Job Title: Health Independent Gender Vioelnce Advocate (Health IGVA)
Location: The Gaia Centre, Lambeth (London)
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, including London weighting if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (2 June 2026)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Health IGVA supporting women and children who are impacted by different strands of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). You will work closely with victims of VAWG from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of VAWG at the highest risk and their children.
The Health IGVA will train and provide ongoing support to GP practices and other health professionals and providers to enable primary and secondary care staff to be able to effectively talk to their patients about gender based abuse and different strands of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): including Domestic abuse and violence (physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, economic or tech abuse), Sexual Violence (Rape and sexual assault), Stalking and harassment , Sexual exploitation (including women working in sex industry and Child Sexual Exploitation), Female genital mutilation (FGM)/cutting , Forced marriage, So-called ‘honour’-based abuse, provide early identification and offer appropriate care pathways for survivors of all genders, aged 16 years and over and their children, living, working or/and studying in Lambeth.
The post holder will work in partnership with the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Gaia Service Manager to proactively develop and maintain links with health providers in the local area and build links with health professionals and support agencies.
The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the Multiagency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. The post holder will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support.
The job involves informing survivors of the full range of civil, criminal, and practical options that might increase their safety.
This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 1 July 2025
Interview Date: 7 and 8 July 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Young People’s Advocate. Suitable candidates must be experienced in advocating in a multi-agency setting to secure positive life outcomes for your clients and to making the service a success. A Safe Lives qualification is desirable.
You will be self-sufficient, assertive and possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills combined with empathy and sensitivity to build and develop supportive relationships with young people. You will maintain professional boundaries and adhere fully to Refuge’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 2 July 2025
Interview Date: 10 and 11 July 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Women in Prison
Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.
Job Description:
Job Purpose:
Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending.
The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.
Key Responsibility Areas:
1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.
3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.