Trauma Informed Support Worker (First Contact Navigator) in Grays

Salary: £25,815 per annum, depending on experience

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed-term contract until June 2030

Place of work: SERICC, Thurrock, office based

Travel: Occasional travel to Harlow, Brentwood and Basildon as required

Closing date: Tuesday 6th October 2026

Interviews: Wednesday 21st October 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in providing a calm, thoughtful and trauma-informed first response to individuals affected by sexual violence or abuse, with a purpose-led organisation that makes a real impact.

Our client SERICC provides specialist services to individuals who are victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse. They are currently seeking an exceptional First Contact Navigator to support in the next phase of Survivors at the Centre, a five-year National Lottery-funded programme delivered through the Synergy East partnership. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a positive difference, and who wants to play a key role in supporting a people-focused organisation.

What you will be doing:

• You will often be one of the first professionals an individual speaks to when they contact SERICC.
• You will provide a specialist first response, listening carefully to what has happened and working with each individual to understand their needs, priorities, risks and any safeguarding concerns.
• From this, you will work together to agree the most appropriate next steps, including access to internal specialist services or other pathways where needed.
• This is not simply a signposting role. You will manage an individual caseload, follow agreed actions through, work closely with colleagues and external professionals, and use professional judgement to help ensure individuals receive a timely, coordinated and survivor-centred response.

You do not need to have worked in a Rape Crisis service before. Our client welcomes relevant experience from voluntary and community organisations, health, social care, safeguarding, advocacy and other services where you have worked alongside individuals experiencing trauma, vulnerability or complex circumstances. Our client is particularly interested in your ability to listen, communicate calmly and sensitively, build trust, manage competing priorities and recognise when risk or safeguarding concerns require further action or escalation.

The role is primarily office-based in Thurrock. Some flexibility for hybrid/home working may be considered once the postholder is fully inducted and established in the role, where this is compatible with service needs.

What’s in it for you?:

• Generous 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Company sick pay
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Access to SERICC’s workplace pension and salary exchange pension scheme
• Opportunities for learning and development within a specialist sexual violence and abuse service

Please note this post is open to women only. An occupational requirement applies under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. Our client considers this to be an occupational requirement for this role because of the nature and context of the work, including work within women-only spaces. The requirement is applied as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Why apply?:

This is an opportunity to become a trusted member of our client’s organisation, working in a key first contact, operational role, with the chance to make a genuine impact to the individual experience of those accessing support. If you can demonstrate the key skills for this role, we would love to hear from you. We encourage early applications. Our client reserves the right to interview and appoint an exceptional candidate before the closing date and may therefore close the vacancy early.