Victim services initial response officer jobs
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This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overview
FearFree delivers services across the Southwest for victims, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking, with the aim to break the cycle of abuse and support all to live free from fear. We provide trauma responsive support, and this post will be fundamental to ensuring service users, stakeholders and partners experience this in our daily delivery.
The aim of the Interpersonal Trauma Service is to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of people who have been exposed to trauma arising from sexual violence and abuse and/or domestic abuse.
You will work across a specified number of GP practices, to offer support to health professionals working in practices, people who have experience of interpersonal trauma arising from sexual violence and abuse and/or domestic abuse, as well as a service for people at risk of perpetrating abuse.
You and the team will provide training to GP surgeries to improve identification, enquiry, and response for patients. You and your team will also support adults and children who have been impacted by interpersonal trauma with emotional and practical support, focusing on trauma stabilisation. The team will be responsible for facilitating timely access to further appropriate support services where needed.
FearFree is committed to flexible and hybrid working and this role will be a mix of home based and office based, alongside requiring travel to GP practices and for multi-agency meetings and other deliverables.
This role may include evening and weekend work when required.
Key Responsibilities
- To provide specialist, individual and needs-led domestic abuse and sexual violence advocacy and support to patients who are or have experienced, who are referred from participating practices or self-refer, and to provide onward referrals where appropriate.
- Provide direct assessment, casework support, advice, information, and advocacy through telephone contact, and/or meetings at the relevant practice.
- Provide support to increase people’s personal safety, and that of any children, and inform them of their rights and options in terms of housing, legal and welfare rights.
- To provide signposting and onward referrals to patients.
- To provide ongoing specialist advice and support around Domestic Abuse (DA) and Sexual Violence (SV) to practice teams.
- To encourage general practice health professionals to ask patients about their experience of abuse and respond, record, safety check and refer.
- To provide feedback on case outcomes to referring clinicians.
- To collect and collate performance and monitoring data for reporting purposes.
- Provide in-house training and refresher training for general practice teams on understanding, recognising, and responding to DA and SV.
- Develop good working relationships and liaise with outside agencies where needed.
- Keep accurate records of all referrals received and of work done with or on behalf of service users.
- Deliver DA and SV training to clinicians and non-clinical staff in participating general practices.
- Develop a good relationship with all general practice staff and work effectively as part of the practice team.
- Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of the programme collecting required data and producing written reports as requested.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Title: Safeguarding Officer
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
Professional Supervision: The Regional Safeguarding Lead
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £22,500 per annum (FTE £39,375)
Hours per week: 20 hours
Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (Pro Rota)
Role Description
The Safeguarding Officer will lead and oversee all aspects of safeguarding within St Edmundsbury Cathedral, ensuring that the Cathedral remains a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
You will be responsible for ensuring that the Cathedral meets all statutory safeguarding obligations and complies fully with the Church of England’s national safeguarding policies, diocesan frameworks, and relevant legislation. This includes proactively identifying potential risks, responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, and ensuring effective reporting and case management in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and statutory agencies.
Beyond compliance, this role is about embedding a culture of care, accountability, and transparency across the Cathedral community. You will support clergy, staff, and volunteers to understand their safeguarding responsibilities, ensure safer recruitment and training practices, and provide guidance and reassurance when safeguarding issues arise.
By acting as a source of expert advice, leadership, and advocacy, the Safeguarding Officer will help the Cathedral community uphold the highest standards of safety, dignity, and pastoral care, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance, can participate fully and confidently in Cathedral life.
The Cathedral Safeguarding Officer has operational authority within the Cathedral (subject to agreement with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer with respect to responding to concerns and allegations against Church officers) for the following responsibilities, arranged according to the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Standards.
These four National Safeguarding Standards provide the framework for effective safeguarding practice across all Church settings:
- Culture, Leadership, and Capacity – Promoting a culture where safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of Cathedral life, ensuring that leaders, clergy, staff, and volunteers model and champion best practice.
- Prevention – Implementing robust safer recruitment, induction, and training processes, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential safeguarding risks.
- Responding to Concerns – Ensuring that all concerns, disclosures, and allegations are taken seriously, responded to promptly, and managed in partnership with statutory agencies and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
- Learning, Supervision, and Quality Assurance – Fostering continual improvement through regular review, reflection, and evaluation of safeguarding practice, ensuring accountability and transparency at all levels.
Together, these standards guide the Cathedral’s commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, and trustworthy environment for all who engage with its worship, ministry, and community life.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic leadership
- Act as the Cathedral’s primary safeguarding lead, providing authoritative advice and operational oversight to the Chapter, leadership team, clergy, staff and volunteers.
- Ensure compliance with national Church of England safeguarding guidance, diocesan requirements and all relevant statutory legislation.
- Develop, maintain and drive a measurable safeguarding action plan and improvement programme, ensuring policies and practice are implemented consistently across Cathedral activities.
- Produce clear, timely safeguarding reports and briefings for Chapter and committees translating case and compliance information into strategic recommendations.
- Actively promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, supporting leaders to embed safeguarding into planning, events, recruitment and everyday practice.
- Engaging in professional supervision and quality assurance provided by the relevant Regional Safeguarding Lead, and in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Safeguarding Officers are met.
Safer recruitment
- Lead and oversee safer recruitment processes for all paid roles and volunteer positions, ensuring job descriptions, interviews and selection processes assess safeguarding suitability.
- Support managers to make informed recruitment decisions and ensure all new starters receive safeguarding induction and appropriate supervision.
Case management
- Receive, triage and respond to safeguarding concerns and disclosures quickly and sensitively, ensuring the safety and welfare of those involved.
- Undertake initial risk and needs assessments and make appropriate referrals to statutory agencies and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
- Support and co-ordinate multi-agency responses where required, and follow agreed safeguarding pathways.
- Provide pastoral support and signposting to victims/survivors while ensuring appropriate boundaries, confidentiality and access to specialist support services.
- Manage allegations involving staff or volunteers in line with diocesan procedures, ensuring safe working arrangements are put in place while enquiries proceed.
- Maintain accurate, secure and auditable case records, ensuring all documentation complies with data protection (GDPR) and Cathedral record-keeping protocols
Meetings & governance
- Attend safeguarding-related meetings, including the Safeguarding Committee, Guild Committee and Forum, providing briefings, presenting reports and highlighting risks and compliance matters.
- Prepare agendas, papers and minutes as required; maintain an action log and follow up to ensure agreed actions are completed.
- Escalate unresolved risks or urgent safeguarding matters to Chapter and senior leadership in a timely and constructive manner.
- Attend Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) Meetings.
Training & awareness
- Lead on Cathedral safeguarding training, coordinate and deliver induction and refresher training for staff, volunteers, and clergy.
- Maintain up-to-date records of safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers (showing completion and renewal dates).
- Create accessible safeguarding information and communications for the Cathedral community (e.g., weekly bulletin items, posters, webpages and event briefings) to raise awareness and reinforce good practice.
- Provide tailored briefings for high-risk roles and ongoing advice to managers and supervisors on safeguarding responsibilities.
- To evaluate training to ensure that learnings have been embedded.
Policy & risk management
- Review, update and implement the Cathedral’s safeguarding policies and procedures on a regular schedule (and sooner where guidance or case learning requires change).
- Lead safeguarding risk assessments for services, events, volunteer activities and external bookings; provide straightforward, action-focused mitigation plans for event organisers and hirers.
- Conduct audits and spot-checks to ensure practice aligns with policy and report findings with recommended improvements.
- Ensure contractors, partner organisations and hirers meet required safeguarding standards and that any safeguarding responsibilities are set out contractually where appropriate.
Additional duties and professional development
- Provide clear, timely advice within agreed working hours and support any out-of-hours arrangements for urgent safeguarding concerns as agreed with Chapter.
- Maintain your own professional development through training, supervision and membership of relevant safeguarding networks; ensure learning is shared across the Cathedral.
- Carry out any other reasonable duties that support the effective delivery of safeguarding across the Cathedral.
- Attend the East Anglia Regional Safeguarding Network meeting three times a year, with other DSOs and CSO in the region
Key Relationships
- In the Cathedral, the Dean provides leadership concerning safeguarding, supported by Chapter and senior leadership team requiring good working relationships with both clergy and lay colleagues.
- It is essential that the CSO forms excellent working relationships with key people in the Diocese, including: the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO), the safeguarding team and other relevant staff; the chair and membership of diocesan safeguarding governance structures e.g., the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) and relevant sub-groups; and the National Safeguarding Team.
- It is essential to have good connections with colleagues in relevant local third sector agencies, including those working in the fields of homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse, refugee support, language and learning support, etc. Adults and children who are using, have used or may use the services of the cathedral, particularly in relation to safeguarding.
Person Spesification
Essential Qualities
Qualifications
- Relevant safeguarding qualification/training, or willingness to undertake
Experience
- Substantial experience working with safeguarding in roles involving children and/or adults at risk.
- Handling safeguarding referrals, disclosures, and case management.
- Liaising with statutory services such as police, social care, and health agencies.
- Delivering safeguarding training or workshops to diverse audiences.
- Producing reports, maintaining accurate records, and managing confidential data.
Knowledge
- Excellent understanding of current safeguarding legislation, guidance, and best practice for children and adults.
- Knowledge of safer recruitment principles and DBS requirements.
- Understanding of GDPR and secure data management in relation to safeguarding.
- Awareness of the Church of England’s safeguarding frameworks and National Safeguarding Standards (or willingness to learn).
Skills and Abilities
- Strong ability to assess risk and make clear, evidence-based decisions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately at all levels.
- Effective relationship-building skills, including working collaboratively with clergy, volunteers, statutory agencies, and community stakeholders.
- High levels of organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities calmly and effectively.
- Confident in designing and delivering safeguarding training and briefings.
Personal Qualities
- Integrity, resilience, and discretion when managing sensitive information.
- Empathy and pastoral sensitivity towards those impacted by abuse or allegations.
- A collaborative, approachable, and supportive leadership style.
- Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in challenging situations.
- Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Respect for the Cathedral’s Christian values and willingness to work within its ethos.
Desired Qualities
Qualifications
- Relevant professional qualification (e.g. social work, education, counselling, youth work, nursing, or safeguarding).
- Membership of a relevant safeguarding or professional network.
Experience
- Experience working in a Church of England context or other faith-based safeguarding setting.
- Experience of developing and implementing safeguarding policies and risk assessments.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of trauma-informed approaches when supporting victims/survivors.
- Familiarity with Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) roles and procedures.
Skills and Abilities
- Experience in facilitating safeguarding learning using innovative or digital approaches.
- Competence in using safeguarding case management systems or CRMs.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to undergo enhanced DBS checks, including barred lists.
- Flexibility to attend occasional evening or weekend meetings and events.
- Commitment to completing all mandatory safeguarding and leadership training as required by the Cathedral and Diocese.
Closing Date: Wednesday 12 November
Registered Charity
21 - 50
It is our aim to be a centre for learning, both for the Christian faith and beyond.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Asylum Aid is seeking a solicitor and IAAS-accredited senior caseworker to join its Public Law team, with experience in immigration legal aid, judicial review, and asylum and human rights law. The role involves managing a complex caseload of asylum, trafficking, human rights, and public law claims, providing high-quality legal advice and representation, and conducting judicial review challenges in the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal. The successful candidate will work closely with the Public Law Supervisor and the Director of Legal Casework to ensure that individual cases are handled effectively while also identifying systemic issues suitable for strategic litigation to achieve broader impact.
In addition to casework, the postholder will contribute to the strategic development of Asylum Aid’s public law work by supervising junior staff, providing training on judicial review procedures, and collaborating with colleagues on internal strategy discussions. They will also engage with external stakeholders and other sector organisations to represent Asylum Aid, contribute to policy discussions, and develop initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of public law challenges. The role requires experience of managing legal aid cases, using case management systems, and complying with regulatory requirements, including applying for and extending legal aid certificates and submitting claims for payment.
The position requires resilience, empathy, and strong organisational skills, as it involves working with vulnerable clients and exposure to distressing material. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of self-care principles and the ability to support colleagues in maintaining wellbeing in an intense working environment. Excellent communication skills, the ability to work autonomously, and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to both individual client outcomes and wider systemic change, influencing the growth of the Public Law team and advancing Asylum Aid’s mission to protect and support refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking and human rights violations.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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 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.
Key Responsibility Areas
- Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to a caseload of women in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with the criminal justice system.
- Undertake risk and needs assessments and co-producing bespoke support plans with women across the nine pathways to reoffending.
- Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies.
- Champion the core values of Women in Prison, including social justice and feminism in all internal and external communications, articulating their importance to the work we do.
For the full list of responsibilities, please download the recruitment pack.
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The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.