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- Tasks: Lead a team of keyworkers to support women survivors of domestic abuse.
- Company: Join Advance Charity, a feminist organisation dedicated to empowering women.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days paid holiday, flexible working, and employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in women's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting women offenders and team leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with strong values of collaboration and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 27000 £ 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!
We are looking for a Senior Keyworker.
Salary: £25,000 - £27,000
Location: Based in Reading but must be able to commute across the entire Thames Valley region (Oxfordshire, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire)
Hours: 35 Hours per week, with some working from home
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. 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:
Working as a Senior Keyworker you will be responsible for supervising a small group of keyworkers, planned and ad-hoc supervision is an integral part of the Senior role, and you will be supporting keyworkers with monthly supervision and have oversight of safeguarding for the women they work with. You will be supporting the quality control for the region which will include dip-checks and data input.
About You:
To be successful as the Senior Keyworker you will need the below experience and skills:
- You will have an in-depth knowledge of the range of needs and interventions required for women offenders.
- The ability to lead a small team to deliver inclusive, innovative and professional services.
- The ability to not only maintain your own small caseload of women, never compromising on quality engagements, but also to role model best practice and lead a small team of Thames Valley wide Keyworkers.
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.
Closing Date for Applications: 14th December 2025
Interviews are taking place on a 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
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 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 Community Keyworker - Thames Valley in Reading employer: Advance
Contact Detail:
Advance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Community Keyworker - Thames Valley in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the community sector, especially those who might know someone at Advance Charity. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Advance Charity's values and mission. Show us how your experience aligns with our feminist agenda and community-focused approach. We love candidates who are passionate about empowering women!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want to see your personality shine through! Use examples from your past roles to demonstrate your leadership and support skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows us you’re genuinely interested in the role and appreciate the opportunity to chat.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Community Keyworker - Thames Valley in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Keyworker role. Highlight your experience with women offenders and any leadership roles you've had, as this will show us you're a great fit for the team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about supporting women and how your values align with ours at Advance. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Team Leadership Skills: Since this role involves supervising keyworkers, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have in leading teams. We want to see how you can inspire and support others while maintaining high-quality service.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application via our careers page! This ensures we receive all the necessary documents and helps us keep track of your application. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Advance
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the needs and interventions required for women offenders. Brush up on the latest practices in community support and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Keyworker, you'll be supervising a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in the past, focusing on collaboration and empowerment. Highlight any innovative approaches you've taken to support your colleagues.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Safeguarding
Safeguarding is crucial in this role. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of safeguarding policies and how you've implemented them in previous positions. Show that you prioritise the safety and wellbeing of those you work with.
✨Tailor Your Application
When submitting your CV and cover letter, make sure they reflect the values and ethos of Advance Charity. Use specific language from the job description to demonstrate that you’re not just a good fit, but the perfect match for their feminist agenda.