Isva independent sexual violence advisor jobs
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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
- 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.
- Liaison and Promotion
- Maintain good working relationships with other support services associated with the client.
- 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.
- 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.
Please apply with your CV and a covering letter that explains how you meet the person specification.
Registered Charity 
11 - 20
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We have an opportunity for a Children and Young Persons Independent Sexual Violence Advisor to join our team covering the Lincoln and surrounding area working 22.5 hours a week with the option of additional hours up to a maximum of 37.5 to September 2026.
Do you want to make a difference in children and young people's lives in Lincoln and West Lindsey areas?
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 service and care?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…
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
The main purpose of this role is to provide quality support to children and young people who are victims and survivors of sexual violence. You will be responsible for completing comprehensive initial needs and risk assessments, developing and delivering personalised safety and support plans for clients, many of whom have additional vulnerabilities and have complex needs.
You will need to be able to build and maintain effective working relationships with the Police, statutory and voluntary agencies to deliver the best possible outcomes within a multi-agency setting. As well as being tenacious in support of your clients and adept at problem solving.
To be successful in this role you will need to be approachable, flexible and caring, demonstrating empathy at all times. You will have had lengthy experience of direct service delivery (casework) with people with complex needs (ideally with children) and will have a good understanding of the impact of sexual violence offences on victims and survivors and of safeguarding issues. You will also have an excellent understanding of and commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity.
IT literacy is a must and candidates must evidence both the ability to use bespoke packages and excellence in their recording practice. If you do not possess an ISVA accreditation, we will fund this learning as it essential for the role. The role also requires enhanced DBS and police vetting.
This role involves regular 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. Ideally the successful applicant will reside in or within easy reach of Lincoln, West Lindsey and surrounding area.
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.
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.
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.
If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.
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 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. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.
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!
Safenet is part of the Calico Group, an innovative group of companies, working together collaboratively to have a greater impact than they could alone. Our shared vision, flexible group structure, and expanding range of services help us adapt to the fast-changing environment and times in which we work.
Safenet are a well-established Domestic Abuse charity, working to reduce and eliminate domestic abuse and to deliver support services to survivors of domestic abuse across the Northwest of England.
At SafeNet, we believe in empowering individuals to build safer, healthier futures. We're offering a unique opportunity to train towards a Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Practitioner qualification, paving the way for a fulfilling career in roles such as:
- Domestic Abuse Practitioner
- Children & Young People Domestic Abuse Practitioner
- Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)
- Black and Minoritised Specialist Practitioner
- Outreach Community Practitioner
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
We invest in our people, ensuring you learn and grow with SafeNet. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to creating lasting change.
About Us.
SafeNet is an innovative, value-led charity empowering individuals to live free from domestic abuse through fair, inclusive, and compassionate support services. Every day, we assist those who reach out to us in leading safer, healthier lives. As part of The Calico Group, our shared purpose is to make a real difference in people's lives.
We are at the forefront of promoting safe, healthy relationships and the conditions for productive and positive futures. SafeNet delivers innovative and life-changing services to support over 500 victims and survivors each year across Burnley, Lancaster, Rochdale, Bury, Preston, Pendle, and Oldham.
The Opportunity
We are seeking passionate, caring individuals who are excellent team players and committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
As a Domestic Abuse Support Practitioner (Children and Young People) within SafeNet’s community team, you will:
- Build trusted, supportive relationships with children and young people, working both one-to-one and in group settings, ensuring they feel heard, safe and empowered.
- Provide a high-quality, proactive frontline service to children and young people affected by domestic abuse, supporting their emotional wellbeing and helping them feel safe.
- Work closely with parents or carers, promoting healthy relationships and supporting families to recover together.
- Assess risk and complete safety and support plans that are child-centred and inclusive.
- Ensure all support is trauma-informed, accessible, and inclusive to reflect the diverse needs of the community.
What We’re Looking For
We believe in recruiting for potential as well as experience. Our ideal candidate will have:
- Experience supporting and advocating for parents through Safeguarding/Child Protection processes and the Family Court System.
- The ability to work directly with children and young people, both individually and in group sessions, using creative and age-appropriate approaches to help them express themselves and recover from the impact of domestic abuse.
- A commitment to helping families rebuild relationships that may have been affected by abuse.
- Confidence in organising and facilitating structured activities for children aged 0–18, enabling learning, development, and fun in a safe environment.
- Experience of contributing to reports for Courts and Children’s Social Care conferences and meetings regarding the families you support.
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.