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!
Lead the launch of the UK's first Refugee Employment Marketplace and help transform how displaced people connect with jobs, employers and employment support. This is a remote, home-based role for candidates currently based in Wales.
The Refugee Employment Network (REN) is the UK's national network dedicated exclusively to refugee employment. We bring together employers, charities, local authorities, government and refugee-led organisations to improve employment outcomes and create a more inclusive labour market.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Digital Product Lead to lead the implementation, rollout and continuous improvement of the Refugee Employment Marketplace and wider digital systems across the Refugee Employment Network.
The Refugee Employment Marketplace is a digital platform connecting displaced people in the UK with jobs, employers and employment support.
Working closely with developers, partners and users, you will help ensure the Marketplace is successfully implemented, accessible, adopted and scaled across Wales and the wider REN network. We're looking for someone who enjoys turning ideas into practical solutions, building partnerships and using digital to create social impact.
Purpose of the Role and Key Responsibilities
1. Digital Product Development & Delivery
· Lead the implementation, customisation and continuous improvement of the Refugee Employment Marketplace to meet REN’s organisational goals and user needs.
· Work with external platform providers and developers to coordinate product delivery, customisation, timelines and ongoing improvements.
· Build and maintain project plans, documentation and delivery processes to support successful implementation and rollout.
· Coordinate platform testing, user feedback and troubleshooting to improve functionality, accessibility and user experience.
· Support the integration of REN’s wider digital systems, including website and CRM.
2. Co-design & Partnerships
· Convene and coordinate REN’s Digital Advisory Group to inform the design and continuous improvement of the Refugee Employment Marketplace.
· Facilitate focus groups, user testing and feedback sessions with refugees, employers, charities, local authorities and employment advisers to improve platform design, accessibility and user experience.
· Ensure experts by experience are meaningfully involved in shaping and testing the platform.
3. Platform Rollout, Training & User Support
· Lead the rollout and adoption of the Refugee Employment Marketplace across Wales and the wider REN network.
· Develop onboarding processes, training and guidance materials to support effective use of the platform.
· Act as the first point of contact for user support, including account setup, login support, troubleshooting and user journey guidance.
4. CRM, Website & Digital Infrastructure Management
· Lead the scoping, procurement and implementation of a new CRM system
· Oversee the integration and continuous improvement of REN’s website and wider digital systems to ensure they are integrated and accessible.
5. Data, Reporting & Digital Compliance
· Lead on data protection, GDPR compliance and digital security across REN’s digital platforms and systems.
· Maintain accurate, secure and effective data management practices, including user records, permissions and data quality.
6. Marketplace Growth, Sustainability & Impact
· Build relationships with employers, industry bodies and strategic partners to grow platform adoption, secure opportunities and strengthen the value proposition of the Marketplace.
· Support the matching of displaced talent to jobs, opportunities and employment support, including manual interventions where needed to improve outcomes and user experience.
· Track and report on employment outcomes, employer engagement and platform impact to inform growth, improvement and sustainability.
Person Specification
We recognise that no candidate is likely to meet every criteria listed below. We encourage applications from people who can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and potential to succeed in this role, even if they have gained their experience in different sectors, countries or through voluntary, community or lived experience.
We welcome transferable skills and experience gained through paid work, voluntary roles, community leadership or lived experience, in the UK or internationally.
Essential
Digital Product & Project Management
· Experience managing or supporting the development, implementation, rollout and continuous improvement of digital products, platforms or technology-enabled projects.
· Experience managing external developers, contractors or digital suppliers to deliver digital products or systems.
· Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to work independently, use initiative and manage competing priorities.
·Ability to support the implementation and adoption of new digital products, platforms or systems.
Partnerships & Training
·Currently based in Wales, with the ability to build relationships and engage with employers, partners and stakeholders across the country.
· Strong relationship-building skills, with experience developing partnerships and growing engagement with employers, charities, government or sector organisations to support the adoption and growth of a digital product, platform, project or service.
·Ability to facilitate workshops, focus groups or training sessions to support the adoption of digital tools or systems, or equivalent transferable experience.
·Ability to communicate digital information clearly to non-technical audiences through training, onboarding and user support.
Digital Systems & User Support
· Experience developing, managing or supporting digital platforms, CRM systems, websites or other online tools.
· Ability to provide day-to-day user support, including onboarding, troubleshooting and helping users engage confidently with digital platforms.
· Understanding of user-centred design, accessibility and digital inclusion.
Data and Compliance
· Experience using data, analytics or reporting to inform digital improvements and decision-making.
· Understanding of GDPR, data protection and digital security best practice.
Values & Commitment
· Commitment to REN’s mission and passion for improving refugee employment outcomes, equity and inclusion.=
Desirable
· Lived experience as a refugee, asylum seeker, displaced person or migrant, or direct experience of the UK immigration or asylum system.
· Experience of CRM procurement, implementation or data migration.
· Knowledge of refugee employment barriers and the wider migration or asylum landscape in the UK.
Equity and inclusion at the Refugee Employment Network
The Refugee Employment Network values equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and we encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity status, or socio-economic background.
We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we work with. We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as experts by experience and recognise the valuable insight that lived experience of forced displacement, migration and the UK asylum and immigration system brings to our work. Please note that candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the application or interview process unless they wish to do so.
How to apply
Application, CV and Cover Letter
To apply, please complete the application Type form by 5pm on Sunday, 9 August. You will be asked to upload your CV and a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) when completing the Typeform application. Link in the JD.
In your cover letter, please outline how you meet the criteria listed above and how your experience is relevant to the role. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements listed in the person specification. We value experience from both paid and voluntary roles, in the UK or overseas, and encourage you to demonstrate your passion for the role, as well as the unique perspectives and skills you bring.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Head of Public Fundraising is a new role at Coeliac UK leading the charity’s public fundraising function. The role focusses on driving sustainable growth across individual giving, community fundraising, events, lottery, raffle, digital fundraising and merchandise. This role is responsible for delivering Coeliac UK’s 5-year fundraising strategy to maximise return-on-investment, grow long term supporter value, and contribute to the charity’s mission.
The Head of Public Fundraising will embed and deliver comprehensive fundraising strategies, growing Coeliac UK’s supporter base and income, building up new and under-developed income streams and communicating effectively with their audiences to expand their reach, and encourage financial and non-financial support to deliver the organisations mission.
Who are we looking for?
Key to the success of this role is a strong understanding of individual giving fundraising. This role blends the strategic oversight and leadership of a Head of role across multiple income streams, with the hands-on expertise of an IG fundraiser. Experience across other income streams and areas of fundraising delivery would be a huge benefit as the role leads community fundraising and events, will take on digital fundraising - currently led by the Chief Engagement Officer, as well as manage the data and supporter care functions, but experience in individual giving is essential as Coeliac UK has defined that as an area of priority income.
The successful candidate for this role will be someone who has already operated at a senior level within a charity such as at Senior Manager level, or Head of in a specific income stream.
Hybrid working
The role has a hybrid expectation of a minimum of a day a week in the High Wycombe office (HP11 2QW) to build relationships and provide support to the fundraising team, and there will be flexibility required for other in person meetings and events. However, Coeliac UK are keen to secure the very best candidate, if the hybrid expectation presents challenge for you but you otherwise meet the requirements of the role, please do get in touch with THINK to discuss.
Application notes
Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.
To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.
If you need assistance with downloading the pack or any reasonable adjustments to ensure you can engage with the selection process, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.
Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 21st July
There will be a two-stage interview process:
Stage 1 interviews: 30th July
Stage 2 interviews: 5th August
