LGBT+ Independent Sexual Violence Advocate

About the role

This role builds on work that we have been doing for decades to support and empower LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual violence. Your work will enable LGBT+ 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+ victims/survivors, offering them a space to talk and think through 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 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 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+ 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+ 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+ survivors of abuse, and ensure that they are at the centre of Galop’s service.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about supporting LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual violence. You will have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by LGBT+ people and be committed to providing empathetic, person-centred support. You will be able to handle sensitive situations with care and professionalism, maintaining strong boundaries while being supportive and empowering.

You will have expertise in delivering needs-led specialist support services and you will need to be solutions-focussed and enjoy working collaboratively across a diverse and committed team. You’ll need to have good resilience and self-care and be prepared to work in an environment where abuse and violence are regularly talked about. You’ll need to understand the impact of trauma and how that affects our team. In-house support, upskilling, and training will be provided – you don’t need to be an expert in abuse and violence to be the right person for this role.

There is a genuine occupational requirement under the Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003 for this post. It is considered essential that post holders have experience of LGBT+ needs, and impact of discrimination as the Helpline is run for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence.

For more information about this role, including the essential and desirable criteria, please download the attached job description.

Location

London and Remote option available. 

Hours

Full Time (35 hours per week)

Contract

Fixed Term until 1/4/2025 (extension subject to funding)

Reports to

Advocacy & Support Manager/Senior Advocate

Salary

£27,230.31 to £36,008.37 (Including inner London Weighting if living in London and/or working from Galop Building).

Closing Date 

Applications should be submitted by 10:00am on Monday 5th August 2024.

Interviews will be held on Monday 12th August or Tuesday 13th August 2024.