Peer advocate worker jobs in Birmingham, west midlands

The Charity and The Vision.   

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting military children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 800 young people.  We are currently embarking on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035. 

We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of the bereaved military community at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.   

Scotty’s is seeking an experienced bereavement counsellor, with a strong focus on Scotty’s adult community, to join our small but effective team. The role involves supporting adults, and also children and young people affected by bereavement, which may include death in service, illness, or suicide. 

We want everyone affected by military connected bereavement to have: 

• Access to the very best emotional health and wellbeing support.   

• Outstanding development opportunities.   

• The chance to smile again.  

• Confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements. 

We call these our Promises. Our promises align with our four programmes: START, SMILES, STRIDES and SUPPORT.

• The START Programme ensures that there is a single point of contact for adults who need to gain confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements following a bereavement. 

• The SMILES Programme provides children and adults with the chance to smile again.

• The STRIDES Programme provides children with outstanding development opportunities.

• The SUPPORT Programme provides the very best emotional health and wellbeing support to children and adults who are struggling to cope following a bereavement.

Our Bereavement Counsellor will be a valuable member of the SUPPORT Programme, delivering online 1:1 and group support to those who need it most.But all four programmes work closely together (we call this the Families team).

Role Mission:

The Scotty’s Bereavement Counsellor will work with our adults, children and families who are struggling with their grief to help them understand their feelings, develop coping skills and build their new life. 

This role will be accountable for: 

Providing emotional support, counselling and therapeutic interventions to individuals and families coping with grief and loss. The role involves working compassionately and ethically with anyone affected by military connected bereavement, helping them process their emotions and find ways to adjust to life after a loss.

The Bereavement Counsellor will work collaboratively with the SUPPORT team and the wider Families team to ensure that all work undertaken by Scotty’s is delivered in a supportive and sensitive manner and that the whole Scotty community receive exemplary care.

What are the 3-month goals for this role: 

• Within three months the Counsellor will have developed their knowledge of the range of services that Scotty’s offers to our community so that they can advise and support individuals and families in their case load.

• Will have begun to learn and understand the Scotty Values and the Scotty Way (we do things a little differently and our culture is very important to us and our community!). 

• Would have begun supporting the community members assigned to their caseload by the Head of SUPPORT.This will be through online 1:1 delivery, and some group online sessions, drop ins or workshops. 

• Will have completed all necessary safeguarding training and be part of the Scotty’s Safeguarding team.

• Begun attending peer supervision sessions with the SUPPORT team. 

What are the 6-month goals for this role: 

• Will have established a caseload across the Scotty community, as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT.

• Will have begun to support the wider Families team by attending Scotty events.At Scotty events, a SUPPORT team member often attends to provide support to any families who may need it on the day (this may require occasional weekend or evening work). 

• Will be working cohesively with the Families team and the wider Scotty team to share knowledge and skills.Scotty’s values a culture of learning and strives to ensure team members can learn from one another’s expertise. 

• Will be contributing to peer supervision sessions to ensure all SUPPORT team members are able to give the best support to families.

• Regularly meeting with your selected external supervisor.

What are the 9-month goals for this role: 

• Will be supporting a caseload as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT, with emerging impact data showing the outcomes of your support.Scotty’s uses a range of practitioner and impact measurement tools to monitor the impact of SUPPORT team’s work.

• Will be a valuable member of the SUPPORT programme, Families and the wider Scotty team. Providing high-quality bereavement counselling and support directly to the Scotty Community and by working collaboratively with other team members. 

• Will be contributing to developing resources and workshops that support the Scotty Community. 

What are the key responsibilities of this role:  

• Managing a caseload and delivering one to one counselling sessions as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT. This will predominantly be online delivery using Teams video calling but also other formats as needed by community members. 

• Facilitate group therapy or support groups when appropriate. 

• Conduct initial assessment to determine clients’ needs and suitability for counselling.

• Maintaining accurate and confidential case notes in a timely fashion using our CRM in accordance with data protection and organisational policies. 

• Adhering to all safeguarding requirements and operating as part of the Scotty Safeguarding team to maintain the highest standards across the charity.

• Part of a team creating and developing resources and materials for the whole Scotty community.

• Working collaboratively within the SUPPORT team, including peer supervision. 

• Working collaboratively within the Families team to ensure that Scotty community members and families are directed to the appropriate services in a timely fashion.This could include directing people you are working with towards our educational grants, our respite breaks, our events, our START support or our advocacy.

• Liaise with other professionals such as GPs, CAMHS, social workers, education or other professionals where appropriate to ensure holistic care and management of risk. 

• Attending at least six (mandatory) face to face team days, normally located in the East of England, alongside some in person team meetings.

• Participate in regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development.

Skillset and Experiences Required:  

Essential 

• Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).We may consider applications from practitioners with HCPC or NCPS membership too.

• Level 4 Counselling / Psychotherapy Diploma or above. 

• Significant experience (post qualification), providing bereavement counselling to adults and some experience of counselling with children and young people (0-25yrs). 

• Experience and training with NICE-approved talking therapies.

• Strong understanding of grief, bereavement, trauma and the impact of loss, and experience supporting traumatic bereavement or more complex grief presentations. 

• Demonstrable safeguarding knowledge and experience 

• Confident in professional judgement, boundaries, safeguarding and confidentiality.

• Willing and able to support lower-level emotional support needs as well as more complex presentations, depending on service demand. 

• Experience of managing a complex caseload effectively.

• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings for drop-ins, later appointments or events in line with service need. 

• Excellent computer literacy. 

• Ability to engage with peer supervision and external supervision (organised by Scotty’s) effectively. 

• Ability to engage with a culture of continuous learning and support the learning of others.

• Reflective, curious and open to feedback. 

• Willingness to work flexibly as part of a team and independently to meet the needs of the service.

• Commitment to professional standards and ethical practice. 

Desirable 

• Military-connected experience or knowledge would be an advantage but not essential if you have a willingness to learn. 

• Experience of group work and peer support delivery would be helpful. Willingness to lead on these sessions as required. 

• Experience in end-of-life care and pre-bereavement work. 

• Experience of online counselling.

• Experience and training in counselling linked to suicide and suicidal ideation. 

• Knowledge of or experience using assessment tools such as WEMWBS or CBSQs. 

• Knowledge of statutory services and systems.

Additional Information 

• The role may require evening or weekend work from time to time 

• Enhanced DBS check required 

• Travel will be required to events and team training days 

• APPLICANTS MUST BE BASED WITHIN 2 HOURS TRAVEL OF CAMBRIDGE

The Scotty’s Way 

At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:

1. Families Come First 

1. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP 

1. Love What You Do 

1. Remember, Every Day 

Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours. 

Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.

We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.

We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates. 

Key Worker
Salary: £26,630 – £31,490 per annum depending on experience 
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent 
Location: HMP Birmingham 
Job reference number: 1739 

Cranstoun is an independent charity and leading provider of specialist treatment, harm reduction and recovery services to those affected by drug and alcohol use. This is an exciting opportunity to become a Key Worker within our high performing psychosocial drug and alcohol service in HMP Birmingham. 

We provide a range of services for those affected by drugs and alcohol. Our skilled and compassionate team work closely with people who use our services to change and save lives. We combine proven expertise in treatment and recovery with innovative approaches and actively involve those we help in improving the design of the services we provide. 

You will be based in our psychosocial team working with adult males (over 18 years old). You will be responsible for delivering a range of elements of our substance use work including case management, assessments, care planning, the delivery of one-to-one interventions to include harm reduction and motivational work, group work, and engagement support as well as other associated duties. You need to be committed to supporting people who use our services to make positive changes to prepare them for release into the community, and you will arrange continuity of care. You will work in collaboration with the clinical team and integrated working is a key element of this role. You will work within the prison setting and contribute towards the wider prison drug strategy.

Having experience of supporting people with complex health needs including substance use, you will bring knowledge and commitment to deliver drug and alcohol treatment. You will have a non-judgemental attitude and a desire to support the lives of people who use our services to be healthier and safer by delivering a high-quality service. 

Experience of working with drug and alcohol use is essential. You will be a competent communicator, with the ability to work independently and be comfortable and enthusiastic, both with the highlighted client group and working in partnership with other service providers. Previous experience or knowledge of working with individuals on opiate replacement treatment, and/or involved in the criminal justice system will be advantageous.

All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the link.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage. 

Closing date: 2nd August 2026.

Start date: December 2026

Timeline: 

• Application deadline: 13 August 0900
• Initial phone interview: 14 August 
• First panel interviews: 20 August (online)
• Written task: wk/c 24 August (online, 1 hour)
• Final panel interviews: 8 September (in person, London)

Full-time 37.5 hours per week.

Remote with international travel

Salary and benefits: 

• £98,800 per annum pro rata
• 10% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave, bank holidays on dates of your choice, a week of office closure in August and December
• Flexible working and other benefits (here)

 About us

Foxglove is a non-profit that exists to make the use of technology fair for all. When Big Tech companies abuse their power, their workers or the planet – and when governments use technology to oppress, exclude or discriminate – we litigate and campaign to fix it.  

Big Tech companies have become so large – gobbling up a huge slice of the global marketplace and an unprecedented treasure hoard of user data – that they’re now more powerful than many states. The harmful effects of this concentration of power are everywhere – threats to our democracy, to our privacy, decimated workers’ rights and platforms rife with disinformation and hate. Big Tech and AI data centres are rapidly expanding, resulting in huge strain on energy and water supplies. Worldwide governments are ploughing ahead with the use of algorithms and mass data systems to cut costs and increase efficiency often resulting in digital tools that entrench unfairness and leave the most vulnerable in society in crisis. All these problems are only getting worse with generative AI. 

Foxglove works to bring the rule of law to the tech and AI giants who have upended our public square, workplaces, and social lives. We have a strong track record. We’ve launched landmark cases seeking structural changes to big tech’s harmful business models, supported 180+ Facebook content moderators fired for trying to form a union to sue Facebook. We’ve supported tech workers and their unions to file cases challenging union busting at Google, Amazon and TikTok. We urged state regulators worldwide to stop Google’s theft of independent news. We won the UK’s first legal challenge to a data centre permission decision and filed the first such case in South Africa. We forced disclosure of secret contracts between tech giants and the NHS, stopped a racist Home Office visa streaming algorithm, helped make grading fair for UK A-level students and challenged the Department of Work and Pension’s use of an algorithm unfairly flagging disabled people for benefit fraud investigations. We have much more in the works and we hope you want to join us.

We are a small but growing team of lawyers, communications experts, and campaigners. Our work is global, and we work in partnership with lawyers, civil society, unions, and people impacted by Big Tech.

About you

You are an experienced social change leader who thrives at the intersection of politics, law and communications. You know that court wins alone don't create lasting change – it takes a compelling public narrative and a movement to back it up. You're energised by the prospect of what a well-run Foxglove can bring to the fight for tech justice and thrive in fast-moving environments and complex coalitions – holding a room, building a movement, and keeping a small team motivated and focused. You are a self-starter with the judgement to prioritise and the generosity to support others. You understand that Foxglove's power comes from the communities we work with as much as the cases we bring. If that's you, and the Foxglove mission excites you, we would love to hear from you.

The role

This is a fixed-term parental leave cover post for 1 year. The post holder will step into the co-Executive Director role with co-responsibility for Foxglove's strategy, impact, advocacy, operations, fundraising and public facing work. The post holder will work very closely with Foxglove’s other co-Executive Director and will make all sizable decisions about Foxglove together. UK and international travel (approx. 20%) is required.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategy, Leadership and Impact

1.Serve as a member of Foxglove's leadership team, helping to set direction across the organisation.

2.Work closely with the co-Executive Director and Director of Advocacy to align Foxglove's legal, advocacy and operations work.

3.Represent Foxglove externally: to the press, at events, with funders (trusts, foundations & individual donors), members of parliament and with policymakers and allies.

4.Help ensure communities', workers' and affected individuals' voices are at the centre of all of Foxglove's work.

5.Champion a culture of impact, monitoring and evaluation across the organisation, ensuring Foxglove can clearly demonstrate the change it is achieving internally and externally.

6.Use monitoring and evaluation insight to sharpen strategic decision-making – learning from what's working (and what isn't) to keep Foxglove's campaigns and casework focused on change for the people and communities we support. 

Advocacy and Campaigns

1.Oversee the work of Foxglove's advocacy team (led by our Director of Advocacy) and shape our overall approach to campaigning across digital, media and grassroots channels.

2.Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of allies – civil society organisations, unions, policymakers, regulators, journalists, academics, and international partners – to strengthen Foxglove's reach and influence.

3.Spot and pursue new opportunities for campaigns, litigation, coalition-building and advocacy, keeping Foxglove responsive to a fast-changing tech and policy landscape.

4.Act as a public voice for Foxglove's work – engaging with the press, media and public platforms as required to advance our work.

Operations and Organisational Management

1.Oversee Foxglove's day-to-day operations, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and effectively.

2.Manage and support staff across the organisation, providing clear leadership and creating a positive team culture.

3.Oversee financial management in partnership with relevant staff, ensuring responsible stewardship of Foxglove's resources.

4.Ensure compliance with Foxglove's policies and obligations to donors, partners and statutory bodies.

5.Line management of Director of Advocacy, Head of Operations, Digital Campaigner, Operations and Executive Assistant and peer support the other co-Executive Director.

Fundraising and Donor Relations 

1.Oversee and lead Foxglove’s fundraising and donor relations in partnership with relevant team members.

2.Drive Foxglove’s fundraising strategy that diversifies Foxglove's income across foundations, major donors and other funding sources.

3.Build and maintain strong personal relationships with key funders and major donors, serving as Foxglove's primary external contact for funders. 

4.Identify and cultivate new funding prospects aligned with Foxglove's mission, including researching and pursuing grant opportunities.

5.Oversee the preparation of compelling funding proposals, reports, and impact updates, ensuring funders have a clear and accurate picture of Foxglove's work and results.

6.Set and track annual fundraising targets in collaboration with the co-Executive Director and finance team, ensuring income projections align with organisational budgets and plans.

7.Represent Foxglove at donor meetings, briefings, and sector events to build the organisation's profile and credibility within the funding community.

8.Ensure fundraising practices reflect Foxglove's values and independence.

Person Specification

Essential

• A strong interest in tech justice and Foxglove's mission.
• Significant (5+ years) experience at CEO level.
• Experience managing and motivating a team, with a track record of supporting people to do their best work.
• A brilliant fundraising track record and experience in financial management. 
• Excellent communication skills – you can write persuasively, clearly and concisely, hold a press conference, and brief a politician, all in the same day.
• Strong political judgement and an ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Experience in organisational management or operations, including oversight of budgets and financial processes.
• A self-starter who is able to work independently and take initiative, while contributing generously to a shared team goal.
• Excellent time management skills of yourself and others – able to prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to muck in and support other members of a small team as required.
• UK based with right to work in the UK.

 Desirable

• Experience working on technology, digital rights, or AI.
• Legal qualification or equivalent advocacy leadership experience. 
• Experience working with a wide range of groups and partners from impacted communities, civil society groups, unions, associations and small businesses.
• Experience working with or alongside legal teams in a campaigning or advocacy context.
• Experience working with unions or impacted communities.

Length and Salary

This is a fixed-term parental leave cover contract of 12 months. The annual salary is £98,800 per annum pro rata less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. Please note our pay is transparent and non-negotiable.

Our team works remotely; this role must be based in the UK, ideally London. Our team travels every two months for team days and annually for team retreats. 

Please note we are only accepting UK based applicants for this role. Applicants must already have right to work in the UK, unfortunately we are not able to provide visa sponsorship.

How to apply

Please make your application via the Be Applied link provided, answering the application questions and uploading your CV. We will not review applications sent via a job board or to our email.

All applications are reviewed by a Foxglove member of staff. We do not use automated systems to select which candidates proceed through the recruitment process. The only way in which we will use generative AI is as a comparison, to assess whether applications may have been AI generated. We do not otherwise use AI to process applications, and would request that candidates do not use generative AI to draft theirs.

Foxglove is growing and we are striving to build a team that is inclusive. We will create a diverse and adaptable environment where we support people to do their best work. We believe an effective and creative team is made up of people from different walks of life. You can read more about how we work and what we offer our staff on our website.

If any part of this process causes you difficulty or you require any reasonable adjustments to make your application, please get in touch with us via our website.

If you would like to know more about how we process your data as part of the recruitment process you can read our recruitment data use policy on our website