At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people affected by exploitation and provide advocacy for families.
- Company: Join Missing People, a caring organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Generous holidays, flexible working, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Work from home flexibility and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable young people and their families.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care and advocacy for at-risk youth required.
The predicted salary is between 31490 - 31490 £ per year.
South West London (Central Office is based in Mortlake – 12 mins from Clapham Junction and 23 mins from Waterloo)
Full time Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2027
£31,490 per annum. 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday 10:00 am - 18:00 pm. Happy to talk about flexible working.
About the role
You will support young people who have been affected by child criminal exploitation and missing. You will also work with many parents and carers who need emotional support, advice, information and/or advocacy because their child is being criminally exploited. You will provide a safe and confidential space for them to talk through their experiences and help them to understand their options and how to stay safe. You will be a strong advocate for young people and families, working with them and other agencies to ensure they get the help they need to stay safe, and to reduce the risks of harm they face.
- Support families, carers, children, and young people who have been affected by exploitation / missing
- Deliver national anonymous support via phone, email, SMS, and live chat, working collaboratively with the helpline team to offer a wraparound exploitation support service.
- Promptly assess referrals from police, local authority staff, project workers and children / young people as well as families for service suitability.
- Hold case discussions and consult managers as necessary to assess risk and plan service user support where the risk is heightened.
- Speak up for children, young people, parents and carers who are at risk
- Support individuals receiving our service to have their voice heard by the various professionals, carers and family members in their lives.
- Represent the person and the charity professionally and constructively in any context where advocacy is required.
- Support parents and carers to understand the service and the wider support available through the charity
- Be sensitive to the distress parents and carers may be experiencing following a child’s disappearance, which can sometimes be ongoing in relation to CCE
- Provide advice and on-going support to parents and carers which promote their and their child’s safety and wellbeing.
- Effectively signpost supported individuals to other partnered services including Missing People’s various services.
About you
Could you bring your expertise in working with young people to support Missing People's Exploitation Service? You will need to have the right to work in the UK and relevant experience, knowledge and skills including:
Experience needed
- Significant experience working directly to support at risk young people and families in a social care, statutory or voluntary sector setting;
- Significant experience of successfully advocating for young people and families to get the support they need from other agencies;
- Experience of assessing needs, recognising risk and implementing safeguarding procedures to safeguard children, young people or vulnerable adults.
- Experience of designing and implementing support plans which promote increased wellbeing and safety for young people and families;
Abilities, Skills and Knowledge needed
- Working (proven) knowledge of the risks faced by children and young people who are missing, associated with a gang, involved in county lines and experiencing child criminal exploitation;
- Effective methods for safeguarding children and young people who are missing, associated with a gang, involved in county lines and experiencing child criminal exploitation;
- How statutory services respond to victims of county lines and child criminal exploitation and their families.
- Excellent record keeping skills including the effective use of client record databases.
What you will get in return
Missing People is a friendly and supportive place to work – it’s a welcoming, caring organisation which really makes a difference to people affected by the issue of missing throughout the UK. We offer generous paid holidays, a range of enhanced family friendly benefits and are happy to talk about flexible working in most roles.
About Missing People
Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat. We coordinate a UK-wide network of people, businesses and media to join the search for the estimated 170,000 people who go missing each year. Missing People aims to put people with lived experience at the heart of our work, amplifying their voices to achieve change.
Hours: 35 per week Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm. Happy to talk about flexible working. High degree of flexibility to work from home.
Missing People is 14th on the Sunday Times “100 Best Not-for-profit Organisations to Work for” List 2019 and offers the below benefits:
- 28 days annual leave per annum/pro rata plus statutory holidays on appointment.
- Additional annual leave days awarded on length of service*
- Company pension contribution
- Life insurance (3 x salary)*
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including 24/7 support helpline
- Interest-free Season Ticket Loans*
- Additional maternity pay and leave*
- Additional paternity pay
- Additional sick pay** available after probation period passed
Closing date: 23:59 on 6 August 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient interest, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Interviews: 11 and 12 August 2026.
Exploitation Support Worker employer: Missing People
Missing People is an exceptional employer that offers a meaningful opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families affected by disappearance. With a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation, employees benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements and professional growth opportunities in philanthropy and fundraising. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to impactful change and community support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Exploitation Support Worker
✨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 Missing People.
✨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 Missing People!
✨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 Missing People, 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 Missing People 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 Exploitation Support Worker
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 Missing People:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Missing People! 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 Missing People
✨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.
