Specialist welfare benefits advisor jobs in tower hamlets, greater london

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Mental Health Money Advisor to work as part of our Mental Health & Money Advice Services Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

The Mental Health and Money Advice Service is the first UK-wide service to address mental and financial health together. We aim to stop the spiral of debt and mental health issues by providing online information and advice and casework provided by telephone. The service launched in November 2017, commissioned by Mental Health UK and delivered by Rethink Mental Illness in England, Hafal in Wales, Support in Mind in Scotland and Mindwise in Northern Ireland. 

How you will make a difference

I use my existing knowledge and expertise to identify and address a range of issues and provide debt and financial capability advice to people with mental health issues. I take on case work within our remit on debt (including enhanced income maximisation), welfare benefits, mental health and financial capability issues. I develop my knowledge and experience of mental health and social care to set my advice in a meaningful context. I help clients identify the barriers that are hindering progress in dealing with their money worries and I provide help, support and advice to overcome these barriers.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

We have a unique opportunity for an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor in a pilot project at Charing Cross Emergency Department. This s a full time position working 37.5 hours per week.

Co-locating, in a health service, an Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate (IDVA), a Domestic Abuse (DA) Coordinator and a violence prevention worker has never been trialed before anywhere in the UK.

This pilot project aims to showcase a gold standard approach to care for families experiencing DA by: -

• Improving recognition and management of victims and perpetrators of DA
• on-site specialised help for victims and perpetrators
• Building sustainable and long-term partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council, Standing Together Against Domestic Violence (STADV), and Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP).

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

You may be a qualified IDVA or a Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker wanting to work alongside health professionals in a hospital environment, although we will consider applicants from other fields providing you are able to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse.

This role is co-located within Charing Cross Hospital 4 days per week and 1 day per week at our office near Old Street.

You will:

• Implement effective ways of working with victims and those supporting them to increase safety and reduce harm.

• Provide a high-quality, front-line service to victims of domestic abuse, delivering a premium service prioritised according to risk, primarily focusing on victim/survivors aged 16+

• Work within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership responses to domestic abuse to keep safety central to all services for victims of domestic abuse.

• Be comfortable with running group training sessions and be willing and able to share your specialist knowledge with acute staff across the hospital.

• Have excellent communication skills, a proactive approach and the confidence to be able to influence the way in which this service is delivered are key.

Please note that the successful applicant will be required to sign an honorary contract with the Hospital Trust in addition to their contract of employment.

You will need:

• Have a knowledge of help-seeking barriers and support needs of victims of domestic abuse (in heterosexual or same-sex relationships).

• Have a good understanding of domestic abuse including the impact of domestic abuse on victims and their children.

• Understand the principles of risk assessment, safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic abuse and their children

• Understand safeguarding issues, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues.

• Direct service delivery to victims of domestic abuse or other vulnerable people.

• Have excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills, both written and verbal when interacting with a range of agencies and individuals. Understand and be committed to equal opportunities and diversity issues in policy and practice.

• Have a strong crisis management skills and the ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

We are currently looking for dedicated Immigration Advisers (IAA Level 2) to join our growing team to provide immigration advice and casework to destitute migrants. We will be recruiting on a rolling basis for a number of upcoming roles, one of which is a woman only role, so we welcome applications from women. Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

Praxis Community Projects is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity supporting migrants in crisis or at- risk, ensuring that their essential human needs are met and that they are able to overcome the barriers they face. We provide legal advice and a range of welfare support including group work. We build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy, improve services and inspire solidarity with migrants.

The ideal candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of immigration and asylum law, as well as have a good understanding of the challenges faced by migrants with NRPF and those at risk of homelessness. They will be able to step immediately into a busy advice environment that includes independent outreach.

At Praxis, we work to build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy and improve services. We played a leading role in exposing the Windrush scandal and advocate and campaign for lasting changes to policy and practice to address the root causes of the issues faced by at-risk migrants.

Praxis is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.

Please see our website to find out more about our work.

Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes 

· A 35 hour working week including flexible working hours

· A hybrid work model 

· 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays) 

· You can buy up to 5 days annual leave each year 

· A defined contribution pension scheme 

· Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7. 

· A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute 

If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Recruitment team who will contact you to discuss how we can help.

For further details, please contact Maria Iglesias Head of Operations and Business Development

To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the job description marked ‘A’. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted. Applications will only be accepted with a cover letter.

Interviews: Offered on a rolling basis

Start date: Ranging from immediate to TBD.

At ISHA, we are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Benefits & Financial Inclusions Officer in the Income Team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to be part of a thriving organisation, where you'll be at the heart of delivering outstanding service and making a real difference in the lives of our residents.

Job Title: Benefits & Financial Inclusions Officer
Hours: 28 hours a week
Location: ISHA, 102 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, N4 2DR
Salary: £29,985 pro rata (£37,481 full time equivalent) and is for 28 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

This role is based at our Head Office but there is some flexibility to work in a hybrid way if preferred.

Please note: We can only accept applications from candidates with eligibility to currently work in the UK.

Within the role of Benefits & Financial Inclusion Officer you will be expected to:

• Achieve income maximisation including the completion of welfare benefits applications.
• Provide support and advice on money management signposting to specialist agencies when necessary.
• Complete income and expenditure forms to support tenants to set up affordable repayment plans for outstanding debts.
• Complete welfare benefits mandatory reconsiderations and appeals.
• Advice concerning Universal Credit.
• Casework support with ongoing queries.
• Work collaboratively with both internal and external departments and partner agencies.

We are looking for someone who has a passion for delivering excellent support to residents, always striving to go above and beyond for our residents and can demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and thrives in a team-oriented, collaborative setting.

You

You will need to have a passion for our belief that everyone is entitled to a quality, affordable safe home. You will need to be highly committed and motivated to contribute to our mission to be viewed as a brilliant housing association by our residents, stakeholders and staff.

You will work closely with our housing teams to ensure our services are delivered to the highest standards and help our residents to sustain their tenancy.

This role will play a key role in enhancing our customer journey, offering creative solutions and driving continuous improvement.

If you're a proactive, detail-oriented individual with a commitment to providing outstanding service, we’d love to hear from you! Grow your skills, take on new challenges, and be part of a supportive team at ISHA.

About ISHA

We are a small but ambitious housing association at a critical juncture. Our ambition is for the communities we are anchored in and exist to serve, and we have done and achieved much over the past few years. But in these challenging times we know we’ll achieve nothing unless we are equally ambitious for own our people.

Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions. We strive to build a more diverse organisation, where everyone feels empowered to bring, and be, their best self to work.

We can’t be a brilliant landlord if we don’t partner with brilliant colleagues. Could you be one of them and be trusted to make the difference?

Staff Benefits

We’ll offer you a generous pension scheme (up to 10% employer matched contributions and a death in service benefit), 29 days annual leave (increasing after five years’ service), eye care vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other great benefits (see attached). We have an evolving wellbeing offer, that is being developed following employee feedback, and we will invest in your professional development with on-going training and career development opportunities.

If this sounds exciting, we want you on our team. Please do apply.

Deadline: 9:00am Monday 26 May 2025
Interview: Wednesday 11 June 2025 in person at 102 Blackstock Road

Interested?

Please click the apply button. You will then be redirected to our website where you can find out more information and complete your application.

Once you have landed on our website, you will need to do the following in order to apply for this role:

Application Process

Please apply with your CV and a covering letter telling us: -

(a) After reading the job description and person spec, why you feel you are a great fit, and how your experience matches the skills and requirements of the role?
(b) About one challenge (ideally work related) that you have had, how you managed it, and what did you learn?
(c) What you enjoy most about working in income related environment or where you have delivered excellent customer service.
(d) When completing multiple tasks with competing deadlines, how do you prioritise?
(e) Anything else you want us to know about you.

Please note: We can only be able to accept applications from candidates with eligibility to currently work in the UK.

Applications sent without a covering letter will not be accepted.

Asking for adjustments

ISHA is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview, or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us.

Inclusion and Diversity

We want ISHA to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that passionate commitment to customers, respect for everyone, pride in Team ISHA and trusted to make the difference remains at the heart of everything we do.

No agencies please.

The Debt Advice Team at Toynbee Hall provides crucial support to individuals and families struggling with financial burdens. Funded by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), this team delivers expert guidance and practical solutions to help clients manage and reduce their debt. The team's advisors are trained to navigate complex financial situations, offering tailored advice that empowers clients to regain control of their finances. Their work is vital in fostering financial resilience within the community, ensuring that individuals have the tools they need to achieve long-term financial stability.

Scope of role

The Debt Technical Supervisor is responsible for supporting Debt Advisers to ensure the delivery of accurate, effective, and tailored advice to over-indebted clients. This role involves conducting debt-advice interview observations, reviewing case files, and identifying training needs for advisers. The Debt Technical Supervisor provides real-time support and constructive feedback, helping advisers navigate complex cases and ensuring they have access to the necessary resources and information. Additionally, the role includes auditing delivery partner organisations to prepare them for external reviews and supporting them in meeting compliance and quality standards. The supervisor will collaborate with the Quality Assurance Manager to promote best practices, address risks, and contribute to the continuous professional development of advisers.

Key Responsibilities

Support Debt Advisers in their roles and ensure that the advice provided to over- indebted Clients is accurate, effective and tailored to individuals’ circumstances.

• Conducting debt-advice interview observations.
• Undertaking debt advice file reviews.
• Identifying advisers’ soft skill and technical training needs.
• Providing constructive feedback, and pastoral support, to advisers and their line managers.
• Providing real-time support to advisers, which will include but is not limited to providing guidance in complex matters and provide advisers with sources of information.

Support, and regularly audit delivery partner organisations, ensuring that they are prepared for external reviews of their service in line with the Grant Agreement.

• Ensure partner organisation are kept up to date with the requirements for external assessments.
• Supporting partner organisations with the preparation and review of files and documentation ahead of an external assessment.
• Support partner organisations with the implementation of any remedial actions following an external review and support advisors to identify suitable training to improve areas highlighted.

Ensure project compliance and quality requirements are achieved

• Working closely with the Quality Assurance Mangers to ensure Advisors based at delivery partners have a good awareness and understanding of the quality and service delivery requirements and have active involvement in the delivery of partnership events related to both quality improvement and CPD.
• Working collaboratively to share good practice in performance and quality improvement and to progress key priority areas of work.
• Escalating risks promptly and appropriately and contributing to wider monitoring and reporting requirements.

Contribute to Team

• Work to an agreed work-plan meeting targets and milestones
• Prioritise and manage your own workload.
• Be an active member of the team, identifying opportunities for your development. Work in collaboration with our funder, and with colleagues from across their other funded organisations, contributing to key projects and meetings.
• Compliance with Toynbee Hall policies and procedures, including health and safety. Demonstrate financial efficiency and value for money throughout work.
• Ensure that all services comply with equal opportunities and other relevant policies and quality standards and good practice.

Other

• Travel across London as required, and occasionally the UK
• Undertake additional tasks as defined by the Quality Managers, Managing Director and Toynbee Hall’s Senior Leadership Team.

Please download the full Job Description for more details.

Our Benefits Package

We believe in supporting our employees with a well-rounded benefits package designed to enhance work-life balance, financial security, and overall well-being.

Annual Leave

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 3 additional days for our Christmas shutdown (on top of bank holidays).
• After 2 years: +3 extra days of leave.
• After 3 years: +1 additional day.
• After 5 years: A total of 30 days annual leave, plus the 3-day Christmas shutdown.

Pension

• Standard Life Pension Scheme – Employer contribution: 4%, Employee contribution: 5%

Additional Perks & Support

• Enhanced Sick Pay for peace of mind during illness
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to support growing families
• Employee Eyecare Vouchers to support your vision health
• Employee Assistance Programme for free, confidential advice and support
• Mental Health First Aid to ensure workplace well-being
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme to help secure your home
• Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan for cost-effective commuting
• Cycle to Work Scheme to promote a healthier, greener way to travel
• Charity Mentoring Network to support professional development and networking

We’re committed to creating a supportive and rewarding work environment, because when our team thrives, we all succeed!

About Toynbee Hall

Based in the East End of London since 1884, Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice, and inequality to build a fairer East London. We provide vital advice and support, working in partnership to tackle unfairness and ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

We have recently launched a new strategic plan which reinforces that our purpose is to build a fairer future with an end to poverty, injustice and inequality.

We work towards this by:

• Addressing poverty and injustice through advice and support and influencing systemic change.
• Shifting power to people and communities affected by injustice and inequality.
• Collaborating to end poverty and build fairer systems and institutions. What we want to see in the world starts with our community and our organisation.

This means:

• Working together to build a thriving local community where people have the resources they need, feel their voices are heard and are optimistic about the future.
• Being a good employer, where people are treated fairly, feel engaged and empowered, and work together to achieve our shared vision.
• Acknowledging the role Toynbee Hall has historically played in civic society while recognising that our role now is to shift power, to be an effective partner, and to amplify voices that are less likely to be heard.

What we learn from our work in east London we use to inform and influence wider policy – working to influence change in structures, systems and policies.

Title: Advice Services Manager

Responsible to: Operations Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £36,000 - £42,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

JOB OVERVIEW

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity for someone already working in an advice role and looking to take the next step in their career to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Advice Services Manager.

The Advice Services Manager will take the lead on BIAS’s day-to-day advice services, managing a small team of welfare and housing advice specialists to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have experience of delivering front-line benefits and/or housing advice, strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with staff and clients, along with excellent organisational abilities to ensure that casework and projects are delivered on time.

In 2025, BIAS is expanding its successful Brent-based welfare and housing advice service into Haringey borough. The Advice Services Manager will work closely with the Operations Manager to build and develop the new advice service in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal client base.

This role will also involve working with the leadership team to help identify areas for future development and support grant applications and reporting, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.

If you are an experienced advice specialist and are looking to step up but don’t have all the skills required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

Staff management

• Managing a small advice team, ensuring the quality of the advice provided.
• Providing support, supervision and training to staff on the delivery of advice services, ensuring that appropriate advice is provided and casework deadlines are met.
• Ensuring good teamwork and lines of communication between staff and partner organisations.
• Creating a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.

Quality and service delivery

• Leading the welfare advice services in both Brent and Haringey boroughs, and contributing to further expansion.
• Maintaining a small personal caseload (approximately one to two days’ work per week).
• Working with the Operations Manager to ensure that BIAS complies with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.
• Leading on monitoring service delivery, recording outcomes and ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Managing all aspects of risk relating to advice delivery, complaints handling, safeguarding and GDPR.

Operational support

• Working with the leadership team as required on operational matters, including planning, strategy for future development and grant applications and reporting.

These are the basic duties required of the Advice Services Manager. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices in Willesden and Haringey[1] but there may be some options for flexible working (i.e. one or two days per week).

ABOUT BIAS

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for over forty-five years. We deliver our support through our welfare advice drop-in service, our active ageing clubs and our Be-a-Friend volunteer scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable every year and have over 3000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has exciting plans for further expansion in 2025 and has a range of medium- to long-term grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role (detailed in the PDF job description), with supporting examples.

The deadline for applications is 6th June 2025 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.

[1] BIAS is currently running its Haringey advice services from the Hornsey Vale Community Centre, with plans to establish a permanent office in Haringey later in 2025.

If you are committed to reducing poverty in our communities, excited by our vision and ethos, and keen to use your debt advice experience to support those most in need, we would love you to consider applying for this role – it could be the best decision you ever make! 

The primary purpose of this role is to provide debt advice and money education on a case management basis and to support the provision of advice by volunteers. The post holder will be expected to manage their own cases and lead appointment sessions.

Ideally we are looking for someone with prior debt or social welfare experience, and who has experience of working with and supporting volunteers. However we will also consider employing someone as a trainee adviser if you are able to demonstrate that you possess the skills, maturity and determination to become proficient in this role. 

The role will be based in one of our branches in west London, but hybrid and remote options will be considered for the right candidate.

Crosslight Advice offers a comprehensive range of benefits to employees including access to a Health Cash Back Plan and EAP and is committed to offering comprehensive learning and development opportunities. Full and part time working options will be considered.

To find out more please see our Job Pack attached.

Due to an exceptionally high volume of applications, this post will now close on Wednesday 21st May at 12pm.

Working from home for the most part. Visits to London may be required from time to time

About us

SurvivorsUK exists for men, boys and non-binary people who have experienced any form of sexual violence. 

We support – by providing services such as a helpline, counselling, ISVA and groupwork.
We challenge – by raising public awareness of the issue, and dispelling myths
We build – by creating and facilitating networks for better access to help

Role

In this exciting yet challenging role as Emotional Support Worker, you will provide valuable support to survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones, through our helpline service. Last year, around 2,400 people contact us via this crucial service. Our helpline is a starting point for support, as men and boy’s take their first steps reaching out for help. We are also integral to the SurvivorsUK eco-system, providing support to client’s on our counselling waiting list and helping survivors navigate the different support options that are available.

We provide emotional support, information and signposting through a national helpline service, which is offered via Webchat, SMS, Email, and soon to be offered via WhatsApp and telephone. We are open from 10am to 8pm, 7 days per week.

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for more information.

Benefits of Working with Us

- We are a Disability Confident Employer
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to Clinical Supervision, if relevant for your role
- Acces to gym at our Hackney Wick offices
- Commitment to your professional development

How to apply

To express an interest in the role and to be considered, please review our JD and Personal Spec and submit the following:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A supporting statement that addresses each requirement within the person specification and outlines your motivations for applying.

Closing date: Wednesday 21st May at 12pm 
Interviews: Week beginning 2nd June, may be earlier. Interview will be held remotely via Teams or Zoom.

We especially encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, including men, non-binary, Black and Asian, trans, disabled people, and those from other marginalised groups. We recognise and value the unique experiences that arise from the intersections of these identities, and we particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience or a strong understanding of the issues faced by our service users.

At SurvivorsUK, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment where everyone is empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We also understand the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including job share opportunities, to support candidates with caregiving responsibilities or other needs.

If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process or have any accessibility needs, please let us know. We are here to provide any support necessary to ensure the process is inclusive for you.

Project Background

Come and join our award-winning place-based volunteering programme that works with residents living across Hackney and the City of London.

You will be based out in the community - the programme is based at GP practices - to engage, support and enable local residents and patients to deliver local services for themselves, to meet local needs. We support residents to come together, to share their skills and experience for the benefit of each other, to deliver local groups and activities such as a book group, film club, exercise classes or cooking group. Residents from diverse backgrounds and demographics attend these activities together and make new connections, building strong local communities, all working together to make their area a better place to live. People, many of whom are isolated across all ages, and who have difficult life circumstances, are brought together, providing each other with mutual support and encouragement to develop new skills and pursue life goals, and to feel better able to voice their concerns to services.

You will be joining a nationally recognised project - having won an award from the Royal Society of Public Health in November 2024 - to support residents to fulfil their personal goals, make connections with others, and design activities and services that meet local needs. You will also be supporting people to improve their mental and physical health through signposting them to appropriate services and encouraging them to talk to their GP if they have concerns; and will be working in partnership with GP practice staff to co-create volunteer roles to make the practice more efficient and a better place to visit.

Who are we?

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a medium sized charity (currently 30 staff) based in the London borough of Hackney, working to support local residents to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others.

Our mission is to build and strengthen communities across Hackney through supporting residents of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer and build projects together.

In 2021, we were awarded the Freedom of the Borough Award by Hackney Council for our efforts to support residents during COVID, which included mobilising over 2000 volunteers to deliver food, prescriptions and essential items, provide emotional support to isolated residents and support the vaccine rollout. 

We work with hundreds of diverse community organisations and deliver various programmes to help residents share their skills and deliver their own social action projects to improve people’s lives. These include a befriending programme, volunteering brokerage matching local people to volunteer roles based on their skills, interests and goals, a specialist mental health programme, peer research and multiple resident engagement programmes at GP surgeries and estates across Hackney.

Post holders need to be enthusiastic and engaging, bringing energy to the role, be self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, albeit with some support from the team members based at other sites.