4 Dorset advocacy jobs

Context of role:

The Outreach Officer plays a key role in raising awareness of services, strengthening community
partnerships and supporting the delivery of high-quality bereavement support activities across the
region. The postholder will engage with local networks, coordinate events, and support volunteers
while ensuring effective monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement. The role involves regular travel within Wessex

Key responsibilities:
Support Service:
1. Event Coordination and Delivery
1.1: Coordinate and deliver regular community engagement activities, including; coffee mornings and
support events.
1.2: Organise and facilitate regular wellbeing and social activities, such as; walks or group sessions.
1.3: Represent the organisation at regional events, including supporting fundraising and CYP teams
when required.
1.4: Co-lead on bookings and coordination of Ty Uchaf, our respite house.
2. Awareness, Training and Engagement
2.1: Lead on regional awareness training delivery for non-emergency services and community-based
organisations.
2.2: Deliver additional 2wish training programmes as required, including Children & Young People
(CYP) and Bereavement in workplace support training.
2.3: Lead awareness and advocacy activities with local ‘support champions’, including professionals
within non-emergency services.
3. Partnership and Network Development
3.1: Actively engage with local bereavement networks through attendance at meetings, hosting
information stands and building strong professional relationships across the region.
3.2: Develop and maintain effective links with community partners to expand reach and awareness of
services.
4. Volunteer Support
4.1: Act as a key local contact for volunteers.
4.2: Support the recruitment, training and retention of volunteers in collaboration with the wider
team.
5. Administration, Monitoring and Reporting
5.1: Maintain and take ownership of relevant systems and spreadsheets, including those used for:
52: Event planning and delivery
5.3: Marketing and communications
5.4: Contact and engagement tracking
5.5: Professional and family engagement records
5.6: Accurately record interactions with stakeholders, including; families, professionals, champions
and referral partners.
5.7: Monitor and manage posts/content on Facebook family accounts.
6. Quality Assurance and Improvement
6.1: Support quality audits and contribute to continuous improvement processes.
6.2: Collect and review feedback from events and training sessions to inform future development.

2.0 General:
1.1: To be responsible for organising own work agenda, time management and administration
1.2: To keep clear and up to date records on database of activities with families and any ensuing
action
1.3: To promote the on-going work and continued support that 2wish can offer
1.4: To work as part of a team providing support to suddenly bereaved families
1.5: To work alongside support team and maintain a seamless approach to service delivery
1.6: To maintain a high degree of confidentiality in accordance with the charity’s policies
1.7: To show respect and sensitivity for the cultural and religious beliefs of families
1.8: To undertake learning opportunities and seek them out for the team
1.9: To adhere to all company policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Confidentiality,
Health and Safety and Lone Working; and to be proactive in implementing new safe working
practices as appropriate
1.10: To attend weekend and evening community events in support of the charity as necessary
1.11: Participate as and when required in team meetings and one-to-one meetings, and
undertake, as appropriate, courses/training/other developmental activities, which is relevant to
the role
1.12: To contribute to the evaluation and monitoring processes to ensure effectiveness of
services and activities provided
1.13: Contribute on the social media platforms maintained by 2wish
It is the nature of the work that tasks and responsibilities are in many circumstances
unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and
tasks, which are not specifically covered in their job description may have to be undertaken.
This role is subject to a DBS check.

Location: Weymouth

Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week 

Salary: £32,585 per annum plus £802 Essential Car User Allowance

Contract:  Fixed term until 31st March 2029

Closing date: Wednesday 23rd September 2026 at 11.30pm

This role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1 support.

Do you have a good understanding of the needs of women affected by homelessness and multiple disadvantage?  Then join Shelter as a Support Worker and you could soon be playing a vital role supporting women who are at risk of homelessness.

About the role

The role will work in partnership with Dorset charity STARS – Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service and your focus will be to support women who have experience trauma and abuse and are at risk of being made homeless. You will be part of the SHINE service – (Sustaining Housing Independence and Emotional Resilience)  and will tailor accommodation support to each woman and support them to overcome the barriers they face to sustaining a home. You will also help them to access specialist counselling to address and recover from their experiences.

About you

You have a strong understanding of support and housing issues and experience of working with women with multiple disadvantage. You also have knowledge of safeguarding frameworks, experience of the delivery of services for women and of working with multiple agencies to support people. You are able to manage a demanding caseload and use case management and Microsoft Office tools for your work. As the role will require you to visit people in their homes you will need a full valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team

Our team in Dorset has been providing housing advice and support services within the area for over 20 years. We have office bases in Bournemouth and Weymouth as well as working in community venues and partner organisation sites. We deliver a wide range of housing rights, legal services, community and support work and advocate for change to fix the broken housing system.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

How to Apply

Please submit your work history and a supporting statement with responses to the first four 'About You' points outlined in the job description. The supporting statement should be no more than 1500 words in total. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

· We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

We are looking for a resilient and dedicated people to join our new specialist high risk domestic abuse service as Independent Domestic Violence Advocate's (IDVA).

The roles is full time and offered on a hybrid working basis with two days per week from our centrally located office in Boscombe. Due to the nature of the role, the successful applicants would be expected to travel regularly across the Dorset county.

As an IDVA, you'll support victims at some of the most difficult times in their lives. We're looking for someone who is compassionate, adaptable, and committed to providing excellent advocacy and support through a trauma-informed and person-centred approach. You'll be passionate about empowering survivors, building trust, and helping individuals make informed choices while ensuring their safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of your work.

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression, an IDVA qualification
• Clinical supervision: to promote reflective practice and wellbeing

About the role

As a IDVA you will provide high quality support to victims of domestic violence and abuse. You will deliver and provide support in five key areas to support victims to:

• Feel safer
• Feel informed about their rights and the criminal justice system
• Feel listened to and heard
• Be able to implement healthy coping mechanisms
• Be connected with services who are available to help them
• Ideally, you will hold an approved and accredited IDVA qualification (or you must be willing to work towards one)

You will need

• A strong understanding of domestic abuse and violence and the impact this has on victims.
• Experience of working with victims of crime (preferably domestic abuse) including completing risk assessments and safety planning
• Experience of managing a caseload and keeping clear case management records
• Experience of adapting communication styles to be able to effectively communicate
• An understanding of trauma informed practice and how to implement this within your work
• A through understanding of the criminal justice system and the Victim's Code
• An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and other legal requirements
• Good IT skills including experience with working within bespoke case management systems and using Microsoft Office Packages
• Organised and methodical approach to work with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise workload

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 arrangement

About Us

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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.

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 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.