Advocate (Permanent)

Red Snapper Recruitment are recruiting for an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) for a charity based in the North East of England.

Contract: 35 hours a week, 2-year fixed term contract, extension subject to funding.

Salary: Full-time £23,387 to £27,445.60 (per hour £12.85 to £15.08).

Hours & Days: 35 hours a week Monday to Fridays 9am to 5pm.

Additional benefits: Enhanced holiday allowance from the start, employer’s pension contribution of 6%, enhanced maternity leave.

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Role Overview: The primary responsibilities of this role include providing victim-survivors with emotional and trauma informed support and provide them with comprehensive and practical information such as reporting to the police, accessing Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services, and obtaining specialist support, including pre-trial therapy and sexual violence counselling. This position is dedicated to ensuring that victims and survivors receive comprehensive support that addresses their health, social care, housing, and benefit-related needs. Additionally, the role entails at least 30% of its time conducting outreach work to further support and engage with the community.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Provide tailored, one-to-one continuous support, advice, and advocacy to black and minoritised victims and survivors of sexual violence and exploitation.
• Raise awareness on sexual education through outreach activities, ensuring services are accessible to those with protected characteristics and/or facing multiple disadvantages.
• Provide weekly drop-in opportunities for black and racially minoritized women in the local area.
• Support improved mental wellbeing and resilience, measured using Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale and the Chaos Index for those with complex needs.
• Help improve local services understanding of the dynamics of sexual exploitation and the long-term impact.
• Complete regular risk assessment tools for each case supported and risk management plans, including DASH RIC assessments.
• Attend external team meetings and presentations in relevant forums and partnerships.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with key organisations and their staff to support women to gain access to the services they require.
• Complete reporting information, to assist Line Manager in providing detailed reports to funders.
• Maintain in depth and up-to-date knowledge of all practice, procedures and policies.
• Be aware of external service processes to safeguard individuals who are exposed to sexual exploitation.
• Develop specialist knowledge in the area of sex work and sexual exploitation, and how this impacts women from Black and racialized minorities differently, through attendance at relevant training, learning events and conferences.
• Support police when undertaking visits to brothels to assist with safeguarding women who are experiencing sexual exploitation.
• Provide an in-reach service to women in custody who are experiencing and/or are at risk of sexual exploitation.
• Deal with complaints, feedback and suggestions and identifying practical solutions to any barriers.

Person Specification:

• Experience of supporting women who have experienced or are at risk of sexual abuse and violence.
• Experience of risk and needs assessment, safety and support planning, particularly with clients with complex/multiple needs.
• Experience of partnership working and of maintaining excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders; particularly social care.
• An excellent understanding of sexual violence.
• Good working knowledge of UK adult safeguarding practice, procedures and legislation.
• Essential Safeguarding Adults and Children Level 1.
• IDVA and/or ISVA qualification.
• A good understanding of confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practice; safe practice and health and safety procedures.

This post is:

• Subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure.
• Subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.
• Open to women only (*exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1).

Due to the high volume of applications received, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, your application has been unsuccessful.

RSR Justice is a market leading recruitment business dedicated to providing top quality candidates and services to the offender rehabilitation and supervision work sectors. Red Snapper Recruitment is a member of the Red Snapper Group. The Red Snapper Group acts as an employment agency (permanent) and as an employment business (temporary) - a free and confidential service to candidates. The Red Snapper Recruitment Group is an equal opportunities employer.