Gender based violence jobs

Job description:

Join our passionate team in Bicester and make a real difference to people rebuilding their lives. As a Housing & Resettlement Worker, you will provide high-quality support to residents working towards independent living. You will manage a varied caseload, create tailored support plans, work alongside partner agencies, and help clients achieve positive long-term outcomes. This rewarding role offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, work autonomously and as part of a supportive team, and play a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming and empowering environment for vulnerable adults!

Main Purpose Of Job:

This role is responsible for delivering a safe and supportive service to all residents living at our accommodation provision in Bicester. The role holder will lead on the case management of clients with low to medium support needs who are working towards living independently within twelve months. Working in partnership with other agencies the role holder will create holistic, individualised support plans, identifying and pro-actively working towards appropriate and timely move ons.

Main Areas Of Responsibility:

• To ensure the effective delivery of high quality care, resettlement support and housing management according to Homeless Oxfordshire policies and procedures.
• To be responsible for supporting and working with clients to achieve suitable move on and successful outcomes.
• To assess risk and suitability of referrals for the service.
• To be confident in lone working, connecting remotely with the wider Cherwell team daily and attending team meetings in Banbury once per week.
• Ensure support plans and risk management plans are documented and agreed with clients in line with procedures.
• Work with the Team Manager and colleagues to achieve agreed contractual performance targets and organisational targets and objectives.
• Report to the Team Manager any safeguarding concerns without delay in line with procedures.
• Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming environment.
• Manage challenging situations in line with procedures and to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
• Ensure that IT systems are updated as required and concise record keeping is completed promptly.
• Maintain positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• Maintain positive client satisfaction; giving a respectful communication and service to clients. Ensure clients are aware of and support them to maximise their opportunity to be involved in Client Participation.
• To participate in the induction of and support new team members.
• To ensure that Homeless Oxfordshire’s Equal Opportunities Policies are complied with and promoted in carrying out duties of the post.
• To represent Homeless Oxfordshire at interagency meetings, as required.
• To manage rent accounts and the collection of rent in accordance with policy and procedure
• To undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required to meet the operational needs of Homeless Oxfordshire Ltd.

About Us:

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer a someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

What’s Next: Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate .

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

Job Title: Housing Independent Gender Violence Advocate (Housing IGVA)

Location: The GAIA Centre (Lambeth, London)
Salary: £29,701.36 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. The working pattern is 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. Occasional late early shifts: 8am-4pm or late shifts: 1pm – 6pm on a rota basis to cover duty (approximately 2-3 days a month). Flexibility on how the hours is spread across the week within these times.

The Housing Independent Gender Violence Advocate (IGVA) will be embedded within borough housing teams to facilitate the dual working that will ensure that survivors’ safety and housing needs are met. This includes:

· Close working relationships with Housing colleagues 

· Provision of specialist knowledge relating to DA for Housing Officers and Homelessness Teams to draw on 

· Specialist support for survivors at the moment of crisis 

· Provision of advocacy; supporting survivors to access safe accommodation 

· Ongoing support from the IGVA from wider DA service, including access to group clinical supervision, casework management meetings, reflective practice sessions, one-to-one supervision from service manager 

The Housing IGVA 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 job involves informing survivors of the full range of civil, criminal, housing and practical options that might increase their safety. The post holder will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support especially around complex housing needs.

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.

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 1 June 2026

Interview Date: 8 and 9 June 2026

                                                                          Purpose of the Role:

Working collaboratively with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust the successful candidate will be responsible for planning, delivering, and evaluating structured programmes of therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities for women in acute settings, supporting recovery, wellbeing, skill development, and positive risk-taking within a safe and trauma-informed environment. Working under the established Disability and mental health team at CACT, this project is the latest example of creative initiatives produced by this successful collaboration of voluntary and public sector.

                                                              Key Responsibilities (but not limited to):

 • Design and deliver a varied programme of meaningful, structured activities (e.g. creative, physical, educational, life-skills, wellbeing-focused).

• Promote engagement, motivation, and inclusion, adapting activities to meet individual needs, abilities, and risk profiles.

• Work in a trauma-informed and gender-responsive way, recognising the complex needs of women in secure settings.

• Maintain safety and security at all times, following unit policies, risk assessments, and individual care plans.

• Collaborate closely with the multidisciplinary team (nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, security staff).

• Encourage the development of confidence, social skills, independence, and emotional regulation through activities.

• Monitor attendance, progress, and outcomes, contributing to care planning, reviews, and reports as required.

• Maintain accurate records and documentation in line with organisational and legal requirements.

• Support service users to develop skills that aid rehabilitation, recovery, and preparation for step-down or discharge.

• Ensure all activities comply with health and safety, equality, and safeguarding standards. 

Genuine Occupational Requirement: This position is restricted to applicants from women under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. This is essential to provide specific services to women within acute settings who have experience trauma, often gender based violence

Job Title: Duty Independent Gender Violence Advocate (Duty IGVA)

Location: The Gaia Centre (Lambeth, London)
Salary: £23,085.69 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Part Time, Permanent 

Hours: 30 hours per week. As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota. Operating hours of the service 8am- 6pm Monday- Friday with the expectation to work on some days 8- 4pm or 10- 6pm to cover duty shifts.

We are recruiting for a Duty Independent Gender Violence Advocate (IGVA) who will be working closely with survivors of domestic, and other gender-based abuse to provide high quality independent support, guidance and advice to survivors across all risk levels and their children.

In this role the Duty IGVA is a part of a busy team. The Duty IGVA will be the first point of contact for survivors who have been referred to the Gaia Centre by other professionals. The Duty IGVA also will be responsible for processing any self-referrals of individuals contacting the service and wishing to access support. The Duty IGVA will be responsible for responding to daily enquiries from partnership agencies, public and impacted individuals over the phone and email.

In some circumstances the Duty IGVA will be contacting survivors directly to assess their level of risk and needs to ensure eligibility. The Duty IGVA will be responsible for carrying out and implementing safety plans and needs assessments. The Duty IGVA will ensure an effective handover of the case to the relevant team for ongoing support.

The Duty IGVA will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support. The Duty IGVA will ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, enabling them to access their rights, make decisions and increase their life options. 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 job involves informing survivors of the full range of civil, criminal and practical options that might increase their safety. The jobalso  involves working in a fast-paced environment.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

Please note that 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 11 June 2026

Interview Date: 19 June 2026

Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Hybrid (40% office-based)
Full-time (35 hours)

Permanent
£47,124
Start: ASAP

Lead and shape services supporting victims of stalking and abuse

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is seeking a Head of Operations to provide strategic leadership across our services, ensuring they are safe, effective, compliant, and sustainable.

This is a senior leadership role, responsible for overseeing service performance, infrastructure, and delivery at an organisational level. You will play a key role in shaping strategy, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring our services meet the needs of victims and funders alike.

About the role

You will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all services, ensuring high-quality and compliant delivery
• Lead on organisational performance, including KPIs, quality standards, and reporting frameworks
• Oversee contract and grant delivery, ensuring all obligations and compliance requirements are met
• Hold senior relationships with commissioners, funders, and external stakeholders
• Lead service development, mobilisation of new contracts, and organisational change
• Ensure effective systems, infrastructure, and processes are in place to support delivery
• Provide leadership across safeguarding, risk, and organisational compliance
• Work as part of the Senior Management Team to shape and deliver organisational strategy

This role focuses on service infrastructure, performance, and strategic oversight, rather than direct frontline management

About you

You will be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record in operational and strategic service delivery within a safeguarding or related environment.

You will have:

• Significant experience leading multiple frontline services within a safeguarding or VAWG-related sector
• Experience operating at senior leadership level, contributing to organisational strategy
• Strong experience of performance management, KPIs, and quality assurance frameworks
• Experience managing statutory contracts or grant-funded services
• Proven ability to lead organisational change, service mobilisation, or transformation
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, compliance, and information governance
• Experience working with commissioners and senior external stakeholders

Desirable:

• Experience within stalking, domestic abuse, or VAWG services
• Experience in a charity or commissioned service environment
• Experience in organisational restructuring, service redesign, or systems implementation

Why join us

• Lead and shape services that support victims of stalking and abuse
• Join a collaborative and mission-driven senior leadership team
• Play a critical role in organisational strategy, growth and impact

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the person specification.

Applications will not be considered without a supporting statement

Additional information

• This is a senior leadership role reporting to the CEO

Job Title: Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) – Male Victims Only

Position available: 1 full-time position (37.5 hours), available to male and female applicants

Salary: £25,282.44 - £28,861.62 (dependent upon qualifications and experience)

Closing date: 04 June 2026

BCWA reserve the right to close this advert before the closing date

All interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams

Is this you?

We are looking for a qualified/unqualified IDVA (training may be provided for the right candidate) to join our dynamic team.

We are looking for someone with experience of supporting victims/survivors of domestic abuse, managing a caseload and understanding the principles of safeguarding children and adults. The post holder will have a good understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and how this can affect victims.

This is a challenging role that requires empathy, compassion, excellent interpersonal and caseload management skills, a client-centred approach and proactive crisis intervention.

The Role:

Our Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) provide a high-quality frontline domestic abuse support service to those at high risk of harm. IDVAs support victims of domestic abuse to assess level of risk, inform victims of their options and develop tailored safety plans to protect the victim and their children. They work within a multi-agency framework to advocate for the victim, including responding to and reporting to Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) on behalf of the victim.

The role supports the empowerment of victims/survivors, assisting them to recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse present in their own situation through one-to-one support and group work, to help them regain control of their lives. 

If you are self-driven, compassionate and hardworking with lots of ambition we would love to hear from you.

Interview Date: TBC

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Counsellor at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Our counselling service provides trauma-informed, one-to-one counselling for survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG), offering between 15–20 sessions of therapeutic support. We support survivors across London through community-based services, as well as refuge-based counselling for both children, young people, and adults. Our work is centred on providing safe, empowering, and compassionate support to individuals recovering from abuse and trauma.

About the Role

The ideal candidate will provide high-quality online or face-to-face trauma counselling to survivors of sexual and domestic abuse ages 16+ across London. The successful candidate will work from a person-centred approach with a thorough understanding of the issues prevalent in the gender-based violence sector and understanding of the root causes of gender-based violence. They will be able to provide weekly therapeutic sessions either online (using MS Teams), by telephone, or face-to-face.

About You

Successful applicants will have knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on victim-survivors. You will have strong organisational and time management skills, alongside excellent collaborative working abilities. You will also be empathetic and able to work from a person-centred framework.

It is essential that you have experience using Microsoft Office packages, as well as the ability to use an online case management system. You will also have experience and confidence in delivering counselling online and over the phone, alongside excellent verbal and written communication skills.

You will be qualified to Diploma level and have a minimum of 250 hours’ post-qualification experience providing one-to-one counselling. Successful applicants will be BACP accredited (or equivalent) or working towards accreditation.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Job Title: Domestic Abuse Advocate (Walsall)

Position available: 1 full time position (37.5 hours, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

Salary: £24,784.50 - £26,872.22

Closing date: 04 June 2026

BCWA reserve the right to close this advertisement early if sufficient applications are received

All interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams

Is this you?

We are looking for someone who has experience of working with victims/survivors of domestic abuse on both one to one and in group work settings.  You will carry a caseload which includes all aspects of case management including, risk assessment, needs assessment, support planning, outcomes and case review.

The Role:

The successful candidate will be required to provide a high-quality frontline service to victims of domestic abuse, delivering a service to those at highest risk. You will be working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse.

If you are self-driven, conscientious, hardworking with lots of ambition we would love to hear from you.

About the role

At SEA, all our work is grounded in evidence and shaped by the lived experiences of victim-survivors. As Research Officer, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, survivor-centred research on economic abuse as part of a major new three-year project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Working closely with the Senior Research Officer, colleagues across SEA, academic partners and external stakeholders, you will support research exploring coerced debt as a form of economic abuse and the responses to it across systems and services. The role will involve qualitative and quantitative research activities, including data collection, analysis, stakeholder engagement, and producing accessible and impactful research outputs.

Your work will help strengthen understanding of economic abuse and inform policy, practice and systems change on coerced debt that improves responses for victim-survivors.

About you

You are a skilled researcher who is passionate about conducting high-quality research which can create real-world impact for victim-survivors of economic abuse.

You will have the ability to sensitively work with victim-survivors to learn about their lived experiences of economic abuse , including coerced debt, as well as the ability to conduct research with professional stakeholders.

Using your research skills, you will be able to analyse data, and will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of economic abuse in the context of intimate partner abuse, including of how perpetrators can misuse systems to enact abuse. You will be able to demonstrate an ability to deliver research projects in a timely manner and to communicate findings clearly to a range of stakeholders.

About SEA

Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it. All our work is informed by Experts by Experience – a group of women who speak about what they have gone through so that they can be a force for change. Economic abuse occurs when someone’s partner controls (through restriction, exploitation and/or sabotage) how they acquire, use and maintain economic resources such as accommodation, food, clothing and transportation.

What we offer

• 25 days annual leave, plus 5 Wellbeing Days and Statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Home working (UK based)
• Flexible working
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Reflective practice
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced sick pay, family leave and carer’s leave
• The chance to be part of our highly professional, supportive team

To apply

Please apply via our website.

Applications open from 21 May 2026 and close at 11.59pm on 17th June 2026. Interviews will take place week commencing 6th July 2026

Direct applications only – no agencies please.

Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is committed to developing an inclusive team which reflects the diversity of the communities we support. Our culture celebrates diverse voices, and we particularly encourage applications from Black and minoritised applicants and disabled applicants who are under-represented at SEA.

SEA is a Disability Confident Committed, and Kinship Friendly Employer.

Job Title: Regional Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)

Location: Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley (location to be confirmed)

Position available: 1 full-time position (37.5 hours)

Salary: £25,282.44 - £28,861.62 (dependent upon qualifications and experience)

Closing date: 04 June 2026

BCWA reserve the right to close this advert before the closing date

All interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams

Is this you?

We are looking for a qualified/unqualified IDVA (training may be provided for the right candidate) to join our dynamic team.

We are looking for someone with experience of supporting victims/survivors of domestic abuse, managing a caseload and understanding the principles of safeguarding children and adults. The post holder will have a good understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and how this can affect victims.

The Role:

Our Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) provide a high quality frontline domestic abuse support service to those at high risk of harm. As an IDVA, you will support victims of domestic abuse to assess level of risk, inform victims of their options and develop tailored safety plans to protect the victim and their children. You will work within a multi-agency framework to advocate for the victim, including responding and reporting to Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) on behalf of the victim.

The role also supports the empowerment of victims/survivors, assisting them to recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse present in their own situation through one to one support and group work, to help them regain control of their lives. 

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Community Keyworker on a part time basis

Salary: £23,000 - £27,000 (calculated on a pro rata basis)

Location: Hampshire (please note that this covers the full region of Hampshire and is not specifically based in Portsmouth)

Contract:  Fixed Term until 31st March 2027

Hours p/w: 17.5 Hours per week 

This 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.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

Are you an excellent relationship builder who can work with women and a diverse range of delivery partners to ensure that she meets her potential and successfully progresses through and beyond her probation supervision? Can you meet a women wherever she is at in her journey and work with her to create an individualised support package that gives her the best chance of breaking the cycle of offending?

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for a feminist organisation who understand that supporting women in the criminal justice system requires a specialist and gendered approach? Do you believe in our values; to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaborate, innovate, and take accountability?

In your role as a Community Keyworker, you will be working with women involved in the Criminal Justice System; those on Probation in the Community and those women being released from Prison as part of their Post Sentence Supervision; providing some in-reach and ‘Through the Gate’ support. You will be working in a team of Community Keyworkers in your region. Each Keyworker will provide holistic one to one community support to women with a variety of needs.

About You:

To be successful as the Community Key Worker you will need the below experience and skills.

You will need to hold a UK driving licence with access to car that can be used for work purposes. A creative self-starter who will support the service and look for innovative solutions to support clients with complex needs. You are confident professional relationship builder with have good awareness of Safeguarding procedures. Strong Administration skills and understanding of compliant behaviours also, experience of supporting. With good knowledge of the criminal justice system and awareness of other support provisions within the Hampshire area.

How to apply:

Please apply with a cover letter and an up to date copy of your CV via our careers site.

• Closing date for applications: 7th June 2026

• Interviews will take place the week commencing 15th June 2026

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

• A 35-hour working week

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

• Pension scheme

• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Employee eye-care scheme

• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

• Organisation wide away days

• Thorough induction and training

• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have any additional needs please contact the talent team and we will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Our specialist children's practitioners provide child-led play therapy sessions on a weekly basis, usually for 6-16 weeks. Sessions give children the opportunity to process what has happened to them and make sense of the complicated and confusing emotions they may be experiencing.  Our practitioners work from our purpose-designed therapeutic playroom in Colchester or from some of our outreach premises in other areas, using a range of techniques including sand tray, art and imaginative play.

What we expect from our Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists:

· Support up to eight CARA clients each week

· Maintain and update accurate database records of clients

· Diploma in Counselling or equivalent, with a minimum of 400 counselling hours.

· Certificate in Counselling Children, Play Therapy qualification or equivalent

· Experience of working therapeutically with children with psychological and behavioural problems.

· An understanding of how trauma affects children both physically and emotionally.

· An ability to work creatively to enable children to process their conscious and unconscious emotions.

· An ability to work collaboratively with parents, while protecting children’s confidentiality.

· To liaise with other agencies including social care, Children and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHS) and schools, and attend meetings and provide reports, where required.

· Attendance of one CARA Meeting per month and attendance of monthly point of contact meetings.

· Attendance of clinical supervision, provided by a CARA-approved supervisor.

· Attend annual safeguarding training and other relevant training

· An open and non-judgemental attitude.

· Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding, both in relation to children and to vulnerable adults;

· Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists will be working with clients on behalf of CARA and not on a private basis.  As such, they will be bound by CARA’s processes, policies and procedures.

· Commitment to the feminist ethos of CARA

· Willingness to commit the necessary time to supporting vulnerable clients

· Membership of BACP, UKCP or equivalent professional body

· Abide by BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy

· Owing to the nature of the role, we are only able to take on female candidates

What the Sessional Counsellor/Play Therapist can expect from us:

·Training and support

·Ongoing training opportunities

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with additional language skills, including BSL.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.  We also provide remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on our website.  We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy East

CARA is part of Synergy East. We work closely with SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.

Furnishing Futures is an innovative charity creating fully furnished, healing homes for survivors of domestic abuse who have been rehoused in empty social housing. We do this by partnering with the interiors industry, which donates high quality furnishings that might otherwise end up in landfill. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented junior designer who is passionate about our mission to assist our Homes Design team in creating a wide range of trauma-informed homes for beneficiaries and their children. You will need to be organised, compassionate, committed to anti-discrimatory practice and able to work at a fast pace. This position is based in Leyton E10 and involves flexibility with some work outside usual office hours, as well as travelling to all London boroughs. Tasks will vary from practical and physical design to administration and data entry. You will have a can-do attitude where no problem is too big and no task is too small.

You'll be joining a small team of Homes Designers making a huge difference to the lives of survivors and their children. 

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a CJS Advocate to support Young Women and Girls

Salary: £27,000 - £32,000

Location: Based across Advance’s London Women’s Centres (Hammersmith, Finsbury Park and Stratford), with some travel to community locations across London.

Hours: 35 Hours per week with occasional weekend and evening work

Contract: Fixed Term Contract – until 31st January 2027

This 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.  

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

In recognition of the distinct challenges facing young women and girls (YWG), Advance has developed and delivers specialist provision for young women and girls on the Maia & Lift programme, in partnership with other specialist organisations.

Our team of Maia Mentor Advocates deliver consistent, holistic support to a small caseload of YWG, working to build relationships of trust, empower YWG to explore their identities, sense of safety, aspirations, and providing practical help and advocacy where needed. As a CJS Advocate for Maia, the postholder will work closely with the Maia Team to provide gender and age specific support to young women and girls at risk of gang involvement, exploitation or in contact with the criminal justice system, to safeguard YWG, capture and record outcomes and enhance the knowledge of other professionals working with this cohort.

About You: 

To be successful as the Mentor Advocate you will need the below experience and skills:

You will bring your experience and ability to work intensively with a selected cohort of YWG (aged 13-25), providing centre-based and outreach services and adopting a YWG-centred, strengths-based approach to deliver a range of support and interventions designed to: increase awareness and understanding of healthy relationships; reduce risk and increase feelings of safety; build self-confidence and confidence in professionals and support services; and empower YWG to assert their rights and make choices about future goals. Confidently and sensitively bring the ability to proactively assess risks and safety concerns, raising concerns with the Maia Service Manager, ensuring that, where possible, concerns are discussed openly with YWG, working within local safeguarding frameworks and taking appropriate action to safeguard YWG whilst working within a model of empowerment.

You will have a strong understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable YWG including issues related to violence against women and girls and/or the criminal justice system, and experience of community engagement, advocacy and support work with young people and experience of using motivational interviewing and coaching techniques, with the ability to demonstrate a YWG-centred approach to building trust and rapport.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

• Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 31 May 2026 @23:59

• Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits: 

• A 35-hour working week

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!) 

• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

• Pension scheme

• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Employee eye-care scheme

• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

• Organisation wide away days

• Thorough induction and training

• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits. 

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe.  We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks.  We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.