First response independent sexual violence advisor jobs

Service Manager – Women’s Recovery Refuge

Location: Burnley – on site.

Hours: Full time, including participation in an on‑call rota
Contract: Permanent

Please note, this is an on-site role only. Due to the nature of our Refuges and Outreach services, it is essential that our teams are present and accessible, enabling us to provide safe, responsive and high-quality support to those who need us most.

This post is open to women only as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. 

About the service

Safenet delivers specialist services across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, supporting adults and children affected by domestic abuse through safe accommodation, community services, recovery support and prevention work.

This role is based at Jane’s Place which provides 24‑hour accommodation and specialist support for women who are experiencing domestic abuse and who want to address substance use, mental ill‑health, or other complex needs as part of their recovery journey.

At Jane’s Place, many of the women we support have been excluded elsewhere. We don’t see “complexity” as a problem to manage, but as a response to trauma – and recovery as something that happens in healthy relationships, community, safety and hope.

This service sits at the intersection of domestic abuse, addiction recovery and mental health, and we are proud to offer a psychologically informed, trauma‑responsive environment where women are supported to rebuild their lives on their own terms.

About the role

As Service Manager, you will lead and be accountable for the refuge and lead a skilled, compassionate team delivering round‑the‑clock support to women and their children.

You will be a values‑led leader who understands recovery, trauma and risk, and who can balance clarity and accountability with warmth, curiosity and care.

You will:

• Lead and support a multidisciplinary refuge team working with women affected by domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental ill‑health
• Create a culture of psychological safety, reflective practice and trauma‑informed care
• Oversee the safe delivery of a 24‑hour residential service, including participation in an on‑call rota
• Ensure high standards of safeguarding, risk management, and housing management
• Work in partnership with recovery services, mental health providers, criminal justice partners and local authorities
• Support staff to hold hopeful, recovery‑focused relationships with women, even where progress is non‑linear
• Use lived experience insights, feedback and data to continually shape and improve the service

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who believes deeply in capacity for change and recovery – even in the most challenging circumstances.

We’re looking for someone who…

We welcome applicants from a range of relevant backgrounds; direct refuge experience is not essential, but you do need to bring credibility, confidence and compassion from related fields.

You might come from:

• Substance misuse or addiction recovery services
• Trauma‑informed women’s services
• Mental health or psychologically informed environments (PIE)
• Housing or supported accommodation with complex needs

You will bring:

• Experience of leading and developing staff teams in high‑pressure, emotionally demanding services
• A strong understanding of domestic abuse, recovery, and trauma
• Knowledge of harm reduction, recovery‑focused approaches and systems change
• Confidence managing risk, safeguarding and complex decision‑making
• The ability to hold boundaries without losing humanity
• A commitment to women‑only, feminist and survivor‑informed practice

For further information about the role, please visit the Role Profile. 

Essential Core Skills  

Health & Safety Awareness 

All our employees are required to work in a safe way, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and keep themselves, other colleagues and customers safe.  You will be expected to update your knowledge and skills on Health & Safety if successful in your application.  

Safeguarding 

We work with adults and children who may be ‘at risk’ and expect colleagues to work in a way which protects the people we support from harm.  Our colleagues are expected to identify people ‘at risk’ and confidently report any Safeguarding concerns as appropriate within the service. 

Digital 

Across our services, we use a range of technology and systems and expect colleagues to use them effectively and safely following cybersecurity and data protection principles (UK GDPR).  Full training on specific systems is provided but a willingness to learn and develop is essential. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) 

The Calico Group welcomes diversity and champions the rights of those in society who may be marginalised.  Our employees are expected to be inclusive, embracing those from different backgrounds to develop a fairer society. 

If you share our values and are ready to grow through continuous learning, development, and the support of a dedicated team, we want to hear from you! 

What’s in It for You? 

At The Calico Group, we value our people and offer a supportive, inclusive culture alongside fantastic benefits: 

• Bravo Benefits – Exclusive discounts at popular high street brands including many retailers and restaurants. 

• Westfield Health – Our company funded cash plan, with access to a Doctor 24/7 – for you and your dependents. 

• Mental Health Support – Access emotional and mental well-being services through Spectrum. 

• Cycle to Work Scheme – Save on commuting costs while staying active. 

• Pension Options – with employer pension contributions. 

• Life Assurance – Peace of mind for you and your loved ones. 

• Financial Advice – Expert guidance to help manage your finances. 

• Recognition Awards – Celebrate your achievements with our recognition programs. 

• Meaningful learning and development programmes with regular focus on your individual growth. 

• Gym Membership Discounts – Stay fit with local gym access. 

• One Calico Events – Connect and unwind at our employee social gatherings. 

• Paid Professional Fees – We’ll cover the cost of professional subscriptions so you can continue growing your career. 

And much more! We also offer enhanced holidays, sickness, maternity, and paternity options, ensuring you feel supported when you need it most. 

This post is open to women only as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

SafeNet is working towards Equal Opportunities for all and actively encourages applications from disabled, ethnic minority and LBGTQI+ women who are under-represented.  SafeNet is a Registered Charity No. 1091544 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3860803. 

Inclusive Hiring at Calico 

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss accessibility, please let us know. 

Our Commitment to Safeguarding 

The Calico Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our customers employees, and volunteers. Successful candidates will be subject to a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) and appropriate pre-employment checks in line with our safeguarding policies. 

CONTEXT

An estimated 12,000 men are raped every year and 76,000 sexually abused or assaulted. Yet just 4% of men will tell someone. Of those who do, it takes on average 26 years to do so.

Survivors UK provides specialist support to (cis and trans*) men and boys, and to non-binary people, who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. Our aim is to help any man, boy, or non-binary person, to have the confidence to tell someone what’s happened to them, and to know that it’s OK to seek help. When they do, we want to ensure they have access to the right support so they can deal with the impact of their experiences.

We provide emotional support, information and signposting to survivors and anyone worried about someone they know, through a national website and webchat service (open till 8pm most evenings). Last year, 2,600 people contacted us via our webchat services and social media.

In London, we are the only organisation providing specialist services for men and boys, including individual counselling and therapeutic groupwork, available till 9pm six days a week. Across London, we provide the capital’s only Independent Sexual Advisor (ISVA) Service that helps men and boys through the criminal justice system.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an exciting role at Survivors UK which combines counselling and practical support, specifically to the (circa) 150 people who refer themselves for individual counselling with us each year. You will work specifically with young people aged 13+ and people from Black, Asian and Multi-Heritage communities who have experienced sexual violence.

The people served include those with clinical mental health diagnoses, drug and alcohol dependencies, at risk of suicide, homelessness or involved in the sex industry. You will need to be a highly skilled counsellor with experience of dealing with very vulnerable clients, willing to work flexibly and on your own initiative. Importantly, you will be a compassionate person, able to blend therapeutic work with practical support and care.

Main responsibilities include:

• Provide counselling and practical support interventions to boys, men, trans people and non-binary people from the BAM community who have been raped, sexually abused or assaulted with high levels of need and who are most vulnerable.
• Deliver counselling interventions by phone, video calling and face-to-face with clients 13+ years old.
• With clients, develop action plans to help them address emotional and practical needs and ensure clients can engage with a flexible service.
• An ability, interest and commitment to working and developing a therapeutic approach that is culturally attuned to Black, Asian and Multi and Dual Heritage clients.
• Maintain accurate and timely client case notes, ensuring adherence to confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection procedures.
• Support the monitoring and reporting to funders on the development and delivery of the service.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Clearance
 

PURPOSE

• Provide counselling and practical support interventions to boys, men and non-binary people who have been raped, sexually abused or assaulted with high levels of need and who are most vulnerable.
• Collaborate with clients to discover what their needs are from our service
• Support the monitoring and reporting to funders on the development and delivery of the service.

KEY OUTCOMES

• Survivors who are highly vulnerable and distressed will have access to a service that meets their needs, with improvements in their overall health and wellbeing.
• A reduction in harmful behaviours, such as less suicidal ideation, reduced drug & alcohol use, reduced incidences of self-harm.
• Survivors who are leading chaotic lifestyles report feeling more stable, better able to cope and better supported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Service Delivery

• Deliver counselling interventions by phone, video calling and face-to-face
• Maintain accurate and timely client case notes, ensuring adherence to confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection procedures.
• With clients, develop action plans to help them address emotional and practical needs and ensure clients can engage with a flexible service.
• Provide regular and timely communications with clients so that they are encouraged to remain with the service.
• Attend clinical supervision.
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• Liaison and Promotion
• Maintain good working relationships with other support services associated with the client.

1. Monitoring, evaluation and dissemination

• Collect and accurately record one-to-one contact data, including presenting issues, client notes, socio-economic demographics, using Survivors UK Salesforce database.
• Monitor individual client’s progress through the outcomes monitoring framework.
• Where appropriate, and within safeguarding and data protection policies, collate qualitative client stories for reporting back to funders, evidencing need and service user opinion.
• Ensure all clients are aware of and have access to the organisation’s complaints policy.

1. General Duties

• Be responsible for administrative functions associated with the role, including accurate record keeping and filing.
• Provide input and comment on the development of Survivors UK policies and procedures and ensure you follow established procedures.
• As a member of a small team, contribute to the development of new initiatives and services in response to client need.

The post-holder will be required to carry out additional duties from time to time. Such duties will be commensurate with the role.

Survivors UK is an equal opportunities employer.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience and qualifications

• A BACP, UKCP or BABCP accredited counsellor, psychotherapist or CBT practitioner.
• Completed at least 3 parts of EMDR training. Potential for completion of the training to be offered with the role
• At least 2-years’ experience of working with highly vulnerable clients in a counselling and/or support service.
• Knowledge of trauma informed practice
• Demonstrable caseload management, with experience of undertaking initial counselling assessments.
• Experience of using creative approaches such as art, drama or play when working therapeutically with children and young people.
• Proven track record in helping clients who are experiencing high levels of distress and/or chaotic lifestyles, to improve their health and wellbeing.
• Efficient and accurate use of outcomes monitoring frameworks, such as CORE, Outcomes Star, or similar

Skills, knowledge and competences

• Strong understanding of the experiences, needs and impact of rape, sexual abuse or assault on (cis and trans*) men and boys, and on non-binary people
• Self-motivated and a self-starter: high level of confidence to develop and deliver a new service.
• A mature, calm and empathic manner: able to engage with clients who have challenging needs and deal with highly emotional and stressful situations.
• Strong communication skills: able to build trusting relationships and rapport with clients and interact and engage effectively with external agencies.
• Adherence to confidentiality and boundary policies and practices.
• High degree of flexibility in approach to working with clients and the wider team.
• Positive attitude and willing to contribute to developments, improvements and changes more broadly within Survivors UK.
• Competent administrator and highly organised: committed to maintaining accurate client records and reporting on performance.
• Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities, with a non-judgemental approach to helping men, non-binary and trans people
• A commitment to pursuing professional excellence, personal development and learning.

The Advocacy Director holds primary responsibility for delivering ECC’s advocacy strategy internationally and within the UK. This strategy aims to ensure states’ legal obligations on casualty recording are recognised and upheld globally, and that casualty data is used effectively to shape policy responses to conflict.

ECC’s advocacy work is focused primarily within the human rights and humanitarian multilateral fora in Geneva, but also incorporates work with New York-based UN targets within the security field. In parallel, as a UK-based organisation, we seek to influence domestic decision-makers including those within the FCDO, MoD, and parliament.

The Advocacy Director will be ECC's most senior external face after the Executive Director. As a key figure within a small organisation, the Advocacy Director will lead advocacy activity directly, building and stewarding relationships with state delegations, UK parliamentarians, UN officials, and civil society partners. The role requires exceptional political judgment, fluency across both multilateral and Westminster environments, and the credibility to represent ECC at the most senior national and international levels.

Note: This role is being advertised at the same time as the Executive Director role, as both functions were previously filled by the same person. Candidates can apply for the Advocacy Director role alone, or apply for both roles to combine as a full-time position. Please see full details in the Executive Director job description and advert.