Women support worker jobs in harrow, middlesex

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the world’s largest alliance of national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology, bringing together professionals from more than 139 countries and territories. For over 70 years, FIGO has collaborated with the world’s top health, rights, and donor bodies. We are in official relations with the World Health Organization and consultative status with the United Nations.

FIGO is dedicated to the improvement of the health and rights of women and girls and to the reduction of disparities in health care, as well as to advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. We pursue our mission through education, research implementation, advocacy, and capacity building with our member societies.

The FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative (FSTI) project has been in existence for 10 years and in that time has become recognised as a key global project, instrumental in delivering capacity building and improved healthcare outcomes for women, with an emphasis on the global south. After 10 years the senior project manager has stepped down and FIGO are seeking to use this as an opportunity to review the project delivery model.

The Interim Senior Project Manager role will lead the FIGO Fistula Project on an interim basis and be responsible for the ongoing delivery of the project during that period. In addition, they will be expected to review the project delivery model, ensuring that the project aligns to best practice and delivers in the most effective and efficient manner possible for the future, whilst ensuring agreed project outcomes.

About the Project – Door of Hope (East London)

The Door of Hope Project provides support to women who sell sex in Tower Hamlets.  This includes journeying alongside women, whilst providing advocacy, information, emotional and practical support.  The project also has a strong team of around 15 volunteers, who deliver street outreach to women in Tower Hamlets on a Thursday morning and Friday night. 

About the Role

Beyond the Streets is a UK charity with over 20 years’ experience of partnering with women in the sex industry, to see them safe from coercion, violence and abuse. We deliver trauma-informed, person-centred support, provide training, and create resources and reports informed by research, lived experience, and practitioner experience.

Our ‘Direct Work’ is central to the organisation, and we are looking to recruit a new Women’s Support Worker.

Taking a woman-centred approach, your role is to provide holistic support for women with complex needs who want support, or to exit the sex industry. We are looking for someone with energy, motivation and experience of working with vulnerable adults; someone who a highly developed sense of self-awareness who can work in a gender and trauma informed way.

This role will be part of a small team of support workers, and a service manager, who deliver an in-person support service, with women who sell sex on-street in East London. You will have frontline experience of working with individuals who experience multiple disadvantage. This might be in the VAWG sector, domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health or counselling or direct experience of women in the sex industry. You will have a good understanding of working with vulnerable people and be aware of the need for Safeguarding.

You will be a champion of the cause, have a passion for supporting women who face multiple disadvantages and be familiar with the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and be able to support women in a trauma-informed and non-judgemental way.  We are looking for someone with energy, resilience, who can increase our reach and positive impact on women.

You’ll enjoy…

· Competitive pay

· Flexible working

· Career opportunities – develop yourself and your career with a reputable national organisation in the VAWG sector

· Personal development allowance – to further your work-based skills and knowledge

· Cycle to work scheme – tax free allowance to buy

· Tech Buying Scheme – spread the cost of personal technology equipment and homeware across 12 months via payroll

· Travel season ticket loan scheme – an interest-free loan to enable team members to purchase a season ticket for travel between their usual place of residence and their usual place of work

· Clinical supervision – all staff are entitled to clinical supervision on request. A place to discuss work issues and challenges, and their emotional impact, on a regular basis

· Blue light discount – a well-recognised national discount card scheme. For only £4.99 for two years’ membership, the discounts are large, and widely accepted

· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential and independent service designed to help you deal with personal and professional issues that could be affecting your home life, work life, health, and general wellbeing. EAP is available to you and to your immediate family

You’ll need…

• Experience of working withing a front-line delivery team
• Understanding of the complexities of working with women who have multiple disadvantages and the barriers to service access they face
• Experienced with working with and engaging with diverse groups of people from varying backgrounds
• Familiarity with working within Adult Safeguarding protocols and procedures
• A non-judgemental and women-centred approach to support
• Comfortable working within a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) framework
• Commitment to providing quality, women-lead and trauma-informed support
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Patience, compassion, non-judgemental and motivational attitude
• Resilience to work with women who have often experienced trauma
• A responsible, dedicated and flexible approach to work
• Competent IT knowledge and computer skills

When you join, you will receive a structured induction and training plan, including access to all our in-house paid training.

All roles are subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK, satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR)

Due to nature of this role in working alongside women with lived experience of violence against women, this post is restricted to female applicants under Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010. 

About the role
As Head of Communications and Marketing you will lead the communications team to deliver a high-impact strategy to promote the work of the Foundation. You will manage the continuous evolution of the Foundation’s profile and brand, coordinating and delivering compelling content for a range of audiences across all channels. You’ll work closely with senior leadership to align the Foundation’s goals to the work of the team to support the delivery of our mission to empower women to start, grow and sustain successful businesses. For full information on this role, please download the job pack.

What the Foundation can offer you
A fantastic package of 28 days of annual leave (which includes three that must be taken during the festive break).
An organisation that values you. As a smaller organisation, we value everyone’s individual perspective and voice and all team members are able to contribute to our strategic planning.
Professional development, with career growth built into each staff member’s annual plan and a wide range of skills-building and learning opportunities provided. Each staff member has an annual £1,000 training budget.
A positive, supportive and collaborative culture and leadership style. We encourage teamwork and open and honest communication, while maintaining a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where everyone can thrive.
A focus on personal wellbeing and happiness, with regular team-building activities and line manager meetings that as well as your personal wellbeing.

About the Foundation 
The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women exists to create a future where women everywhere enjoy equal economic opportunities so they can thrive. Together with partners around the world, we work with women in low and middle income countries so they can start, sustain and grow successful enterprises. We collaborate to create fairer business environments so women are not constrained by gendered barriers and can reach their potential on their terms.

Since 2008, our training and mentoring services have supported 300,000 women to build successful micro, small and medium enterprises in over 100 countries. By blending insights from research, strong partnerships and pioneering technology we open doors for women entrepreneurs to skills, confidence, networks, finance and markets. We press for change to stop millions of women being held back from having the choice and opportunity to thrive.

Job Title: Eastern European Floating Support Worker 

Location: Hybrid working with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London) and co-locations across London
Salary: £28,857.12 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 16 May 2025

Interview Date: 27 May 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: Refuge Worker

Location: This is an on-site role, located within the London Borough of Hillingdon, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hounslow. 
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, including 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 Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

The post holder will provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. This includes safety planning and enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits, and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.  

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

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 30 May 2025

Interview dates: 6, 9 and 10 June 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.

About The Connection at St Martin’s

We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London’s streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.

About the Role

• Located at a 24-hour supported housing service in Clapham, we provide high quality self-contained accommodation for 15 women who have experienced homelessness and multiple disadvantage.  
• The aim of the service is to provide a therapeutic environment in which women feel safe and can flourish, enabling them to move on into independent, permanent accommodation. The accommodation also includes overnight safe spaces.
• In this role, you will provide support to all the women, including running co-designed activities and accompanying women to appointments.
• You will work closely with Specialist Support Workers who manage individual resident support and safety plans.
• You will model person-led, psychological, gender, and culturally informed support, will be skilled at building trust and you will be a great team player.
• You will undertake 8-hour shifts on a 7-day rota, covering the hours 07:45 am to 20:15 pm. Please be aware that the building has several floors and no lifts.
• The post is open to female applicants only as the role is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Full job description can be found on our website

Salary: £29,769
Closing Date: Monday 19th May
Interview Date: Thursday 29th May

Our Benefits

· 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget

· Enhanced Sick Pay Policy

· Enhanced family friendly policies

· Day off for moving house

· Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)

· Pension – 5% Employer, 3% Employee

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Season Ticket Loan

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK’s favourite retailers)

We are a London Living Wage employer

Job Purpose

This role sits within our new forensic Women’s Nova Roots service, which is a peer led service for women who are leaving forensic services, based in West London. The service will be open 3 days a week: one weekday evening out of hours and three weekends a month (flexible weekend pattern and times can be arranged).

The aim of the service is to support women who are leaving forensic care to re-integrate into society by offering a community social hub. The focus of the service is to provide social engagement, relaxation and a touch point for out of hours forensic support. The Women’s Hub will provide face-to-face holistic group support, offer psychoeducation and health workshops tailored and coproduced to the direct needs of clients, offer peer-led groups which will be co-designed and led by the clients accessing the hub. We will also offer a range of activities onsite.

Nova Roots will be an extension of the existing support offered by the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), offering out of hours social support. All referrals into the hub will be directly from the SCFTs and local hospitals.

The Nova Roots will be staffed with 1 part time Project Coordinator and 4 Forensic/Peer Led Volunteers – with Service Manager oversight. The Project Coordinator will work directly and closely with the SCFTs.

The Role

The role of the Nova Roots Project Coordinator is to arrange and coordinate a range of psychoeducation, health and peer-led workshops which will be delivered 3 times a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will be responsible for managing the 4 peer-led volunteers and oversight of the site 3 days a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will also be required to be in regular communication with the SCFTs.

The role will require hybrid working: onsite when the hub is open and 1 day of planning/coordination which can be worked remotely on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience of working within forensic services
• Understanding and experience of challenges for forensic leavers (social, health, welfare, interpersonal)
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with those in crisis and challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Understanding of social issues such as debt, housing and welfare benefits
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g., CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CAMHS, Safe Space, SCFT etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative and management support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in forensic mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress, crisis and forensic/criminal backgrounds
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Minimum 1 year of project coordination/management
• Experience of facilitating workshops/group sessions
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approaGood communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours, during the day and on weekends
• Staff within this role will be considered key workers, so in the event of a government lockdown, staff will be expected to continue working
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations

Solace Women’s Aid is an innovative, exciting, grassroots charity working across London. Our purpose is to bring to an end the harm done through domestic and sexual violence to all survivors, and in particular women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse.

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

About the Service

Waltham Forest Advocacy & Support Services (SASS) provide free and confidential support to survivors of abuse within the community. The teams are made up of professional staff offering short to medium term support to women and men affected by domestic and sexual violence in the community. Our team offer information, advocacy and specialist services to increase safety and meet a range of needs – these can include ongoing safety concerns, emotional or housing support, legal options, reporting to the police, help around child contact, benefits and financial advice. As part of the support we also ensure survivors can access therapeutic support via the Waltham Forest Therapeutic Marketplace. 

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen in this busy team for a Duty Worker.  The successful candidate will be responsible in dealing with all incoming referrals and queries to the Advocacy Service. The role will involve processing all referrals, liaising with professionals, establishing initial contact as per the service’s contract requirement. The process of initial contact will involve completing a SafeLives risk assessment, assessing the service user’s practical and therapeutic needs and supporting with any urgent needs that arise during this contact. Additionally, the duty worker will make appropriate referral out, this includes MARAC and complete adult and child safeguarding referrals where required in line with Solace’s policies and procedures. The Duty Worker will maintain and manage any waiting list and will work closely with all members of the team in relation to the allocation of cases and case updates.

About You

Successful applicants will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on service users and their children, and experience of working with women who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse. It is essential that you have experience of using Office Excel and case management system. You will also have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
 

In return, we offer great employee benefits including three per cent employer pension contribution, generous holiday entitlement and a focus on learning and development.

To apply:

We will only accept CV’s and Supporting Statements with a maximum of 2 pages and Font size 12. Please ensure you send the correct documents by the closing date, as late CV’s and Supporting Statements will not be accepted.

Due to the number of CV’s and Supporting Statements we receive, Solace Women’s Aid cannot communicate further with candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

Solace Women’s Aid values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applicants from black minority and ethnic communities.

Solace is a Disability Confident employer. 

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment we require all successful candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) disclosure.

No agencies.

Solace Women’s Aid is an innovative, exciting, grassroots charity working across London. Our purpose is to bring to an end the harm done through domestic and sexual violence to all survivors, and in particular women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse.

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

About the Service

As part of an innovative pilot project, funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, Solace will be providing two specialist workers to support victim/survivors engaged in the perpetrator behaviour change programme as part of a conditional caution. The programme aims to address perpetrators behaviour and increase safety for victim/survivors. In doing so, it is essential that the V/S has holistic support to ensure any risks are identified and managed.

This is a pilot project and it is expected that there will be a considerable amount of testing and learning, trailing new ways of working to meet intended outcomes.

About the Role

You will be working closely in partnership with Police forces in Haringey, Waltham Forest, Enfield and Newham, as well as the Hampton Trust, to provide support for victim/survivors engaged in the CARA programme. You will also be supporting Police Officers to discuss eligibility for the programme and conditional cautions. You will be developing and delivering a series of training and learning sessions for the Police. As a new project, you will be developing key partnership relations, to strengthen collaborative working between the Police and Solace.  You will provide light touch support to survivors whose partners are engaged with the CARA program, assess risk and share key updates with Hampton Trust and the Police to ensure safety.,

About You

We're looking for highly organised and self-motivated applicants who are passionate about ending VAWG. You will have a “can-do‟ approach and demonstrable commitment to Solace’s feminist approach to supporting women and their children to be safer. You will receive training and support for this role as necessary.

Successful applicants will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on women and children, experience of dynamic risk assessment and providing emotional and practical support to victims of VAWG.  As this is a pilot programme where the delivery model may change, a flexible and adaptive approach to your work is important as well as willingness to contribute to programme evaluation.  Part of your time will be spent ensuring that Police colleagues have the information they need to effectively administer conditional cautions so you will work closely with Police, Hampton Trust to develop different training elements, a willingness to develop and deliver this material is essential.

A relevant qualification in VAWG is essential, as well as willingness to undergo Police vetting.

In return, we offer great employee benefits including three per cent employer pension contribution, generous holiday entitlement and a focus on learning and development.

Solace Women’s Aid values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Solace is a Disability Confident employer. 

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

An enhanced DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) disclosure will be required for this role.

We request no contact from recruitment agencies.

Position Training & Prevention Manager

Salary £37,000–£40,000

Remote/Hybrid Hybrid (3 days/week in Croydon + travel across South London)

Days in office 3 days per week in Croydon
 

Overview and key points on the role
As the Manager of our Training & Prevention team you will lead and grow our Training & Prevention offer.
 

You will focus on the development and management of training to a range of audiences, including internal staff and volunteers, and other frontline professionals. 
 

You will also manage our sexual violence prevention work in schools, colleges, and universities, coordinate our Service User Advisory Group, and supervise two Training & Prevention Support Workers.
 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about trauma-informed, intersectional practice, with experience in education, facilitation, and leadership within the violence against women and girls sector.

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

RCSL is an equal opportunities employer, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from women underrepresented in management and leadership roles in the violence against women and girls movement.
 

All positions are located in the UK and require the right to work in the UK.

How to apply

Please apply with an up-to-date CV and cover letter (of up to 1000 words) identifying how you meet the essential and any desirable qualifications, skills and experience
 

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Social Care IDVA - RBKC

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000

Location: Across three locations within RBKC and Hammersmith Head Office

Contract: Permanent

Hours p/w        35 hours per week (some working from home up to 2 days)

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.  

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending.  We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community. 

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. 

About the role:

The Social Care IDVA will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy, and support service to ensure the voice of survivors informs every stage of the process, specialising in working with women whose families are involved with Family Children Services and risk to children is a factor.  You will work to make proactive contact and provide high quality advocacy and support based upon a client led needs and risk assessment to women, focusing on working with those aged 18 and over who access the domestic abuse service. This role is part advocacy, part training/education and project work to improve response to victim/survivors experiencing domestic abuse. You will be embedded in the local authority Family Children Services team, working with Social Care professionals to ensure they adopt a trauma informed approach, can recognise the dynamics of domestic abuse and are providing more holistic support. You will be the domestic abuse subject matter expert on site, upskilling fellow professionals and acting as a point of contact for any clients experiencing domestic abuse and support requirements from Family Children Services.

The Social Care project was established in 2021 and has been working in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Family Children Services, so the IDVAs will inherit strong working relationships and a commitment from all parties to offering more trauma-informed services.  The borough has a focus on prioritising and developing good DA work in social care and this is an opportunity to be a major player in institutional change, ensuring that women accessing Family Children services for their children have an improved experience and that the local authorities are leading the way for all survivors engaging with their services.

Advance delivers nationally accredited, quality marked services in Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Brent, Ealing, and across parts of East London. We work within a coordinated partnership response to domestic violence to provide independent domestic violence advocacy and support for women, children and young people and women’s community services for women who are involved in the criminal justice system, in anti-social behaviour or are at risk of breaking the law.

About You:

You will have an excellent understanding of domestic violence and its effects on women and children and of best practice within the domestic abuse in various areas of need, with particular knowledge on children safeguarding/legislation. As an experienced domestic violence advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, the post holder will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information on a daily basis. Experience of direct work with female survivors of domestic violence, of supporting women with child safeguarding, needs, and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.

To be successful as the Social Care IDVA you will need the below experience and skills:

You will establish positive, proactive, and innovative working relationships with housing services and partner agencies.Provide high-quality crisis intervention, information, advocacy, and proactive support to women referred to the service, in respect to risk management and safety planning, criminal and civil remedies, housing, health, welfare rights, and children’s legislation.

Your abilities extend to assessing the needs and risks of survivors, carry out short and longer-term risk management, safety planning and support and identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs.Advising women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies and proactively advocate to ensure barriers to accessing support and protection are reduced. You will work as an advocate and educator to raise awareness and upskill professionals within Children Social Care plus work with colleagues to successfully develop and deliver training.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered. 

· Interviews are taking place on rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits: 

• A 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!) 
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways 

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email contact the Talent team via our website and the Talent Acquisition Team will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe.  We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks.  We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Senior Housing & Welfare Advice Worker’s post

The Manna Day Centre is a drop-in Centre for homeless and vulnerably housed single men and women. It is run by a team of project workers, under the Director, who are responsible for its smooth operation. Basic Services offered include food, showers, clothing, housing & welfare advice, medical care, and access to laptops. The Centre opens to service users 7 days a week, 8.30am– 1.30pm. The working week for this post is Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm each day.

The Senior Housing & Welfare Advice Worker must have a commitment to homeless people, which includes acceptance and respect. Responsibilities are shared among the team according to needs, skills and aptitudes. The annual salary is negotiable (depending on your experience) ranging from £33,775 to £41,359. Benefits include a pension scheme, travel loans and 25 days annual leave (plus time in lieu of bank holidays worked).

Those applying for this post should have:

Ability to manage a team

Housing & welfare advice experience

Experience of undertaking housing & welfare casework

Ability to prioritise and manage a busy caseload.

Experience of working with homeless & vulnerably housed people.

The closing date for applications for this post is Sunday 8th June 2025.

Job Description

Spires was established as a response to homelessness in the late 1980s. Initially providing a hot meal, clothing, and advice to those who came for help, Spires has developed into an organization that provides a range of services, including day centre style drop ins for homeless people, a Women’s drop in, a Refugee drop in and outreach targeted at supporting Women who are sex working. 

Our core mission is to support homeless people into housing and to assist those who have been homeless in maintaining their accommodation, reducing the risks they face, and increasing their choices. We assess need, create support plans, and provide ongoing key work to empower people to improve their circumstances.

Purpose of Role:

• Support the effective delivery of Spires services across the range of activities provided, 
• Provide casework, support planning, and key working sessions for Spires’ clients.
• Assess and respond to client needs, ensuring high-quality, person-centred support.

Position in Organisation:

Part of the Spires Support Team, reporting to the Head of Clients Services. This is a new position and will work across all of Spires’ services. 

Working Contacts:

• Internal: Collaboration with staff and volunteers, particularly the head of client Services, Service Coordinators, and other support workers.
• External: Direct engagement with vulnerable individuals and coordination with partner agencies as part of a multi-agency approach.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure smooth and safe running of drop-in sessions in collaboration with staff and volunteers.
• Welcome and assess new clients, providing appropriate support and referrals.
• Maintain a psychologically informed environment and manage challenging behaviours effectively.
• Supervise and support volunteers.

Outreach and Support Work:

• Engage with individuals in various settings to connect them with relevant services.
• Conduct needs assessments, crisis interventions, and ongoing support planning.
• Assist clients in achieving support plan goals, including attending appointments.
• Work with partner agencies to coordinate multi-agency support.

Information Management:

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant client records and case notes.
• Report safeguarding concerns and contribute to service improvements.
• Keep up to date with sector developments and best practices.

General Duties:

• Adhere to Spires’ policies and contribute to organisational development.
• Engage in personal development and team collaboration.
• Undertake other duties as required, including session cover.

Person Specification:

Essential Experience:

• Supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Working with vulnerable adults with complex needs.
• Managing a caseload within a support setting.
• Maintaining professional boundaries while managing challenging behaviour.
• Liaising with service providers to improve client access to support.

Desirable Experience:

• Working with volunteers.
• Supporting individuals engaged in high-risk activities.

Essential Knowledge:

• Understanding issues faced by vulnerable individuals, including those in high-risk activities.
• Trauma-informed practice and safeguarding principles.
• Confidentiality, data protection, and social care services.

Desirable Knowledge:

• NVQ2/3 or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Understanding of health promotion and sexual health.
• Current UK  Driver Licence

Essential Skills and Qualities:

• Flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings.
• Strong communication and IT skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage time effectively, and work independently.
• Commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Summary of Terms and Conditions:

• Location: Based at Spires’ Offices, 5 Stockwell Mews, SW9 9GX
• Probation: Six-month probation period.
• Notice: One week’s notice during probation, four weeks thereafter.
• Annual Leave: 35 days pro rata (including bank holidays and three closure days over Christmas).
• Pension: Employer contribution of 5%, employee contribution of 3%.
• Other Benefits: Life and income protection insurance for eligible employees.
• Expenses: Travel expenses reimbursed as per policy.
• Safeguarding: Adherence to Spires’ safeguarding policy; subject to a DBS check.

this is rolling recruitment and we will be actively interviewing throughout the recruitment process.

​

We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Specialist Behavioural Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Newham.

£29,110.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

For a full job description, please visit our website.

This is a female only role.

The shift pattern for this role is 07:00-15:00 or 14:00-22:00 on rotating patterns. Weekend and bank holiday work required.

Specialist Behaviour Support Workers are responsible for the customer's emotional, psychological wellbeing as well as providing support to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs. At Stratford Road, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional, and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.

As co-production is at the heart of our work, we believe it is important to involve our customers when recruiting for their support staff. Our customer says:

"Hi, I'm S. and I am a 43-year-old woman who lives in a supported living accommodation in Newham since 2022.

I am generally a happy and sociable person who enjoys being with those around me and makes friends quickly. I have a good relationship with my family and enjoy spending time with them at their house when I can.

I enjoy activities like arts and crafts, spending time on YouTube, dancing and going to the café. I also enjoy looking after myself and getting my nails and hair done and shopping for nice clothes (but I might need prompting to put outfits together to look nice and I enjoy staff telling me I am looking well and giving me positive feedback).

I like to be surrounded by people who are very proactive and can be creative and patient when engaging me in tasks and activities - and are confident supporting me in building safe relationships. I enjoy and respond well to positive affirmations and recognition of my progress.

I might experience difficulties managing my emotions and behaviours at times, particularly when I am feeling low or can't do something I want to do. People working with me must be able to support me in such challenging situations through Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies as detailed in my support plan.

I am looking for a proactive, caring and bubbly individual to support me with my daily living skills, building and maintaining safe relationships, keeping myself and my home safe but also to help me develop my skills to live more independently, to share my hobbies and interests and to explore new activities.

I am looking for someone who is a good and clear communicator, is assertive, has good IT skills and shares my enthusiasm for what interests me.

Look Ahead ensures I am treated with dignity and respect, and only staff who can live up to the organisational values become part of my support team."

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.