Domestic violence advocate jobs in St albans, hertfordshire
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 Loss & Bereavement Specialist Worker
Salary: £27,000- £32,000 pro rata
Location: Advance Headoffice Hammersmith & Women’s centres across London, with co- location at HMP Bronzefield
Hours: 21 hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term – March 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:
This is an ideal post for someone with experience and interest in bereavement work, looking to join a forward thinking, new service. This is also a great chance to be working alongside the Healthcare & Education Department within HMP Bronzefield and be part of a prison services team in Advance.
Using a trauma informed approached, the Loss & Bereavement Specialist will conduct a person-centred assessment to understand the extent of the client’s emotional needs and the impact of loss due to imprisonment or contact with the criminal justice system whilst also identifying practical and specialist needs. They will work with women to develop a support plan, ensuring they are equipped with information and knowledge about how to navigate possible changes in circumstances related to her children’s care and offer crisis intervention and support during acute phases of loss/bereavement.
The Loss & Bereavement Specialist Worker will liaise with the Prison Healthcare team, OMU, visits team and the Family Support Officer to facilitate interactions between women and their children/family members, particularly considering support is in place after visits and that the women’s emotional needs are met in custody and community via our Women’s centres.
The Specialist Worker will create a link between prison and the community, helping women to navigate support services and to positively re-integrate into their community upon release. The role will combine a casework- based approach, along with a signposting and advice service for the women. They will be based in the community and will provide a drop-in service in HMP Bronzefield to support women who are close to release.
A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential.
About You:
To be successful as the Loss & Bereavement Specialist Worker you will need the below experience and skills:
Experience of working with bereaved individuals and providing grief counselling including knowledge of various therapeutic modalities relevant to grief counselling
Comprehensive understanding of the grieving process and experience of working with bereaved and loss as well as knowledge of traumatic and complex grief/loss.
An understanding of violence against women and girls and its links to women in the criminal justice system.
Proven ability and experience as a caseworker delivering trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of vulnerable people in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons
Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of managing a caseload including maintaining and updating records, remaining focused on action plan goals, and keeping to deadlines
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: 16th March 2026
Interviews are taking place w/c 23rd March 2026
*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:
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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!)
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Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
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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
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Pension scheme
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Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
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Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
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Employee eye-care scheme
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Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
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Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
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Organisation wide away days
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Thorough induction and training
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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.
Our vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Respond is seeking an experienced and values-driven Psychotherapy Service Manager to lead our specialist psychotherapy service for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their families.
This is a senior clinical leadership role for an experienced psychotherapist with strong service management skills and a commitment to psychodynamic, systemic and trauma-informed practice.
About the Role
You will:
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Provide clinical leadership and day-to-day management of Respond’s psychotherapy service
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Ensure high-quality, safe and effective therapeutic provision across London, schools and online
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Lead on clinical governance, safeguarding, supervision and reflective practice
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Support and develop the therapy team through coaching and compassionate leadership
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Contribute to organisational strategy, service planning and partnership development
You will hold a small caseload alongside management responsibilities and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team.
About You
You will be:
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A qualified psychotherapist, counsellor or arts therapist with postgraduate training
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Registered with a relevant professional body (e.g. HCPC, BACP, BPS, UKCP)
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Experienced in psychodynamic and/or systemic practice
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Experienced in working with autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities
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Confident in leading teams and managing services
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Knowledgeable about trauma, abuse and safeguarding
Experience of clinical supervision, reflective practice or organisational safeguarding leadership is desirable.
Why Join Respond?
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A respected specialist organisation with a strong trauma-informed ethos
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A collaborative, reflective and supportive working culture
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Opportunities to shape and develop a growing service
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Flexible working arrangements and ongoing CPD
If you’d like to find out more about this role, please read through the job description and person specification.
When you apply, please send a CV and Supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4. In your supporting statement ensure that you address the key competencies in the person specification.
When you apply, please send a CV and Supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4. In your supporting statement ensure that you address the key competencies in the person specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
One of two Outreach and Project Workers pivotal to the delivery of an exciting new Women at Risk (WaR) project which will support women at risk of rough sleeping, homelessness and exploitation. Working across key areas of Enfield and Haringey you will, through a combination of nighttime outreach and daytime service provision, be critical to supporting a coordinated response across multiple agencies already engaged in this work.
You will undertake at least twice weekly nighttime outreach, support additional services and existing outreach provision and develop a daytime offer that meets the needs of women engaged through outreach and identified as at high risk of harm and homelessness.
You will have responsibility for a caseload of women identified through outreach, referral and presentation at ours and other services. You will provide advocacy, casework support and connection and referral into other agencies which can help them address their needs.
This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a passionate, high performing team and support the development of a new service which is meeting identified gaps in local provision.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Release is seeking to appoint a Supervising Solicitor — with genuine flexibility for part‑time or full‑time working — to help shape and expand our legal services at the intersection of social justice - housing, public and community care law.
This role is particularly well‑suited to candidates seeking reduced hours, portfolio careers, or a position that allows for balance alongside caring responsibilities, or other commitments. The successful candidate will join a values‑driven organisation delivering high‑quality casework, innovative community‑based legal services, and strategic litigation aimed at systemic change.
Person Specification
Essential
- Minimum 4 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
- Minimum 3 years + substantial experience in legal aid casework, supervision and/or compliance, and
- Minimum 1 year + experience of supervising others, and
- Experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law within legal aid practice, and
- Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.
- Approved legal aid supervisor with the Legal Aid Agency.
Desirable
- Experience working in a charity or non-profit organisation.
- Experience supporting or contributing to strategic litigation or test case work.
- Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
- Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding-linked delivery models.
Important notice: For this job, Release will only consider applications from those who already have the right to live and work in the UK. See the Home Office Immigration & Nationality Directorate for information on the UK Government's immigration policy.
About the Role
The Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid is a key role in shaping and strengthening Release’s legal services. Working closely with the Joint Head of Legal Services and Executive Director, and in collaboration with other colleagues, you will supervise the delivery of high-quality legal advice and representation, supporting the growth of legal aid practice whilst ensuring Release continues to train and develop social justice lawyers for the future.
We are looking for an experienced legal aid practitioner who is strongly committed to social justice and the legal rights of marginalised communities, and who wants to build leadership experience in a movement-led organisation. The role will combine hands-on practice, leadership, supervision and compliance responsibilities.
Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £15,000–£25,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model.
As Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid, you will:
• Support Strategic Development: Contribute to developing the direction and priorities of Release’s legal services, including expanding legal aid work and strengthening access to justice.
• Provide Practice Supervision: Support a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers and volunteers to deliver excellent, trauma-informed legal support. Support and mentor team members on how to adhere to legal aid file compliance, time recording and CCMS applications.
• Ensure Quality and Compliance: Help ensure consistent regulatory compliance and quality assurance across legal casework, including legal aid requirements.
• Strengthen and Grow Services: Help develop and improve legal service delivery models, including responding to emerging needs and client priorities.
• Contribute to Systemic Change: Support Release’s wider mission by helping connect legal services with policy, research, and advocacy work.
This role is ideal for someone with legal aid expertise and management potential, who wants to take a meaningful step into leadership whilst continuing to centre client care, justice and harm reduction.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Help transform global care systems so children can grow up in safe, loving families, not institutions.
Join Lumos at a pivotal moment as we scale our global ambition to reform childcare systems and improve the lives of millions of children worldwide.
Lumos Foundation is an international NGO working to end the institutionalisation of children and support governments and partners to build sustainable, family-based care systems. Founded by J.K. Rowling, Lumos works across Europe, Africa, Latin America and beyond to drive lasting systemic change for children and families.
As our Senior Technical Advisor, you will play a critical global role providing expert leadership on child protection and childcare reform across Lumos programmes and partnerships. This is an opportunity for an experienced specialist to influence national reform processes, strengthen programme quality, and support governments and partners to deliver meaningful change at scale.
You will work closely with country teams, senior stakeholders and international partners, ensuring that Lumos’ programmes reflect global best practice while responding to local contexts.
What you will do
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Provide high-level technical expertise on child rights, child protection and care reform
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Support the design, implementation and evaluation of country and regional programmes
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Deliver technical advice and capacity building to governments, partners and Lumos teams
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Develop guidance, training materials and learning products
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Support evidence generation and knowledge sharing across programmes
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Contribute to donor proposals and programme reporting
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Represent Lumos in international technical networks and partnerships
About you
You are a collaborative and experienced professional with deep expertise in childcare reform or child protection programming and a strong commitment to children’s rights.
You will likely bring:
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Significant experience working in child protection, care reform or related international development programmes
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Experience working with governments or large institutional partners
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Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills
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Experience developing training, technical guidance or policy materials
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Ability to work effectively across cultures and global teams
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Excellent written and spoken English
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Willingness to travel internationally when required
Additional languages and experience working across multiple countries are an advantage.
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience.
The advertised salary range applies to candidates based in the UK. For candidates exceptionally appointed in another Lumos country office (Colombia, Kenya, Moldova or Ukraine), salary will be benchmarked and aligned with local market conditions and Lumos’ country-specific salary framework.
Location
London (UK) preferred. Exceptional consideration may be given to candidates based in Lumos country offices in Kenya, Colombia, Moldova or Ukraine.
Candidates must have the right to live and work in the country from which they apply.
Contract
Fixed-term until 31 December 2027, aligned with Lumos’ current strategy, with potential extension subject to funding.
Why join Lumos?
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a bold global mission during a period of organisational growth and impact. You will work alongside passionate international colleagues committed to ensuring children grow up in families and supportive communities.
Benefits vary by location and include flexible working arrangements, generous leave provisions, learning and development opportunities, and wellbeing support.
Safeguarding and Inclusion
Lumos is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and operates a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, exploitation and harassment. Employment is subject to appropriate checks and references.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter through the application portal. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
To realise every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Terms and Conditions:
Working hours: 28 hours
- Support Women in Prison to influence policy makers to reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of women and improving the rights of women in the criminal justice system
- Ensuring women with Lived Experience are at the heart Women in Prison’s policy and public affairs work
- Political analysis and monitoring
- Supporting the wider work of the Policy and Public Affairs Team
We are happy to invest in developing the right person, so you are welcome to apply even if your professional experience does not fully meet the job description or person specification.
- Is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement
- Requires the right to work in the UK
- Is subject to a basic DBS check
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.