Specialist Advocate in London

We are looking for a Specialist Advocate to join our team, supporting women affected by violence and abuse who come from diverse backgrounds, primarily Asian communities, with some Turkish clients also accessing our services. This role involves direct advocacy and support, helping clients navigate systems including housing, health, legal processes, and safeguarding.

We are specifically seeking someone fluent in Bengali to complement the languages spoken by the caseworker team, as many of the women we support speak Bengali as their first language and may not feel confident communicating in English. Being able to communicate directly with clients in their preferred language is vital to building trust, ensuring confidentiality, and providing the right support in sensitive situations. This language skill is essential to the role and reflects the needs of our client group.

Primary Tasks

• Provide advice & advocacy, casework to women who are from migrant and refugee communities who have experienced VAWG.
• Work with women with insecure immigration status.
• Work with women affected by homelessness.
• Provide advice and support to women who are at risk of honour-based violence and forced marriage.
• Be responsible for providing Pan-London housing advice and case work on housing options to women and girls affected by all forms of VAWG, achieving positive outcomes.
• Deliver Harmful Practices training to professionals.
• Deliver presentations to professionals and the community around Ashiana services.
• Deliver high-quality, empowering, and trauma-informed practical and emotional support in line with service standards, addressing all areas of need, including but not limited to safety planning, mental health, financial support, employment, housing, NRPF, legal matters, immigration, and move-on support.
• Attend relevant case conferences and meetings held by statutory agencies.
• Establish and maintain contact with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies and organisations pan London.
• Provide support, advice and advocacy services primarily to Black & Minoritised women and girls in relevant boroughs who are experiencing domestic violence/sexual violence, enabling them to make informed decisions and exit violent relationships.
• Support and where appropriate, accompany service users to the Housing Department, DWP, Solicitors, and Courts etc.
• Attend partnership events, VAWG forums, community engagement events, awareness-raising activities, and service promotion events as and when required.
• Provide support via Web Chat as and when necessary.

Community Outreach:

• Set up and facilitate support group sessions for women and girls in allocated boroughs.
• Promote the groups widely in particular to all domestic violence partner agencies and take referrals from these agencies.
• Deliver face-to-face appointments as and when required.

Training Sessions:

• Prepare and deliver training sessions to professionals with a particular focus on harmful practices and NRPF.
• Prepare and deliver presentations on harmful practices and NRPF to community-based organisations.

Experience

• Fluent in Bengali.
• A minimum of two years' experience working with women and girls aged 14+.
• Experience of understanding of working with women affected by VAWG.
• Experience working in culturally diverse environments.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and support frameworks.
• Experience of working with women survivors of sexual abuse.
• At least two years experience of working with housing advocacy.
• Experience of working with women who have no recourse to public funds.
• Experience of working with women who have complex needs & multiple disadvantages.
• Understanding of issues affecting Bengali-speaking communities.
• Experience of working in the voluntary sector.
• Experience of fund-raising.

Knowledge

• A clear understanding of the options available to women who experience VAWG including up to date knowledge of welfare benefits, housing and immigration.
• Be sensitive and aware of South Asian, Middle Eastern & Iranian cultural and community needs in all aspects of their duties and responsibilities.
• Sound understanding of equal opportunities in practice.
• A clear understanding of the issues facing women affected by VAWG.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to liaise effectively with people at a variety of levels in statutory authorities and other agencies.
• Ability to form supportive, professional relationships with service users.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work on one's own initiative.
• Ability to work within organisation's policies.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Bengali speakers are currently underrepresented in our caseworker staff, and we welcome applications from individuals who can help us better serve our Bengali-speaking clients.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £42,195.70 per year

Experience: VAWG: 2 years (required)

Language: United Kingdom (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London E11 3AW