relationship breakdown, job difficulties/loss and mental and physical health issues. The Children’s advocate will provide expert advocacy, specialist peer support to children, and other services, helping them practically and emotionally. This may include helping them to contribute to DHSRs and providing opportunities to recover from harm for example via trauma therapy and other services.

Through trauma-informed approaches, you will help the children bereaved by fatal domestic abuse:

-To enhance their voice after fatal domestic abuse including by helping them to contribute to domestic homicide and suicide reviews and formal / informal meetings with various professionals.

-By providing residential peer support events, or access to these events for both the children and their carers.

-Via virtual support tools and other resources.

-By developing pathways into groupwork programmes for carers of bereaved children.

-Cope and recover by direct support and by linking into other services, for example, specialist trauma therapy.

In return for joining us, we will offer you:

· 25 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays

· Excellent development and training opportunities

· Pension Scheme

· Healthcare Scheme

· Employee Assist Scheme

Application Instructions

To apply for this role, please submit a supporting statement along with your CV. The closing date is 10th April 2026. Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages

Applicants will be shortlisted according to how well they meet the criteria in the person specification. Please highlight and explain how you meet these in your supporting statement. If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.

Please note that we will not progress applications where the supporting statement does not address the criteria for the role being applied for.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Children & Young Persons Domestic Abuse Independent Victim Advocate to join the Children & Young People team in Warwickshire , 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 are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the role

As a Children & Young Persons Independent Victim Advocate:

• Provide one to one support to children and young people (mostly face to face)
• Proactively promote the service, raise awareness of services & work collaboratively with professionals to improve the access to and quality of services for children & young people.
• Play a vital role in ensuring we provide high quality, end-to-end support to children & young people to help them to recover from the effects of crime.
• Undertake risk and needs assessments to address the specific needs of the client in line with VS operating procedures.
• To follow relevant safeguarding policies and procedures, working with safeguarding leads and other agencies to ensure an integrated approach to address any safeguarding concerns.

You will need:

• Experience of working with children and young people.
• Excellent communication skills
• A good understanding of the impact of Domestic Abuse

This role involves extensive travel throughout Warwickshire travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement. If you are unable to drive because of a disability please indicate this in your application in your personal statement so we can explore the feasibility of alternative arrangements.

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

About Us

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

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 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.

Pathway Project is an inspiring Domestic Abuse Charity that makes a difference, it's a great place to work, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy and we need a Finance Manager who can match our energy.

We are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion  for excellence in service delivery. Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans.

It’s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey.

We are looking for a new Finance Manager to be responsible for the effective day-to-day financial management of the charity supporting the CEO with the Finance Strategy.

She will be driven, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements including the Charity Commission and Charity SORP (FRS 102).

She will work closely with the CEO, SMT and Trustees and she will provide clear, timely financial information to support sound operational and strategic decision-making and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

EQUISS Caseworker

Reports to: Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding

Purpose of the Role

EQUISS is an independent organisation working to strengthen safeguarding, welfare and accountability across the equestrian sector.

Across the equestrian world - from riding schools and training yards to competitions and affiliated clubs - concerns about abuse, misconduct and unsafe practices have too often been difficult to raise, navigate or resolve. EQUISS has been established to help change that: ensuring individuals affected by harm are heard, supported and able to access clear and safe pathways for raising concerns.

This role represents the first advocacy caseworker position within EQUISS, playing a central part in establishing a new, independent support service for the equestrian sector.

The Caseworker will provide trauma-informed advocacy, guidance and practical support to individuals experiencing abuse, harm or misconduct within equestrian environments. The role will help individuals understand their options, access appropriate support and navigate reporting processes within sport and, where appropriate, statutory systems.

Working closely with the Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding, the Caseworker will help deliver EQUISS’s advocacy service and support line, ensuring individuals receive safe, informed and survivor-centred support.

As one of the early roles within a developing organisation, the Caseworker will also contribute insight from frontline casework to help EQUISS identify patterns, risks and systemic safeguarding challenges within the equestrian world, supporting the organisation’s wider mission to drive meaningful reform.

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy and Support

• Provide empathetic, trauma-informed support to individuals seeking guidance relating to abuse, misconduct or safeguarding concerns within equestrian environments
• Act as a single point of contact (SPOC) for individuals engaging with the criminal justice system, helping them understand processes, maintain communication with relevant agencies and access appropriate support throughout the process
• Listen to and respond to disclosures in a sensitive, survivor-centred manner while always maintaining professional boundaries, and ensuring clients understand the remit of the service
• Help individuals understand their rights, options and available pathways for raising concerns
• Support individuals to make informed decisions about next steps, while respecting their autonomy and choices
• Where appropriate, accompany and support individuals at face-to-face meetings, including meetings with organisations, safeguarding professionals or governing bodies, and provide advocacy support during interactions with police or court processes
• Maintain appropriate and supportive contact with individuals seeking assistance, ensuring clear communication and follow-up where appropriate

Case Management

• Manage a caseload of advocacy enquiries and support requests under the supervision of the Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding
• Conduct structured needs and risk assessments to understand the circumstances and support needs of individuals contacting EQUISS
• Maintain clear, accurate and confidential case records in line with organisational policies and data protection requirements
• Ensure individuals are appropriately signposted or referred to specialist services such as counselling, legal advice, advocacy organisations or statutory services where required

Safeguarding

• Identify safeguarding concerns involving children, young people or adults at risk and respond in line with EQUISS safeguarding procedures.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns to the Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding where appropriate, seeking guidance on complex or high-risk situations while maintaining confidence in managing routine casework independently
• Support the safe handling and documentation of safeguarding concerns, including gathering relevant information and assisting with referrals where appropriate.
• Maintain clear and confidential records of safeguarding decisions and actions taken

Partnership and Liaison

• Work collaboratively with relevant organisations and professionals where appropriate, including safeguarding leads within equestrian sport, statutory agencies and specialist support services
• Support individuals in navigating organisational processes where concerns relate to equestrian environments
• Help build constructive relationships with relevant safeguarding and welfare partners

Learning and Insight

• Contribute insight from casework to help EQUISS identify patterns, risks and systemic safeguarding issues within the equestrian world
• Contribute insight from casework and engagement with individuals to help inform EQUISS communications, campaigns and sector awareness work, supporting the organisation in highlighting safeguarding issues within the equestrian sector
• Support the development of organisational learning by sharing themes and insights emerging from advocacy work
• Assist the Head of Advocacy and Safeguarding in identifying areas where sector guidance or safeguarding training may be beneficial

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Safeguarding training at Level 3, or willingness to undertake Level 3 safeguarding training within the first six months of appointment

Desirable

• ISVA, IDVA or CHISVA qualification, or equivalent advocacy training.
• Additional training in trauma-informed practice, safeguarding or victim-survivor support

Where candidates do not yet hold an ISVA, IDVA or CHISVA qualification, EQUISS will support the successful candidate to undertake relevant advocacy or safeguarding training as part of their professional development.

Essential Experience

• Experience supporting individuals affected by abuse, safeguarding concerns or trauma within a professional setting
• Experience providing advocacy, casework or support within safeguarding, welfare, social care sport or related sectors
• Experience working with sensitive and confidential information
• Understanding of trauma-informed and survivor-centred practice

Knowledge

• Understanding of safeguarding principles relating to children, young people and adults at risk
• Awareness of barriers individuals may face when reporting abuse or misconduct
• Understanding of professional boundaries and safe information sharing

Skills

• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Ability to engage sensitively with individuals discussing difficult experiences
• Ability to assess needs, prioritise actions and manage casework effectively
• Strong organisational and record-keeping skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

Additional Information

• The role may involve occasional travel to provide in-person advocacy support, including attending meetings with organisations or statutory agencies, and accompanying individuals to police stations, court hearings or other relevant appointments where appropriate
• Some evening or weekend availability may occasionally be required
• The role requires an enhanced DBS check
• The postholder will participate in regular supervision and reflective practice
• The postholder must demonstrate a commitment to EQUISS’ values of safety, respect, integrity and inclusion

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 Head of Advocacy & Safeguarding