Independent domestic violence advocate jobs in East of england

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.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

This role is responsible for the service delivery of an effective, high quality, person centred support service to residents with a background of rough sleeping and range of medium to high needs. These includes entrenched drug and/or alcohol issues, mental health diagnosis and a range of offending backgrounds.

They will be the principal providers of support to residents in the Harbour Project team and will also work alongside Assistant Support Workers, to promote resident engagement through the development of positive relationships with our residents and contributing towards the promotion of a fulfilling, safe and inclusive environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

 To be responsible to the Team Manager for the day-to-day delivery of the Harbour Project Team.

Use motivational and asset based interviewing techniques to interview, assess and create support plans and risk assessments that address the needs of residents.

Take a positive, trauma-informed approach to working with residents with complex needs and challenging behaviour.

Conduct regular reviews of support plans and risk assessments as required.

Take a pro-active approach in multi-disciplinary support required for residents.

Work within a Psychologically Informed Environment approach and strive to meet targets and deliver results.

Ensure a high standard of customer service is upheld

To attend team meetings and take part in service policy and planning.

To participate in team meetings, team review days and other meetings as agreed with the Team Manager.

To keep abreast of current housing legislation, welfare benefit legislations and other matters relevant to successful support and move on of residents.

To respond and process all referrals made to the Complex Needs service and ensure those accessing the service meet the service eligibility criteria.

To ensure all case work is properly recorded and all service offers and outcomes are entered clearly onto the case management system.

To actively collect follow up information with regards to the outcome of reconnections and report

To deal with the immediate support needs of the residents as appropriate.

To assess resident safety and develop risk management strategies with the resident and other involved services.

To ensure all service delivery policies and decisions made by the Team Manager or team are observed and followed through.

To keep accurate records and statistics on referrals, service outputs and outcomes etc.

To maintain a high standard of record keeping in the office and keep all financial and administrative systems including resident files in the office in an accurate and up-to-date manner in line with policy.

To ensure that all written work both for internal and external use is of a high standard.

To ensure the results of all assessments and all service offers are entered clearly and in a timely fashion onto the case management system.

To liaise and negotiate effectively on a day to day basis with outside agencies including the police, social services and other statutory and voluntary agencies.

To build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues.

Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with policies and procedures.

To comply with individual responsibilities, in accordance with work role for health and safety in the workplace.

To undertake such other duties within the competence of the post holder which may be required from time to time.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Ideal attributes for meeting the needs of position and being an effective member of the wider Your Place team.

Experience

A demonstrable level of experience and understanding of the range of approaches appropriate to working with challenging behaviour including current drug /or alcohol use, antisocial behaviour, offending, substance misuse and complex needs

Experience of working with clients in a trauma-informed way with proven effectiveness

Demonstrate an understanding of statutory compliances and standards such health and safety, equal opportunities, data protection, particularly within a residential setting.

Demonstrate excellent customer service skills. Ability to develop good working relationships and rapport with residents and stakeholders.

Using motivational interview techniques to produce and approach referrals, needs and risk assessments and support planning in a SMART manner

Knowledge of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE).

Demonstrable experience within local authority, voluntary, independent, charity or social housing sector

Successful track record of work with colleagues in order to achieve common goals

Working across agencies and / or partnership arrangements

Awareness of issues facing single people that experience homelessness or rough sleeping.

Skills & knowledge

IT skills and particularly Microsoft Office packages

Knowledge, understanding or experience of working in a casework management system.

Knowledge in identifying and dealing with substance misuse issues

Sound knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting supported housing and vulnerable adult groups

Understanding of health and safety in a supported housing setting

Abilities

Willingness and ability to work shifts including evenings, weekends and waking night shifts on a rota basis)

Ability to motivate those with complex needs to engage with meaningful activities

Evidence of effective de-escalation techniques.

Ability to interact and communicate effectively with a wide variety of people at all levels, maintaining professional boundaries

Ability to interpret and communicate the meaning of legislation, policy, guidance, research and information on best practice

Ability to work co-operatively to achieve goals

Ability to set up and work according to schedules

Personal qualities

Self-sufficient and highly organised with the ability to accomplish goals according to deadlines, and a flexibility and to juggle a variety of tasks

Ability to act on own initiative and effectively under own direction, as well as productively within a team

Strong sense of responsibility and accountability

Awareness of own training and support needs

Desirable criteria

Experience of using In-Form as a case management system.

Qualifications relevant to supporting vulnerable adults

Full current driving licence

Successful track record in developing services in response to changing needs and demands

Before starting this position, you’ll need to undergo a criminal record check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must be entitled to work in the UK.