At a Glance
- Tasks: Support care-experienced children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making.
- Company: Coram Voice, a leading children's charity dedicated to empowering young people.
- Benefits: Flexible freelance hours, competitive pay, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Home-based role with travel across Greater London and Berkshire.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and advocate for vulnerable children, shaping their futures.
- Qualifications: Experience in advocacy or working with young people is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 13 - 17 £ per hour.
Service: Coram Voice
Contract Type: Associate (Freelance)
Hours: Freelance. We are looking for Advocates who are ideally able to work for 21 hours per week or more. We take a very flexible approach to how and when hours are worked, providing that young people know when they can contact their Advocate. However, Coram Voice's core safeguarding and casework support is only available Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. Potential applicants are encouraged to get in touch if they would like to discuss their specific working preferences ahead of application.
Salary: £17.65 per professional hour; £13.237 per hour travel time; £0.45 per mile for mileage
Location: Home-based with travel to the locations of young people accessing Coram Voice's services. This role is primarily home-based, but our Advocates are expected to make a proactive offer of face-to-face work to the children and young people who we work with. The frequency of travel will vary, and will depend on the needs and preferences of the young people on your caseload at any given time. We are particularly looking for Associate Advocates who are able to travel to locations across Greater London, and Berkshire.
About Coram: Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children and young people. We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime. Coram is the UK's oldest children's charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
About Coram Voice: Coram Voice is a national independent children's charity established in 1975 and has grown to become one of the leading organisations for children and young people in the UK. Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold systems to account, to challenge and support them to do their jobs properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives. Coram Voice strives for a society which recognises, and willingly accepts, its responsibilities to children and young people, where the inequalities and discrimination they currently face have been eradicated. Where those children and young people are fully engaged in all decisions that are made about their lives. Where the views, needs and feelings that they express are at the core of those decisions.
Our Advocacy services: we provide advocacy direct to children and young people in a variety of situations. Advocates around the country support children and young people to get their voice heard in decisions about their lives. This may be through the telephone helpline or through an advocate working directly with a child, for instance, to support them at a review meeting or to help them make a complaint about their care. Coram Voice provides visiting advocacy services to most of the secure units nationally, to Secure Training Centres, Young Offender Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, residential special schools and children's homes.
About the Role: You will work directly with care experienced children and young people and those on Child Protection Plans. You will provide advocacy in the way that the child or young person prefers, which may include face to face support in the community and remote advocacy via phone or Teams. You will empower and support them to ensure their voices are heard within decision–making processes that affect their lives. You will be a capable ambassador for Coram Voice with the ability to engage effectively with professionals, carers, other stakeholders and, most importantly, children and young people. If you have the necessary experience and skills, and a commitment to promoting the rights of young people, we would like to hear from you.
Recruitment process: Shortlisting will be undertaken by our Children's Rights Services Manager. Successful candidates will then be invited for interview. The interview process comprises a written exercise and a panel interview. Successful candidates will have a further one to one Warner interview in accordance with Warner recommendations. Internal candidates will need to notify HR of their interest in their post and they will provide further information on the internal application process.
Returning your application: We cannot accept CVs. When completing your application form, you need to address each point of the person specification and demonstrate how you meet it. Applications must be fully completed.
Closing date: 29th March 2026 @ 23:59
Interview date: W/c 30th March and 6th April 2026
General consideration for applications:
- DBS checks: all posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.
- Training: All successful candidates are required to complete our compulsory training programme which includes training in Advocacy (Advocacy in Action), Safeguarding and EDI.
- Self-employed status: Associate Advocates are self-employed members of the Coram Voice team. Associates will be required to work using their own secure phone and laptop. They are also responsible for maintaining insurance to cover their work. Our HR team can advise further on this.
- Conflict of interest: the independence of the service is important to Coram Voice. Prospective applicants need to raise any other potential conflicts of interest when initially contacting Coram Voice about this post.
Coram Voice is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We actively encourage applicants from Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds to join our teams. Whilst we have a diverse team we recognise we are a predominantly white workforce and are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from diverse communities in order to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Associate Advocate in London employer: CharityComms Ltd
Coram Voice is an exceptional employer dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people across the UK. With a flexible working approach, our Associate Advocates enjoy the autonomy of home-based work while making a meaningful impact through face-to-face interactions in Greater London and Berkshire. We foster a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member can thrive in their role and contribute to our mission of empowering young voices.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Advocate in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Associate Advocate in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to CharityComms Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to CharityComms Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at CharityComms Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
