Main purpose of job:To work in the Navigator team supporting individuals who have or are experiencing sexual violence and or sexual abuse. As a first contact worker, you will act as a gateway to both specialist counselling and advocacy services and additional specialist support services in Essex. You will use your considerable experience to provide a high-quality telephone information and support service.
The support you deliver will help individuals on their pathway to wellbeing, recovery, and social inclusion through building trusting and collaborative relationships. You will guide users to make informed decisions about their own wellbeing, maximising their independence and engaging in appropriate community or clinical resources/interventions.
You will work within a team of first contact navigators under the supervision of a service lead. You will be highly motivated and dedicated, have strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to work under minimal supervision.
Start date: As soon as possible (subject to Enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references).
Salary:£26,496 - £28,845 (NJC Scales 12-17) per annum, pro-rata.
Contract: This will be a permanent contract.
Hours: 35 hours per week.
Place of work: CARA premises in Colchester and some remote home working if a suitable environment is available. Some travel to other locations in Essex may be required, particularly during the induction period.
Holiday: 25 days per year, pro-rata, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year.
To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification.
Applications must specifically address each essential and desirable criteria, giving evidence from previous experience or qualifications.
Application deadline: 10am Friday 24th July 2026
Interviews: Week beginning 3rd August 2026
Start date: Immediate, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.
Mandatory Training Dates: To be confirmed.
This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1
Job Description
The First Contact Navigator posts will play a central role in the CARA team, ensuring that our service users and other agencies receive a high-quality service from the moment of first contact. You will work as part of a wider team of First Contact Navigators across Essex, based at our Synergy Essex Partner centres. The post liaises with clients, the CARA team and external agencies, providing advice, support and information.
The First Contact Navigator will engage with individuals who are experiencing, or who have experienced, sexual violence and or sexual abuse who require information, signposting and short-term support. You will be the first contact and conduct first meetings, managing your own caseload and co-ordinating personalised support for individuals on their pathway to wellbeing. You will have strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to work under minimal supervision. You will support people who use CARA services to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, maximising their independence and engaging in appropriate community or clinical resources. You will work collaboratively with service users, the CARA team and other professional agencies to navigate and coordinate services.
At the outset, the main responsibilities of the post will be:
- To act as a first point of contact for new referrals and enquiries, providing information, emotional support, advice and signposting.
- To complete first contact calls and assessments with clients over the telephone, assessing client needs and suitabilty for services.
- To ensure information about new referrals/enquiries is accurately recorded on CARA’s database in real time.
- To work collaboratively and build trust with service users, agencies, personal and professional support networks to collate relevant information to effect individualised support requirements.
- To assess and engage service users not currently engaged in appropriate specialist sexual violence services.
- To seek and respond to referrals from a variety of internal and external sources.
- To assist survivors and relatives/supporters of survivors in understanding the range of resources and services available to them.
- To support service users to engage effectively with appropriate services to meet their individual needs and aspirations.
- To identify and respond to any safeguarding concerns
- To work as a link between clients, CARA staff and external agencies, ensuring appropriate information is passed on.
- To work closely with the Essex-wide team of First Contact Navigators and Information and Referral Coordinators to ensure effective referral processes across Essex.
- To act as a point of contact for external agencies making referrals to CARA, answering queries about our referral process.
- To cover the enquiry line and the office phone and deal with enquiries as required.
- To pro-actively promote CARA’s services to external agencies, ensuring they are aware of our referral procedures.
- To contribute to development of promotional information, to ensure information about the referral process is clear and accessible.
- To attend regular team meetings and to work with colleagues to further the objectives of CARA.
- To adhere in full to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.
- To report to the Service Engagement Manager, Head of Operations, CEO and Trustees as required, including the production of regular written reports.
- To be administratively self-servicing.
- To undertake any other related activities as required by the Head of Operations, CEO or the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
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 here. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.
About Synergy Essex
CARA is part of Synergy Essex – the Essex Rape and Sexual Abuse Partnership. 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.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
Thank you!
The Head of Programming & Creative Producing is a new senior role, working with the Chief Executive to shape and deliver the artistic output of the Philharmonia.
The postholder works hand-in-hand with the Head of Artistic Planning, and members of the Executive team to programme and artistically shape traditional concert programmes at various scales and in various contexts, as well as learning and digital projects and pre- or post-concert activities. The postholder also leads on the development and producing of new performance formats for own-promoted concerts.
A first-rate creative thinker, you will be passionate about working with conductors, artists and agents to create world-class concert programmes, residencies and series, and will be able to draw on your deep knowledge and understanding of orchestral repertoire, artists, and the wider cultural context, as well as an established network of industry relationships to turn your ideas into reality.
Your artistic interests, however, will range beyond the traditional core, and you will be driven by a personal mission to engage different and new audiences with orchestral music, whether that is through music for films or games, cross-artform and cross-genre collaborations, pre-performance debates, schools performances, VR installations, or different performance formats. You will take a producing approach to new performance formats, keenly appreciative of the importance of staging, narrative and flow for contemporary audiences.
You know the importance of equality and diversity on stage in building a future for classical music, and are an active champion of creative projects which demonstrate this. Discovering new artists and musical voices will be second nature to you, just as you will be sensitive to the needs of established artists and composers in shaping a project. While your focus is on the quality of the artistic output, you will maintain in-the-round awareness of the complex jigsaw of sometimes competing priorities and restrictions into which any project has to be delivered, including box office and audience development targets.
An important member of the HODs Team with a close relationship to the Philharmonia Orchestra Artistic Committee, this role suits a collaborative and inclusive emerging leader who acts with integrity, and who can manage complex systems and personalities in line with the Philharmonia’s mission to create the orchestral experience of the future.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
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Research and identify future featured artists, composers and guest conductors proactively
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Research and develop ideas and concepts for season themes and series
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Create mainstage programmes in line with the artistic strategy of the Philharmonia Orchestra in close consultation with the Chief Executive and conductors
Leadership and Management
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Lead on chamber music programming, including liaison with players over proposals
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Lead on the development of wrap-around activity on concert days
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Lead on opportunities for commissioning and co-commissioning of new works, negotiating commission fees and contracts. Liaison with publishers.
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Lead on programming Philharmonia Residency venues, taking both box office and logistical considerations into account
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Lead on Philharmonia Records, developing and overseeing the recordings strategy and identifying and planning recording projects for own-label release
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Initiate and develop non-standard orchestral projects for own promotions, such as film or games music formats, formats using visuals, cross-artform or cross-genre collaborations, and performances in non-traditional venues
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Artistically and operationally produce all non-standard orchestral projects, including shaping narrative, stage presentation, and close working with the venue technical staff, supported by relevant project managers
Key tasks
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Develop repertoire ideas and ensure timely registration on clash-diary, with support from Co-ordinator
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Collaborate with Director of Tours and Project Development and partners to develop programmes for foreign touring and commercial projects, while considering market and budget limitations
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Collaborate with the Learning and Engagement Department on programming for education and learning performance formats, including Artist in Residence Programme and Orchestra Unwrapped, leading as required
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Collaborate with the Development Department on funding approaches to support programming, and work with them on programming fundraising performances and events
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Collaborate with Head of Digital Product and Experience on repertoire and project development for PO Virtual Orchestra
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Join the Artistic Committee discussions re future plans as required
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Listen to recordings to assess suitability for release, and discussing in-house recordings with Artistic Committee.
Other
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Work as part of the HODs team on developing future business plan and strategies built around the Orchestra’s mission, vision and values
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Be in regular contact with Marketing colleagues to help shape season narrative and proof-read key documents.
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Act as artistic liaison with external promoters and project partners as required
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Attend rehearsals and performances at Southbank Centre and at venues out of London and overseas as required, in order to meet artists and monitor artistic performance and quality
Skills and Qualifications
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Excellent track record of working in artistic planning or artist management (min 5-7 years)
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First-class knowledge of orchestral repertoire and artists, as well as the work of the Philharmonia Orchestra
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Demonstrable creative programming experience at an advanced level
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Demonstrable entrepreneurial mindset with a successful history of creating new projects
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Current experience of development of UK and international markets for orchestras
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First class communications, influencing, and negotiation skills – and the ability to make the case effectively and enthusiastically
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A collaborative team player able to develop excellent working relationships across the organisation
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Flexible and positive attitude, as well as the ability to think laterally and creatively to overcome obstacles
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High level of professionalism, self-motivation and organisation, and an ability to manage complex issues effectively.
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Ability to regularly work out of hours and travel, as required.
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Diplomatic and capable of being an excellent ambassador for the Philharmonia Orchestra
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.