Young Women & Girls CJS Mentor Advocate in Hammersmith

Based: Hammersmith, Stratford, Finsbury Park and community locations across London

Rate: £15.77ph PAYE or £20.28 umb

Start Date: ASAP

Duration: Temporary

Hours: 35 hours per week – Hybrid, 2 days home working

Our client, a specialist charity, is looking for a Criminal Justice Service Advocate to deliver consistent, holistic support to a small caseload of Young Women and Girls.

Synopsis of duties:

• Provide long term mentoring support to a cohort of YWG (aged 13-25) at risk of or experiencing gang involvement, exploitation or contact with the criminal justice system, providing centre-based and outreach support and adopting a YWG-centred, strengths-based approach to deliver a range of support and interventions designed to increase awareness and understanding of healthy relationships; reduce risk and increase feelings of safety; build self-confidence and confidence in professionals and support services; and empower YWG to assert their rights and make informed choices about future goals.
• Identify and assess the needs, strengths and goals of YWG on an ongoing basis, carry out safety planning and develop, review and support YWG in line with individual support plans which seek to address risk of contact with the criminal justice system and exploitation, health and wellbeing, relationships, education, training and employment.
• Identify when YWG would benefit from specialist support in relation to ethnicity, culture, religion, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, health and other intersecting aspects of her unique identity, making referrals as appropriate and ensuring that the discrimination and hardship she may be facing as a result of her identity is highlighted for further awareness raising and advocacy.
• Proactively assess risks and safety concerns, raising concerns with the Maia Service Manager, ensuring that, where possible, concerns are discussed openly with YWG, working within local safeguarding frameworks and taking appropriate action to safeguard YWG whilst working within a model of empowerment.
• Provide outreach support and advocacy to young women in the community and at women’s centres with varying multiple complex needs and across each complexity level.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with a range of professionals (including Social Workers, Schools, Pupil Referral Units, Youth Offending Teams, Police, Health, Education, Jobcentre Plus, Local Authority and local voluntary and community organisations), using institutional advocacy to maximise positive outcomes for YWG by participating in multi-agency working and meetings/forums.
• Assist the Maia Service Manager to develop and maintain links with partner agencies (statutory and non-statutory, including children and young people’s and women and girls’ voluntary services), develop referral pathways for YWG and provide guidance and training for agencies and professionals working with YWG at risk.
• Work closely with the YWG Peer Mentor & Group Coordinator to pair YWG with Volunteer Mentors, liaising with their assigned mentor to ensure YWG experiences a smooth referral process and receives consistent messaging and complementary programmes of support across the Maia Service.
• Work closely with the YWG Peer Mentor & Group Coordinator to refer YWG to and support the delivery of group-based interventions which support YWG to learn about, discuss and reflect on the challenges they have faced and empower YWG to support each other and move forward with their lives.
• Utilise a range of methods to regularly obtain feedback from YWG regarding their experiences at all stages of the Maia Service, sharing and reflecting on feedback with the Maia Service Manager and staff team, using this to inform the development of new resources and wider ways of working with YWG where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate case management records, collate all relevant monitoring and evaluation data, keep the Maia Service Manager informed of any issues and successes on an ongoing basis and support her in the production of quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Provide Duty cover of the Maia email inbox and phone line to answer enquiries, assist callers with guidance and support, and process new referrals, with the support of the Maia Service Manager.
• Support the engagement and attendance of young women at Women’s Centres and the activities programme.

Essential Requirements:

• A strong understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable young women and girls, including the impacts of domestic abuse, exploitation, mental health and contact with the criminal justice system, and of the practical and emotional support needs specific to this group, including education, confidence and relationship-building.
• Significant experience of working with young women experiencing issues related to violence against women and girls and/or the criminal justice system, and experience of community engagement, advocacy and support work with young people.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed gendered approaches in supporting young women facing multiple forms of disadvantage.
• Current knowledge of safeguarding practice, procedures and legislation, including an understanding of approaches to safeguarding in a framework of empowerment.
• Thorough understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.