Independent Victim Advocate Resilience Jobs in Cardiff, Wales
National LGBT+ Independent Victim Advocate
Do you want to make life better for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse?
Galop works directly with thousands of LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence every year. We specialise in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, and other forms of abuse including honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and so-called conversion therapies. We are a service run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, and the needs of our community are at the centre of what we do.
We run three national support helplines for LGBT+ victims and survivors of domestic abuse, so-called “conversion therapy, ”and hate crime. We provide advocacy services, both in London and nationally, for LGBT+ victims who need longer-term support. We are person-centred, empowerment-based, and trauma-informed – meaning our focus is always on helping our clients decide what is best for them, and then supporting them through their journey.
We use what we learn through working on the frontlines with clients to work on national and local policy change, to improve outcomes for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. We build evidence through key pieces of research, like our upcoming report into LGBT+ experiences of sexual violence. We push for legislative change, improved statutory guidance for victims, and better understanding of the needs of LGBT+ people around the country.
About the role
You will be joining our growing national advocacy team, supporting survivors remotely across the UK and providing Face-to-face support, office based, or community-based support in Wales which will be
delivered in the context of a confidential and a safe space for survivors. You will work directly with LGBT+ victims/survivors, offering them a space to talk and think through options, helping them plan what they want to do, and offering assistance in getting what they need from services. Your work will focus on needs specifically related to experiences of abuse or violence, including issues such as wellbeing, support with the criminal and civil justice process, safety and access to other services to enable survivors to cope and recover. You will be empathetic and thoughtful in your approach to understanding your clients’ needs, while maintaining boundaries and mindful of self-care.
Providing advice, advocacy and support to LGBT+ victims/survivors of abuse and violence, with a focus on so-called conversion practices, which will include:
- Remotely supporting, advising and advocating for a national caseload of LGBT+ people who have been subjected to abuse or violence. The focus of the support will be to LGBT+ victims/survivors of so-called conversion practices
- Ensuring your approach to contact with clients is trauma-informed, empowerment-based and person-centred.
- Providing information and support to enable clients to make informed choices and meet their individual needs.
- Assisting victims/survivors in dealing with the diverse impacts of harm and abuse (safety, emotional, social, financial, or practical).
- Assisting/supporting clients in navigating the criminal/civil justice systems, ensuring they are aware of their rights and options.
- Maintaining professional boundaries at all times and ensuring that clients understand the remit of the service.
Partnership working
- Providing appropriate referrals/signposting to other agencies including, housing, welfare, counselling and other support services.
- Maintaining positive working relationships with key agencies and Galop partners, including attending internal/external meetings, with a focus on Wales.
- Working with agencies to safeguard victims and survivors, keeping them informed of relevant changes to a client’s situation.
Monitoring and evaluation
- Ensuring all client records are maintained and treated in confidence, according to Galop policies and GDPR legislation.
- Keeping accurate records of work undertaken with clients in line with Galop’s policies and funder agreements.
- Assist collecting monitoring data and client feedback for reports.
- Understanding of and commitment to inclusive working with LGBT+ clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Acting in accordance with Galop policies, procedures and ethos.
- Being an active member of the Galop team, attending regular staff team meetings, attending clinical supervision and training.
- Participating and contributing to Galop service planning & strategic development, with a focus on Wales.
About you
You will have expertise in delivering needs-led specialist support services. You will need to be solutions-focused and enjoy working collaboratively across a diverse and committed team. You’ll need to have good resilience and self-care and be prepared to work in an environment where abuse and violence are regularly talked about. You’ll need to understand the impact of trauma and how that affects our team.
There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement under the Equality Act 2010 that the post holder has experience of LGBT+ needs and the impact of discrimination. Candidates should demonstrate a thorough understanding of LGBT+ people’s lives, including awareness of the issues that LGBT+ survivors might face.
In addition, due to role being a Bilingual post, it is an essential requirement for the individual for this role to speak fluent Welsh and English.
Location: This is a remote post, working from home.
The role will include travel to our London building and occasional travel across the UK and in particular to communities across Wales.
Hours: 0.6 FTE (21 hours per week) flexibility available
Contract: Until 31 March 2025 (extension subject to funding)
Salary: Grade F: £27,230.31 - £31,878.96 (pro-rata)
Closing Date
Applications should be submitted by 10am on Monday 13th May2024
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 or Thursday 23rd May 2024
REF-213 721
Do you want the unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced service, delivering exceptional support to families bereaved by and witness to homicide; coordinating a tailored package of support to service users and their families?
Would you enjoy working closely with Police Major Crime teams providing briefings on the work we do in the Homicide Service (HS)?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you; we have an exciting opportunity for a Homicide Family Caseworker to join our team, you will be based in Thames Valley working 37.5 hours a week. The team you will be joining within HS covers London and South Central.
What we offer:
At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:
- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
- High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
- Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
- Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
- Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression
About the role:
You will be joining a passionate and committed team who provide high quality and bespoke support to service users. We pride ourselves on exceptional trauma informed advocacy and support to all service users.
You will be driven to make a difference every day with the ability to focus on the needs of vulnerable service users. You will have resilience and adaptability; understand the importance of professional boundaries; have excellent listening skills and the ability to demonstrate empathy. You will enjoy the challenge of a busy caseload and will be able to demonstrate the excellent organisation skills essential to managing a demanding and diverse workload.
Once in post you will benefit from the mandatory comprehensive training programme which will build on your existing skills and experience to prepare you for the role. Homicide Service training includes, criminal justice process; trauma informed approach to support; supporting traumatically bereaved families; personal and professional resilience.
As a fully trained Homicide Family Caseworker you will be responsible for managing your own complex caseload to the highest quality standards. You will need to be able to travel to home visits within, and occasionally outside of area, and therefore a driving license and use of a car are essential. You will be reimbursed for all travel costs.
Please read carefully the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details, this is essential for your application.
About Us:
Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
Victim Support is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe having a diverse workforce at all levels allows us to represent the communities we serve and connect better with people affected by crime. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all communities and monitor the diversity of applicants to analyse if we are representative of the communities we serve in terms of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, age and socio-economic status. As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we would particularly welcome applicants from BAME communities
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. Please give examples where appropriate, and show your aptitude for post. Please ensure you answer each shortlisting criteria including the need to drive and have your own mode of transport.
We looking forward to hearing from you.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.