At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide crisis intervention and advocacy for women experiencing domestic abuse, focusing on mental health.
- Company: Advance Charity, a feminist organisation dedicated to empowering women and girls.
- Benefits: 30 days paid holiday, employee discounts, career development, and enhanced maternity provisions.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in women's lives while working in a supportive and dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in domestic abuse advocacy and understanding of mental health issues.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 32000 £ per year.
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!
Salary: £27,000 - £32,000 depending on experience.
Location: Hammersmith
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
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.
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: listen and support, empowerment and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
About the role
We work within a coordinated partnership response to violence against women and girls as part of the Angelou Partnership. Within the partnership ADVANCE provides independent domestic abuse advocacy and support for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. As the Mental Health IDVA you 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 clients for whom mental health is a factor. You will work within the team 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. You will be delivering one-off drop-in sessions for clients referred via LBHF Talking Therapies and we are aiming to expand these drop-in sessions to the other two boroughs in this new financial year (RBKC & WCC).
Qualifications
You’ll need to have an excellent understanding of domestic abuse and its effects on women and children and of best practice within the domestic abuse sector. As an experienced domestic abuse advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, you 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 abuse, of supporting women involved in mental health services, 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.
Responsibilities
- Establish positive, proactive and innovative working relationships with mental health 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.
- Assess 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.
- Advise 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.
- Work with mental health service providers to introduce the service and encourage practitioners to identify domestic abuse, respond appropriately and refer to the service.
What we can offer you - Employee Benefits
- 35-hour working week
- 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
Equality Act 2010
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 the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and we 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 under-represented 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 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, including carrying out pre‑employment checks including references, 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.
Mental Health IDVA in City of London employer: Advance Charity
Contact Detail:
Advance Charity Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health IDVA in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the mental health and domestic abuse sectors. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to mental health advocacy and domestic abuse support. Think about your experiences and how they align with the role. We can help you with mock interviews if you need a bit of extra practice!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for the cause! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share why you care about supporting women and girls. Your genuine enthusiasm can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Mental Health IDVA in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Mental Health IDVA role. Highlight your experience with domestic abuse advocacy and mental health support, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your skills in action! Use specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to handle crisis situations and provide effective support to women. This will help us picture you in the role.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity and want to know what drives you to work in this field. Share your passion for supporting women and girls, and how you align with our feminist ethos.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Advance Charity
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on women and children. Familiarise yourself with the best practices in the sector, as well as the specific challenges faced by survivors, especially those with mental health issues.
✨Show Your Empathy
During the interview, demonstrate your ability to connect with clients on an emotional level. Share examples from your past experiences where you've successfully supported individuals in crisis, highlighting your skills in risk management and safety planning.
✨Be Proactive
Discuss how you would establish positive relationships with mental health services and partner agencies. Be ready to share ideas on how to improve collaboration and ensure that barriers to accessing support are reduced for survivors.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the role and the organisation. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission of empowering women and girls.