Children’s Independent Sexual Violence Advocate

This role builds on work that we have been doing for decades to support and empower LGBT+ children and young people who have experienced sexual violence. Your work will enable LGBT+ young people to feel supported, heard, and empowered in the face of abuse and violence, and pave the way to a safer future for our community.

You will work directly with LGBT+ children and young people, offering them a safe space to talk and think through their options, helping them plan what they want to do, and offering assistance in getting what they need from services. Your work will focus on needs specifically related to experiences of sexual violence, including issues such as wellbeing, support with the criminal and civil justice process, safety, and access to other services to enable young survivors to cope and recover. You will be empathetic and thoughtful in your approach to understanding your clients’ needs, while remaining boundaried and mindful of self-care.

You will sit alongside our other advocates supporting LGBT+ people facing abuse or violence. You will work with mainstream services to ensure the voices and experiences of LGBT+ young survivors are represented in order to make change for our community at a local and national level. You will also work closely with key partner organisations by attending meetings and have the opportunity to take part in external work to ensure a joined-up approach among services working with LGBT+ young people facing abuse and violence.

This is a pivotal moment in Galop’s journey. We have grown quickly over the last six years and you will be part of the future of our work. You’ll help us reach, support, and assist more of our community nationally. You’ll be helping to amplify the voices of LGBT+ young survivors of abuse, and ensure that they are at the centre of Galop’s service.

Key tasks are to provide a high-quality service, which includes:

Key Responsibilities:

- Support through the Criminal Justice System
- Provide practical criminal justice support; empowering, unbiased information and advice to young victims of sexual violence, from making an initial report, through to investigation and trial.
- Support clients to make informed choices, exploring and informing them of their options and rights as victims of sexual offences
- Provide emotional support to young survivors of serious trauma
- Keep young victims informed about their case progress in line with the Victims Code
- Liaise with the relevant professionals to ensure that appropriate measures are in place that support the needs of young victims before and during trial.
- Provide support post-trial if required.
- Provide information on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to young victims and/or their families.
- Communicate with other agencies and organisations, particularly police, but also potentially social care, school safeguarding teams, housing teams and other support organisations to advocate for clients’ needs and wishes
- Communicate with supportive parents and carers where necessary

Location: London and Remote options available
Hours: Full-time (2 roles, making up 1.5 FTE)
Contract: Fixed-term, 1 year – subject to extension
Salary: £31,359.72 - £36,008.37 (including inner London Weighting of £4,009.14 which is available to staff who live in London and/or work from the Galop building in central London).

Closing Date
Applications should be submitted by 5:00 PM on 30th June 2024
Interview will be held on 7th July 2024

REF-214 902