Refuge Manager Jobs

We are recruiting for a Survivor Engagement Lead to join our team in London; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Survivor Engagement Lead

Location: Homeworking with the requirement to occasionally work at our Head Office (Vauxhall)
Salary: £38,546.40 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting if applicable
Contract type: Part-time, Fixed term (12 months)

Hours: 30

Join Refuge’s Senior Management Team as Survivor Engagement Lead and provide organisation-wide strategic leadership on lived experience engagement as you work together with survivors of domestic abuse to drive change.

The role holder will champion the importance of putting survivors’ expertise and lived experience at the heart of Refuge’s mission to end violence against women and girls. You will broker opportunities for survivors to play a central role across all aspects of Refuge’s work, from our frontline services to our Board of Trustees, and in press, campaigning and government influencing.

The successful candidate will build on the existing work of the Survivor Engagement Team to further develop and embed Refuge’s approach to survivor engagement, as the organisation make the shift from consultation towards co-design and co-production.

This post offers a rare opportunity to combine strategic and organisational leadership with hands-on partnership and collaboration with survivors of domestic abuse.

Closing date: 9.00am on 31 March 2025

Interview date: 8 April 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

To manage all aspects of Stop Domestic Abuse’s Services and Projects, including delivery of contracted services, liaison with sub-contractors/partners, completion of monitoring and evaluation and identification unmet/additional needs of clients.

To develop and maintain a high-quality professional service. To support and enable clients with practical and emotional support including financial, legal, social, emotional, parenting, housing and further education through an outcome focussed support planning process.

The role involves being a member of the Stop Domestic Abuse operational management team.

To manage services that provide support, advice and assistance to women, children, young people and men who have experienced domestic abuse and are using community outreach services.

To manage services that provide support, advice and assistance to adults and their children affected by domestic abuse and are staying in refuge/safe space and ensure that they are provided with secure, high-quality accommodation.  To be able to work therapeutically within a communal living dynamic.

The post-holder will work to empower and support women, children, young people and men affected by domestic abuse and will work closely with perpetrator services

To participate in the delivery of the on-call out of hours service on a rota basis.

Workers should be “free from abuse in their own lives.” Applicants are asked not to put themselves forward for selection if this is not the case. 

We are recruiting for a Deputy Service Manager to join our team in Kingston; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Deputy Service Manager

Location: Kingston
Salary: £37,635 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Deputy Service Manager to support women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. In this role you will provide line management and support to staff who work with and help women and their children who are experiencing violence and men who experience violence in their relationships. This will include providing supervision on complex casework issues such as child protection, overseeing operational emergencies and ensuring high standards of casework.

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.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota. Please see information pack for more details. 

Closing date: 9am on 20 March 2025

Interview date: 28 March 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: People Data and Reward Officer

Location: Hybrid with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London)
Salary: £33,188 per annum, inclusive of London weighting allowance if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a People Data and Reward Officer.This is a varied role, reporting to the People Data and Reward Manager, working within a wider People and Culture team.

The role is responsible for delivering a responsive range of effective, compliant and customer focused people services that contribute to an inclusive culture, enabling colleagues to sustain high levels of performance and helps Refuge to achieve its Strategic Objectives, and be a great place to work. You will also deliver accurate and timely processing of the monthly payroll including the implementation of the annual pay award and employee benefits. The post holder will also be responsible for supporting broader team activities associated with the development of the HR system and pay and reward strategies. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 31 March 2025

Interview Date: 15 April 2025 

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London)
Salary: £28,104 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting allowance if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence and abuse, including those at the point of crisis.

Helpline Advisors are responsible for providing high-quality, empowering, emotional and practical support, assistance and information to women and those supporting them, who contact the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge. Helpline Advisors deliver one to one support to women and those supporting them to ensure that they are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming service, enabling women to understand their rights, make decisions and increase their options. The job involves working across multiple platforms including phone and live chat, to inform survivors of the full range of civil, criminal and practical options that might increase their safety.

Please note that 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.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours rota that includes evenings, weekends and night shifts.

Closing date: 09:00am 1 April 2025
Interview Dates: Week beginning 14 April 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London)
Salary: £16,862.40 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting allowance if applicable
Contract type: Part Time, Fixed Term until 31 March 2026

Hours: 22.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Domestic Abuse Helpline Advisor to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence and abuse, including those at the point of crisis.

Helpline Advisors are responsible for providing high-quality, empowering, emotional and practical support, assistance and information to women and those supporting them, who contact the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge. Helpline Advisors deliver one to one support to women and those supporting them to ensure that they are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming service, enabling women to understand their rights, make decisions and increase their options. The job involves working across multiple platforms including phone and live chat, to inform survivors of the full range of civil, criminal and practical options that might increase their safety.

Please note that 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.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours rota that includes evenings, weekends and night shifts.

Closing date: 09:00am 1 April 2025
Interview Dates: Week beginning 14 April 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Health Advocate Educator

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £25,104 per annum
Contract type: Full Time,Permament

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as an Health Advocate Educator supporting women and children who are impacted by domestic violence. 

The Health Advocate Educator will train and provide ongoing support to GP practices and other health professionals to enable primary and secondary care staff to be able to effectively talk to their patients about domestic violence and abuse (DVA), provide early identification and offer appropriate care pathways for female, male and non-binary survivors of domestic violence and abuse, aged 16 years and over and their children.

The post holder will work in partnership with the local ICB and the service manager to proactively develop and maintain links with health providers in the local area.The post-holder will work within a defined locality, either Stratford-upon-Avon District; North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth, or Warwick District and Rugby borough; building links with health professionals and support agencies.  

Travel around Warwickshire for client appointments essential to role, therefore use of a car essential.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

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 24 March 2025

Interview Date: 31 March 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Title: Easter European Floating Support Worker 

Location: Hybrid working with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London) and co-locations across London
Salary: £28,104 per annum, inclusive of London weighting if applicable
Contract type: This post is Fixed Term Contract until March 2026. There is a possible extension of contract depending on funding

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

We are recruiting for Floating Support Worker who will support the Ascent Pan London Service in building sustainable referral pathways and joint working protocols with a range of partners working with survivors of domestic abuse

You will provide capacity-building in the form of advice, advocacy, support, and briefings across the London boroughs to statutory agencies and community organizations around the needs of Eastern European domestic abuse survivors, to embed best practice across our communities. 

It is desirable for candidates to be proficient in one or more Eastern European languages.

You will have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support to women as well as up-to-date knowledge of legislation relating to survivors of gender-based violence. You will have excellent casework skills, good written and verbal communication skills, clear professional boundaries and be a proactive team player. All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the feminist values of empowerment and equality which underpin all of our work. 

The post holder will provide a high-quality personal welfare support service to Eastern European survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence and abuse and their children. The post holder will empower Eastern European survivors by providing them with emotional and practical support, including support to access safe accommodation. 

The post holder will provide capacity building in the form of advice, advocacy, support and briefings across the London boroughs to statutory agencies and community organizations around the needs of Eastern European domestic abuse survivors, to embed best practice across our communities. 

Please note that 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 28 March 2025

Interview Date: 7 April 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We are recruiting for a Senior Community Fundraising Executive to join our team in London; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Senior Community Fundraising Executive

Location: Hybrid, with the requirement to occasionally attend our Head Office (Vauxhall)
Salary: £33,188 per annum, inclusive of £3,000 London Weighting if applicable
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

Join Refuge as our Senior Community Fundraising Executive and play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitious plans to develop new and current activities both online and offline to grow income across the Community Fundraising Programme.

You will manage a portfolio of key relationships with community fundraising supporters, groups and businesses, using a strategic approach to uplift supporter fundraising and identify further opportunities for support while keeping our community fundraising audience and Refuge core values at the heart of what we do.

The Senior Community Fundraising Executive is an exciting opportunity for a motivated fundraiser to play a significant role in our passionate team. The role holder will support and nurture our dedicated fundraisers building long-lasting relationships whilst working on developing new projects.

Closing date: 9.00am on 10 March 2025

Interview date: 1 & 2 April 2025

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Contract length: FTC up to 12-month maternity cover

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35hrs, work Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm

Salary:  Circa £32,000

Closing date for applications: Monday, 24st March 2025

First interview date: W/C 31st March 2025, Microsoft Teams; interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible

Second interview date: W/C 7th April 2025, in-person interview

Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.

We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

We do our best for dogs and cats in need every day, working with colleague across the sector to improve their lives and to give them the care, support and love they deserve. But it’s our warmth, creativity and care that touch lives. Here, we take the time to really get to know the dogs and cats we care for and those who love them.

At our North West London Home, we are recruiting an interim Head of Cattery who will share our compassion and commitment for animal welfare to provide front line leadership to our team of Cattery and Animal Care staff and volunteers. We care for up to eight cats and kittens on site, in addition to cats placed into foster homes. Our Head of Cattery is responsible for managing the day-to-day smooth running of our cattery and maintaining the wellbeing of all cats in our care, so that their individual physical and psychological needs are catered for adequately, and in line with our standards and ethics.

This is a high profile and hugely important role for Mayhew as our Head of Cattery oversees each cat’s journey through Mayhew from in-take to assessment and then to rehoming. Working with staff and volunteers across the Home, foster carers, adopters, other charities and rescues and members of the public, our Head of Cattery is instrumental in ensuring that our cats have all they need – from feeding, cleaning, enrichment and socialising to finding their perfect forever home. This role can be physically and emotionally demanding but is also hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.

Leading a small team, our Head of Cattery is responsible for managing all aspects of our cat in-takes, adoptions and fostering, managing our capacity to ensure we help as many cats as we can and ensuring our cats are rehomed to a home suited to their individual needs as soon as possible.

We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of cats who rely on us.

Generally, you will:

• Lead and manage our Cattery and ensure the very best care and support is given to each of our cats
• Proactively, collaboratively and resourcefully maintain relationships with volunteers, foster carers, adopters, other rescue managers and other colleagues in the wider Mayhew community
• Manage your team in an inclusive and collaborative way, enabling and empowering them
• Engage and collaborate with senior staff to ensure effective delivery of our strategic and operational goals

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:

• Experience working with cats, ideally in a shelter environment
• Strong knowledge of cat behaviour and welfare
• Experience of successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team and managing performance
• Experience of effectively managing competing and changeable priorities, a high workload and multiple complex issues and tasks

Please note that successful candidates will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

We reserve the right to close this post at any time, should we receive a high volume of applications.

Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for animal welfare?  Do you have the strategic vision, commercial acumen, and media expertise to guide a respected charity in adapting to today’s challenging economic environment?  If so, Ferne Animal Sanctuary invites you to apply for the pivotal role of Chief Executive Officer.

About Ferne Animal Sanctuary

For over 80 years, Ferne Animal Sanctuary has provided refuge for unwanted and neglected animals, promoting animal welfare and finding forever homes for those in need. As a small independent charity, we are at a turning point, navigating a dynamic economic climate while seeking to diversify income streams and become less reliant on legacy funding.

The Role

As CEO, you will lead the organisation in reshaping its future, ensuring sustainability and growth during challenging times. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, your key responsibilities will include:

· Steering the organisation’s long-term strategy of increasing the number of charity shops whilst ensuring resilience and responsiveness to changes in the economic environment.

· Expanding and diversifying income streams to reduce reliance on legacies, with a focus on retail growth, fundraising innovation, and commercial opportunities.

· Enhancing Ferne’s profile through media, PR, and marketing strategies, growing awareness and support.

· Managing the charity efficiently and ethically, maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and adhering to all regulations.

· Building strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, donors, colleagues, volunteers, and the community to strengthen Ferne’s influence and support base.

About you

We are seeking a forward-thinking leader with the following skills and experience

· Proven leadership experience, ideally within the charity, retail, or commercial sector.

· A strong track record of achieving commercial success and driving profitability, with the ability to identify and capitalise on new opportunities.

· Expertise in media, PR, and marketing, with a proven ability to elevate an organisation’s profile and build engagement.

· A strategic mindset with the ability to navigate economic challenges and lead change effectively.

· A genuine passion for animal welfare and a deep commitment to Ferne’s mission.

· Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and influence a wide range of stakeholders.

· Outstanding ability to engage and inspire a diverse, multi-site workforce including volunteers

· Experience working with a Board of Trustees or in a governance setting is desirable.

What We Offer

· The opportunity to lead a well-loved and respected charity, shaping its future in a meaningful way.

· A dedicated team of colleagues and volunteers who share your passion for animals.

· A beautiful rural location in Somerset with a strong sense of community.

The closing date for applications is 24th March 2025.  Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during the week commencing 31st March 2025.

WHAG is a leading charity delivering quality support services to women, men and their families who are affected by domestic abuse, homelessness and young parents across the of North West England. Improving the safety and life opportunities of the people who use our services and supporting them in their recovery.

We support the people we work with to overcome the experiences they have had. We empower them to build up the skills and resources they need to take control of their own lives, access a tenancy of their own and maintain a quality of life in the long term. We give them the information they need to make positive choices about their futures.

As well as delivering courses to our staff WHAG delivers Healthy relationship training to employers and schools to assist in the education and prevention of Domestic abuse

Our Vision - To support and empower vulnerable women and those affected by domestic abuse 

Our Mission - End Domestic Abuse, Homelessness, and relationship breakdown.

Our Values - Empowerment, Choice, Change, Strength

Guiding Principles - Our guiding principles help define how we will act at all times through the development and delivery of WHAG in the future

Overall Aim

• To provide activities and support for children and young people across all Wigan DA safe accommodation including core refuge dispersed refuge, complex needs and resettlement.
• To work with families to improve parenting and parent child relationships.
• To ensure the service is delivered to a high standard following WHAG policy and procedure paying particular attention to: H&S, Child and Adult Safeguarding and confidentiality practice.

Requirements

• Relevant qualification CYP/Domestic abuse or equivalent to Diploma/ Degree/NVQ 3  or equivalent work level experience and the willingness to achieve a level 3 relevant qualification
• Ability to work across WHAG’s contract area and travel for training and meeting purposes.
• Access to a car for work purposes.
•  Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends when required..

Job Description

The list does not cover the full scope of tasks and responsibilities of Children’s Worker but illustrates some of the areas of emphasis for this post.

Key Objectives

• To be accountable and responsible to the team lead, Operations Manager and ultimately the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the effective support, empowerment and advancement of clients. 
• To ensure the working environment meets health and safety requirements.
• To ensure that the delivery of the service to clients, funders and stake holders is underpinned by a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equality of opportunity.
• To work within quality assessment frameworks, associated regulations and WHAG’s policy and procedure.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. To create a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for children and young people in refuge services in Wigan.

2. To plan and provide one to one and group play sessions for children of all ages to develop the skills required to work though their experiences of domestic abuse.

3. To take an active role in organising/ leading play activities during school holidays and after school.

4. To provide fun and creative activities for families that nurtures the child and parent relationship.

5. To provide childcare to enable the parent to speak openly in support sessions and protect the children.

6. To support positive parenting by providing parenting support and programmes.

7. To provide practical information and assistance to women about local services for children, such as children’s centres, nursery or schools.

8. To work closely with DA Support Workers to maintain a multiagency approach to safeguarding with TAF and Children’s Social Care.

9. To undertake risk assessment for all activities to ensure that all health and safety requirements are met.

10. To ensure that any issues in relation to safeguarding children or vulnerable adults are brought to the immediate attention of team lead and Designated safeguarding Officer.

11. To set up and maintain library of child and parenting resources to be accessed by families.

12. To support and supervise students or volunteers.

Responsibilities shared with all staff

• To ensure that the values and principles underlying WHAG’s services are maintained and developed.
• To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To work at times other than office hours to attend meetings, participate in networks, fundraising events and ensuring that the service is accessible.
• To undertake any other duties that may be required which are appropriate to your role.
• To be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

*This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

 Stop Domestic Abuse is a trauma informed organisation, the work we do to support those effected by domestic abuse may be triggering for those with past trauma. Please only apply if you are living free from abuse. If you’d like to talk to us about this, please get in touch.

Family Safeguarding Teams are co-located, multidisciplinary teams consisting of social work professionals and adult workers. The aim of this role is to work collaboratively with the right families, at the right time, respecting families’ rights, following guidance and law.

To take a whole family approach to child protection to keep more children safely at home with their families.

To publicise the support available to women, men and children at risk of domestic abuse.

To work with other professionals within the Family Safeguarding Team, to develop and deliver services to perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse in a timely manner. This includes case consultation to fully understand the dynamics of domestic abuse and the impact (using Safe & Together principles) on victims and children

The post-holder will work to empower and support all victims and survivors of domestic abuse to make positive choices and tackle the impact of abuse and neglect from within the family.

Contribute to the plan for the family through team discussions and supervision, manage and evaluate risk of offending, failure to protect, harm to self and others and the need for intervention to reduce abuse, coercive control and violence.

Keep records and update Capacity for Change Workbook and other colleagues in the team where appropriate. With due regard for service user consent, confidentiality, data protection and information sharing protocols.

Purpose

We are looking for an experienced Children and Families Worker to support survivors of trafficking and other forms of violence who are parents, and their children. For parents, you will play a crucial part in helping them develop their capacity and parenting skills, both practically and emotionally; enabling them and their children to live safe and happy lives. You will build strong, trusting and compassionate relationships, empowering survivors to find their voice and learn and develop skills to support their families.

For children, you will design and deliver sessions, activities and educational outings to provide enriching experiences that encourage learning, wellbeing, creativity and social development. The Children and Families Worker will work collaboratively with internal teams, partner charities, social enterprises, and local agencies to create a supportive environment for children and families on their journey of recovery and towards independence.

Main responsibilities

Casework provision

• Deliver compassionate, high quality, tailored support to mothers and children at Ella’s.

• Empower survivors to find their voice and advocate for themselves and their children, fostering self-advocacy and empowerment

• Promptly address any safeguarding concerns, adhering to Ella’s’ safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety of the women and children

• Build strong, trusting relationships with service users and their children

• Display sensitivity and responsiveness to the rapidly changing emotional and physical needs of service users and their children, tailoring support strategies accordingly.

• Manage all casework-related paperwork, ensuring compliance with Ella's policies and procedures on data protection and confidentiality.

• Maintain accurate and timely casenote records within Ella's case management system, recording each service user contact within 24 hours.

• Assist service users with administrative tasks for their children such as making nursery/school applications, liaising with healthcare professionals, and children’s support services

• Act as an advocate during external appointments, if needed, ensuring that the service user's needs and preferences are effectively communicated and respected.

• Attend external meetings and appointments with healthcare professionals, educational service providers, and children social service providers

• Draft covering letters and support letters to complement service users' application forms, advocating for specific needs, or keeping other organisations informed as required.

• Maintain effective communication with other agencies involved in the care and support of children to ensure all their needs are adequately addressed.

Community and child centred focus

• Plan, organise and run regular sessions tailored to different age groups of children, providing them with enriching experiences that encourage learning, wellbeing, creativity and social development. 

• Facilitate and/or provide childcare supervision for service users, whilst they engage in sessions with their caseworker and during community sessions, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment.

• Design and coordinate engaging activities and educational trips during school holidays, creating memorable experiences for children and parents, and promoting  personal growth.

• Take the lead in designing, organising and running parenting classes for service users. Provide valuable guidance and support to help mothers develop effective parenting skills and foster healthy relationships with their children.

• Liaise with caseworkers and Ella’s’ Service Manager to ensure that our services continue to meet the developmental, emotional, and educational needs of the children of survivors.

• Provide information and data to support Monitoring and Evaluation related to this role.

• Support families with homework management and after school clubs as needed.

• Support mothers with locating and accessing appropriate services or community sessions in their local area to meet additional needs and promote pathways to independence.

• Optimise the childrens’ space within Ella’s’ community building, ensuring it is safe, friendly and fit for purpose. 

Safeguarding, and health and safety 

• Ensure all major incidents, accidents, safeguarding concerns or potential hazards are managed, reported and recorded following Ella’s’ policies and procedures.

• Ensure all safety and security procedures are followed to keep self and others safe.

• Maintain a safe and secure working environment.

• Participate in the identification and assessment of risks and implement agreed working procedures to minimise their impact; writing risk assessments as required.

• Promote awareness of health and safety amongst service users, including those who use emergency/on call systems, fire prevention and control systems as necessary.

• Ensure the location confidentiality of Ella’s’ premises to protect survivors and safeguard staff and volunteers.

Other/general duties

• Work with management to design, implement and strengthen ways to ensure survivors are helping lead the design and delivery of Ella’s’ services and operations.

• Distribute relevant ‘gifts in kind’ to survivors across the service as needed.

• Develop strategic partnerships with local agencies working within the VAWG sector and other local organisations or businesses that could enrich the work of Ella’s.

• Attend any training required for the role, keeping up to date with any developments and changes within the sector.

• Represent the work at Ella’s with integrity at all times.

• Adhere to all Ella's’ policies and procedures at all times.

• Complete any duties directed by the Service Manager within the scope of the role.

• Attend any team meetings required.

• Contribute to Ella's’ strategic goals and direction of growth.

• Attend monthly supervision with the Service Manager and keep in regular contact.

• Manage all paperwork, processing any personal data in accordance with Ella’s’ policies and procedures

• Supporting content gathering and signing off with the fundraising team.

Person specification

Skills

Essential 

• Ability to facilitate child appropriate sessions, tailored to age and specific needs.

• Ability to work with parents and children, in a trauma informed setting

• Ability to read and understand policies/procedures.

• Good organisational and time-management skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Administrative, recording and reporting skills. 

• Team working. 

• Ability to work within a ‘risk assessed’ environment. 

• Ability to maintain clear boundaries. 

• A practical and flexible approach to work, with the ability to learn new concepts quickly.

• Excellent IT skill suitable for the role, in particular Microsoft Word, Google Drive, Gmail, Casework Management Systems.

Desirable

• A second language (highly desirable languages include; Vietnamese, Albanian, Yoruba).

• Full and clean driving licence.

Experience

Essential

• Designing and leading training sessions

• Running community sessions/outings 

• Working with vulnerable women and children.

• Children’s work experience: in educational settings, refuges, and/or social care settings.

• Budget and petty cash management.

• Target and deadline driven work, and report writing.

Desirable

• Working with migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers.

• Working in small charities.

• Gathering views and ensuring participation towards user led delivery of services.

Knowledge

• Developed understanding of trauma and mental health support needs.

• Safeguarding and professional boundaries.

• Understanding of statutory service providers, systems and support available eg social services

• Principles of good health and safety. 

• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

• Broad understanding of the UK education system.

• Understanding of working with families who have experienced trauma

• A broad understanding of children services and processes.

Desirable

• Familiar with issues around immigration and migrant experience in the UK.

• Familiar with issues around families with high risks/vulnerabilities

Ethos

Essential

• Possess a commitment to follow the policies, procedures and ethos of Ella’s, and to advocate on behalf of the organisation. 

Desirable

• Experience of working with people from different backgrounds.

Benefits 

• You will be part of a small but dynamic organisation changing women’s lives, supporting and empowering them to build safe futures.

• You will have the opportunity to help give direction and vision to the work of Ella’s, and to work alongside a committed team.

• Access to a professional supervisor.

• 28 days holiday, plus bank holidays.

Special conditions

• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be undertaken.

• Due to the nature of the work, this post is for women only.

• The role is subject to a six-month probationary period.

• An ability and willingness to work flexibly, and at other Ella’s locations if required, is necessary for this role.​

More about Ella’s 

Ella’s is a London-based organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Our mission is to do everything we can to ensure survivors have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free. 

Here is a summary of our main activities:

• We run six safe houses. This supported accommodation is crucial for survivors, until they are ready and able to live independently. 

• We provide regular support for women and families in neighbourhoods across London, and many more further afield when they need us. 

• We speak out on issues affecting the women we work with. We care deeply about survivors of trafficking and exploitation and want to see a world where these crimes are not tolerated. 

Ella’s is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, as we believe having a diverse team adds value and positively impacts our service. We actively encourage applicants from BAME backgrounds, LGBTQ+ applicants and those with disabilities. We are committed to equality and diversity within our organisation.

(Photo: Tom Price/Ella’s)