Specialist ISVA (adults with learning disabilities, autism or both), 35 hours per week, funded until March 2023 - fixed term contract.
We invite applications for an exciting opportunity to join the Advocacy team at Respond in London. As an independent sexual violence advocate (ISVA) you will work with female and male clients with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced some form of sexual violence or harm. They may be considering reporting or have already reported to the police and you will offer emotional support and advocacy as they navigate the criminal justice system. You will also support them to consider and negate the impact of what they have experienced.
This post forms part of the Gateway service and you will work in partnership with other London sexual violence services. You will also have the opportunity to attend training with RCEW (Rape Crisis England and Wales) as part of the role. You will work in a team of four others who offer advocacy.
Due to Covid-19, the post is mainly home based at present but working practices are under constant review and this will be discussed at interview.
About us: Respond is a small national charity with offices in London and Birmingham providing specialised community support for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced abuse or trauma.
To apply: Via CharityJob with a covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification criteria. Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Closing date: 21st June 2021 at 17:00
Interview date (by Zoom): 29th June 2021
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are seeking a Specialist ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) to join our Advocacy team at Respond. The role includes providing pro-active emotional, practical and advocacy support for adults with learning disabilities and autistic people with complex or multiple needs who have experienced any form of sexual violence and are engaging, (or considering engaging) with the criminal justice system. The ISVA will work across London to provide non-judgmental, trauma-informed emotional support, working in partnership with other London sexual violence support services.
Our ideal candidate will have a friendly and relational approach to working with clients. You will have the ability to build trusting relationships, work in an empowering and inclusive way and support clients to heal following sexual abuse and develop coping capacity. You will be a self-motivated individual who will engage with a wider range of people who have experience sexual violence, and other barriers to justice.
This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive and passionate team, and you will be supported by the ISVA Service Manager in your ongoing development. Respond values and encourages working in a collaborative and compassionate way, as we support each other to address one of the most enduring injustices; of the experience of trauma to autistic people and people with learning disabilities and their families.
This post is exempt under Schedule 9 Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and is only open to women.
Background information about Respond
Respond started in 1991 and has grown from a small London based charity to a medium sized national charity in recent years. Our mission is to reduce the impact of trauma in the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people, by developing trusting relationships, through psychotherapeutically informed services.
An important part of our work at Respond is working in a trauma-informed way. What this means for us is that we hold in mind the impact of trauma at all levels of the organisation, and all staff take part in reflective practice or team dynamics.
We are keen to encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates including people with lived experience, who are both interested in working in partnership to provide advocacy support, as well as supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people who have experienced trauma.
We are committed to the furthering of human rights, equality, and positive social change through our therapeutic and advocacy work and are committed to anti-racism and other forms of anti-discriminatory practice. We recognise that we need to continually keep this as a focus in our work and as an integral part of our organisational strategy.
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re resilient and passionate about advocacy, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement in the person specification, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable for this role. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles within the organisation.
Respond Benefits package (all per financial year)
We offer a generous and comprehensive package of flexible benefits to all of our staff.
Hybrid working model, which means that if you’re full time you make a commitment to be working in the office at least two days a week, with the remainder working from home. Part time hours are altered accordingly.
Generous paid leave benefits including 28.5 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays), with some to be taken between Christmas and New year.
Up to 4 weeks paid sickness leave at full pay and a further 4 weeks at half pay,
Discretionary study leave to support training relevant to your role.
Paid leave to employees who may need to take one day off a year when a religious festival falls on a workday.
Up to 5 days paid time off for dependents per financial year.
Opportunity to apply for up to 2 days (14 hours) paid leave per year to participate in volunteering activities relevant to the role.
Access to a workplace pension scheme, administered by NEST, with a minimum 5% employee contribution and 3% employer contribution from commencement of employment.
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which includes 24/7 telephone service and counselling.
Note all of the above days per annum stated are pro rata’d for part time employees.
If you’d like to find out more about this role, please read through the job description and our person specification. When you apply, please send a CV and address the points in the person specification in an accompanying supporting statement. Your statement should be no more than 2 sides of A4.
Interviews will take place on Wednesday 23rd July
Deadline for all applications: Thursday 17th July midday
Registered Charity 
21 - 50