Year fixed term independent domestic violence advocate jobs
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Caritas Social Action Network
Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave)
Location: office in London, with mostly working from home, regular travel in England and Wales, and rare travel overseas.
Contract: full-time, to cover a team member’s maternity leave
Salary: £30,00
Closing date: Tuesday 26 May at 12 noon
Interview date: Thursday 11 June in person, in London
CSAN is the official agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice affecting people who live in England and Wales. We’re facing a steep rise in poverty and significant pressures on social, economic and church resources. Currently, the Church is called to raise a prophetic voice against poverty and the rhetoric of division and work for the building of a more just society.
Over the last 20 years, CSAN has built up a network of 50 diocesan and direct service charities with a combined annual spend on social mission estimated at £400m, excluding the work of schools and religious congregations. Our members build up local community life in diverse ways, and many of them support individuals in difficulty, including with housing, prison and detention, social isolation, ill-health, violence, disability, employment, care, therapeutic and welfare support.
The key responsibilities of the post are:
1. To scan the social policy environment to capture developments in legislation, consultation papers and Bills relevant to the Caritas network for the purpose of comprehensive tracking and briefing.
2. To deliver an effective programme of Catholic advocacy and political campaigns that contributes to the common good, with particular attention to the priorities of the dignity of workers, child poverty, social care and end of life; supporting and connecting well with the team’s other activities, and where possible with the CSAN membership’s priorities,
3. To draft campaign and advocacy materials for the range of media channels used by CSAN and support the CEO in engaging with the press and approaches from campaigning organisations including contributing to CSAN’s social media networks.
4. To provide admin support and contribute to CSAN’s Alliances as required, especially the Advocacy Alliance and the Criminal Justice Alliance with information and education on policy and legislation.
5. To ensure that our advocacy is consistent with the Bishops’ understanding of the Church’s role in society and supports the priorities of the Bishops’ Conference, especially the Department for Social Justice.
6. To act as a conduit of information and communication between the Bishops’ Conference and the CSAN members, under the guidance of the CEO, assisting CBCEW where possible in gathering information and the lived experience of poverty.
7. To develop and contribute to practice materials for the network, especially in the areas of campaigning, advocacy, social policy and formation for mission.
8. To oversee monitoring of the Catholic press and relevant wider networks for relevant articles, developments and campaigns.
9. To support the general work of CSAN as required by the CEO, including leading in the development and organisation of the charity in specific areas subject to skills and experience.
The work of the small national team requires a high level of integrity and teamwork, respect for and capacity to navigate complex civil and church contexts at pace, and a stable commitment to personal formation and training. Our Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave) will bring a professional track record of relevant research and analysis, production of compelling communications, and diligent administration. A satisfactory basic DBS check and references are required.
CSAN is a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, with national agencies in over 160 countries, and among the most successful examples of organised Catholic social action in modern times.
Registered Charity 
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Thank you!
We are looking for resilient and dedicated people to join our new specialist high risk domestic abuse service as Independent Domestic Violence Advocate's (IDVA).
As a new service, we have 4 x full time IDVA positions available. These posts are initially offered on a fixed-term basis for one year, with the potential for extension subject to future funding. These roles are full time, working a hybrid with two days per week expected to work from our centrally located office in Boscombe. Due to the nature of the role, the successful applicants would be expected to travel regularly across the Dorset county.
Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?
Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…
What we offer
At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:
- Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
- Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
- Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
- Welcome Bonus: £500 on successful completion of probation period.
- Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
- Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
- Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
- Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
- Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
- Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
- Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
- Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.
About the Role
As a IDVA you will provide high quality support to victims of domestic violence and abuse. You will deliver and provide support in five key areas to support victims to:
- Feel safer
- Feel informed about their rights and the criminal justice system
- Feel listened to and heard
- Be able to implement healthy coping mechanisms
- Be connected with services who are available to help them
Key Responsibilities
As an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate you will:
- provide appropriate non-therapeutic support to victims of domestic abuse via their preferred contact method.
- undertake needs and risk assessments to develop tailored individual safety and support plans to address the specific needs of the victim.
- use a bespoke case management system to maintain accurate and confidential record keeping and contribute to the collection of outcomes.
- liaise with the police, social services, CPS, and other agencies on the client's behalf, with the client's consent maintaining confidentiality
- provide information to victims to enable them to make informed choices about their future options. Ensuring that the voices, needs, rights and legal entitlements of older people are heard and understood by all individuals and organisations.
About You:
Ideally, you will hold an approved and accredited IDVA qualification (or you must be willing to work towards one)
You will need:
- A strong understanding of domestic abuse and violence and the impact this has on victims.
- Experience of working with victims of crime (preferably domestic abuse) including completing risk assessments and safety planning
- Experience of managing a caseload and keeping clear case management records.
- Experience of adapting communication styles to be able to effectively communicate.
- An understanding of trauma informed practice and how to implement this within your work
- A through understanding of the criminal justice system and the Victim's Code
- An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and other legal requirements
- Good IT skills including experience with working within bespoke case management systems and using Microsoft Office Packages.
- Organised and methodical approach to work with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise workload
This role involves regular travel and due to the location, a driving license and access to a vehicle is considered an essential requirement. If you are unable to drive because of a disability, please indicate this in your application in your personal statement so we can explore the feasibility of alternative arrangements.
About Us
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
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.
At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.
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 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
Thank you!
About the role
You will join a team managing Galop’s specialist advocacy services, providing support to LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK, with a specialist focus on hate crime and hate-motivated abuse. You will work within the advocacy management team to deliver advice, support, and advocacy to thousands of LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence each year.
You will manage a team of specialist advocates and triage workers providing needs-led support, information and advocacy to LGBT+ survivors of a range of violence and abuse. You will work with the Head of Advocacy and other advocacy managers to ensure that survivors have access to needs-led, timely support that is right for them, maintaining high quality, consistent support across our advocacy and one-to-one support, whether that is in-person or remote.
You will have an in depth understanding of the spectrum of violence and abuse that LGBT+ people are subjected to, including the causes, impact and barriers to accessing services. You will use your expertise to represent Galop with key stakeholders, advocating for the needs of the community.
You will also have management and oversight of the CATCH Partnership, a pan-London consortium of by-and-for hate crime support services, that cover all protected strands of hate crime across race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status. You will need to have excellent partner management skills and be able to lead and support a diverse range of organisations with an understanding of their specific needs and challenges.
You will be responsible for ensuring that data collected about the service is collected consistently and use this to report to funders. You will develop and maintain relationships with funders and ensuring that the service is effectively demonstrating the different that it makes. You will work with the Head of Advocacy and Director of Services to develop bids for new or continued funding for frontline services.
For more information on this role please go tour our website
Location
Galop’s offices are located in London. This role will have the option of hybrid working with at least 2 days per week worked in the office.
Hours
Full Time (35 hours per week)
Contract
Fixed Term (1 year with possible extension)
Line manages
Advocates and Triage Workers
Reports to
Head of Advocacy and Support
Salary
You will start on scale point C1, £41,534.79 per year (including £ 4,212.01 London Weighting)
Closing Date
Applications should be submitted by 10am on 31st May 2026.
First round interviews will be held w/c 8th June 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.