At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide trauma-informed support and advocacy for women facing multiple disadvantages.
- Company: Join Kairos Women Working Together, a leading women's organisation in Coventry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace that values lived experience and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in women's lives while working in a supportive community.
- Qualifications: Experience in advocacy, empathy, and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 29779 - 29779 £ per year.
Kairos Women Working Together is looking for a Support and Advocacy Practitioner to join our specialist women’s organisation in Coventry. Since 1999, Kairos has walked alongside women facing multiple intersecting disadvantage and therefore subject to, or at risk of, sexual exploitation. Through support, advocacy and community, we work with women to increase options and opportunities, strengthen voice and agency, and empower them to create the futures they want for themselves.
This is an exciting time to join Kairos. We are growing our work through our Women’s Hub, strengthening our specialist support offer, and developing our role as a place of safety, advocacy, community and change for women in Coventry.
About the role
This is a frontline practitioner role providing women-centred, trauma-informed and holistic support through both the New Chance Project and Kairos' wider specialist services. You will work alongside women facing multiple disadvantages, including trauma, abuse, poor mental health, substance use, homelessness, poverty, sexual exploitation and involvement with the criminal justice system. A key aspect of the role will be delivering the New Chance Project, supporting women referred by West Midlands Police as an alternative to prosecution for low-level offences. The project aims to address the underlying causes of offending, reduce future harm, and increase opportunities for women to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.
You will manage a caseload of women, providing one-to-one support, advocacy and case management tailored to individual needs and aspirations. Working collaboratively with women, you will develop support plans, coordinate access to specialist services, and provide practical support around housing, debt, physical and mental health, welfare benefits, safety planning, and recovery from trauma and abuse.
The role includes contributing to safeguarding and risk management processes, supporting drop-ins and outreach activities, facilitating group work, and building effective partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector agencies. You will advocate on behalf of women, helping them navigate complex systems and access the resources, opportunities and services they need to move forward.
Building trusting relationships is central to this role. You will work in a way that promotes choice, agency and empowerment, recognising women's strengths while supporting them to overcome barriers and achieve their goals. The work is meaningful, challenging and deeply relational. The women we support are often experiencing significant trauma, risk, exclusion, crisis and harm. This requires emotional resilience, professional curiosity, sound judgement, strong boundaries and the ability to remain grounded when situations are complex or uncertain.
At the same time, this work is full of hope, purpose and possibility. You will see first-hand the difference that trusted relationships, specialist advocacy, women-only spaces and long-term support can make in women's lives. Kairos is rooted in feminist values and an understanding of how power, inequality, and men's violence against women and girls shape women's experiences. Our work is practical and relational, but it is also committed to challenging the systems, attitudes and injustices that create and sustain harm.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who shares our values of Hope, Compassion, Empowerment, Solidarity, Voice and Justice. We are not only interested in formal qualifications or traditional career routes. Relevant experience may come from paid employment, volunteering, community organising, activism, study, caring responsibilities, personal learning or lived experience.
Most importantly, you will be able to build trust and rapport, communicate with empathy and respect, maintain professional boundaries, manage complexity, advocate effectively, and reflect critically on your practice. You will be committed to working in a way that is consistent with Kairos' values and ethos.
We do not expect anyone to arrive knowing everything. Kairos is a learning organisation and invests in the development and wellbeing of its staff through regular line management, reflective supervision, external clinical supervision, training and professional development opportunities.
Diversity, Accessibility and Lived Experience
The voices of women with lived experience are central to everything we do. We actively value and encourage lived experience throughout the organisation, including amongst our volunteers, staff, leadership team and Board of Trustees. We want Kairos to reflect the diversity of the women we support and particularly welcome applications from Black, minoritised and migrant women; disabled women; lesbian and bisexual women; and working-class women.
You will be welcomed, supported and respected within a culture that values authenticity, honesty, collaboration and sisterhood. We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you require information in an alternative format, reasonable adjustments, or additional support to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us.
Role details
- Salary: £29,779 per annum
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Contract: Permanent
- Location: Kairos Women’s Hub, The Old Grammar School, 31 Silver Street, Coventry, CV1 1HP
- Reporting to: Operations & Delivery Manager
- Working pattern: Hub and community based, with occasional hybrid working. The role includes some evening work, currently Wednesdays, as part of our outreach and drop-in rota. Very occasional weekend work may be required for events or fundraising activity.
- Annual leave: 25 days, rising by one day for each year of service up to 30 days.
Support & Advocacy Practitioner in Coventry employer: Kairos Women Working Together
Kairos Women Working Together is an attractive employer due to its commitment to empowering women facing multiple disadvantages through trauma-informed and holistic support. The organization fosters a collaborative work environment that values advocacy and community, providing employees with opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the lives of women. With a focus on professional growth and development, staff members can engage in specialized training and contribute to innovative projects within the Women's Hub.
Contact Details:
Kairos Women Working Together Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support & Advocacy Practitioner in Coventry
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Kairos Women Working Together.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Kairos Women Working Together!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Kairos Women Working Together, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Kairos Women Working Together or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Support & Advocacy Practitioner in Coventry
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 Kairos Women Working Together:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Kairos Women Working Together! 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 Kairos Women Working Together
✨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.
