Mental Health Advocate Jobs

Make a real impact by empowering individuals and families affected by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) with the knowledge, advice, and support they need to thrive.

At Bardet-Biedl Syndrome UK (BBS UK), we are dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by this rare genetic condition. Our support services help individuals and families navigate the challenges of BBS, ensuring they have access to expert advice, advocacy, and practical assistance to enhance their well-being and independence.

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Advice Worker to join our passionate and committed team. This role offers a unique opportunity to provide tailored guidance on social care, disability benefits, health services, and education support, making a meaningful difference to those we serve.

About the Role

As an Advice Worker, you will ensure individuals and families receive timely, practical support that empowers them to navigate key challenges. You will:

• Provide specialist advice on disability benefits, social care, education, and healthcare services.
• Advocate for individuals and families, ensuring they receive the support they need.
• Assist with applications and appeals for welfare benefits, social care assessments, and education support plans.
• Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, social workers, and educators to provide holistic support.
• Attend BBS Clinics, community events, and outreach sessions to deliver in-person advice.
• Stay up to date with relevant legislation and policies affecting individuals with disabilities and rare conditions.

This is a home-based role with occasional travel across England. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with BBS UK policies.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for a knowledgeable, committed, and proactive Advice Worker with the skills and drive to make a real difference.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience providing advice and support to individuals with disabilities or long-term conditions.
• Strong knowledge of social care systems, disability benefits, and education support.
• Experience in advocacy and casework, supporting individuals with complex needs.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and case management systems (e.g., CharityLog).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with a diverse range of people.
• Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload, and use initiative.
• A deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with rare genetic conditions.

Desirable Experience & Skills

• Experience working remotely as part of a dispersed team.
• Knowledge of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and experience supporting families with applications and reviews.
• Access to a car for travel (mileage and travel expenses reimbursed).

Why Join BBS UK?

BBS UK is a small, dedicated charity making a real difference in the lives of those affected by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. We work closely with NHS England to provide essential support services and advocate for improved care and assistance.

By joining us, you will:

• Have a direct and meaningful impact on people’s lives.
• Be part of a supportive, close-knit team that values collaboration and innovation.
• Work flexibly from home while engaging directly with the community.
• Receive ongoing training and professional development.
• Help shape the future of support services for people with BBS.

Additional Information

• DBS Check: An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.
• Safeguarding: Completion of safeguarding training within the first month of employment.
• Flexible Working: Some evening or weekend work may be required, with time off in lieu provided.
• Travel Expenses: Covered for outreach work in line with BBS UK policies.

 How to Apply

If you’re ready to use your skills and experience to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!

If you would like to discuss the role before applying, details can be found in the application pack.

Application Deadline: Sunday 27th April 2025

Do you want to support people with mental health issues? Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

Can you demonstrate our values of Hope, Courage, Together and Responsive and want to be part of our mission to create opportunities for individuals to make choices, find their own solutions, build resilience and manage their whole life and wellbeing?

If the answer to all of these is yes, we want to hear from you.

Job title: Mental Health Hospital Link Worker
Reference Number: 255
Salary scale: £23,800 - £24,500 per annum FTE, depending on skills and experience, inclusive of Outer London Weighting (OLW)
Reports to: Senior Bounce Back Worker
Contract length: 18 Months
No. of hours: 22.5 Hours per week (Over a 7 day rota, 8am – 8pm)
Main base: Mental Health Urgent Care Centre, Lister Hospital, Stevenage

About the Project

Herts Mind Network (HMN) has formed a partnership with Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust (HPFT) to deliver support in the Mental Health Urgent Care Centre (MHUCC) at Lister Hospital.

The MHUCC provides a dedicated space and service for rapid mental health assessment, intervention, and referral, thereby enhancing the quality of care and optimising use of systemwide resources. It provides 24-hour access to specialist mental health assessment aimed at supporting service users to access the least restrictive care and treatment options. It creates a systemwide response to acute mental health crisis that enables people’s needs to be met with the right care at the right time.

About the Role:

The Support, Time and Recovery (STAR) Worker will be based at the Mental Health Urgent Care Centre at Lister Hospital, promoting joint working and creating a seamless pathway into community support for clients recovering from mental ill health.

The STAR workers will work closely with individuals in a mental health crisis currently in the MHUCC, by using a person-centred approach to ensure that everyone is supported with dignity and respect.

You will have a key role with safe and supportive observations and attending to the service users on the unit. You will provide support for carers and liaise with the wider services to support smooth and timely discharge of service users back to the community.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide a consistent presence in the MHUCC for individuals with mental health needs to access for support.
• To advocate for service users, explaining organisations and pathways.
• To provide immediate information and advice about managing wellbeing, reducing risk and onward signposting and referral into wider HMN services and VCFSE organisations.
• To facilitate a clear and easily accessible pathway into the wider Nightlight Crisis Alternative services for individuals, to support timely MHUCC discharge, as an alternative to statutory crisis intervention, or as a supplement to wider care and treatment plans.
• To gather feedback and evaluation on patient experience in the MHUCC
• To develop sound and extensive knowledge of local resources to support in enabling appropriate referrals where necessary.
• To link in with wider Herts Mind Network services and facilitate referrals
• To ensure that a collaborative approach is used, with effective communication links developed with external professional NHS services and to work as an effective member of any multi-disciplinary team. This will require stringent relationships.
• To support individuals to develop sustainable local social networks, both through our HMN Wellbeing Centres and other community services and resources.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cash plan health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
• Eligibility for blue light card.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 21st April at 5pm.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 24th April at the Mental Health Urgent Care Centre, Lister Hospital.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equal Opportunities 
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.

No agencies please.

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for 2x Specialist Prison & Probation Prison Advocate – Prison Services

Salary: £27,000 - £29,000

Location: HMP Peterborough primarily – with travel to London/Hammersmith HO occasionally

Hours: 10.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term – until 31st March 2027

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

The Advance Prison Advocate will support women on remand and those unsentenced within the prison setting, providing pre-release support; focused on Accommodation, Finance, debt & benefits, Family & significant others and Social inclusion.

The Prison Advocate will develop a referral pathway with the Offender Management team within the prison, for women to access the service and will work in partnership with the existing service providers operating within the prison. You will co-design a person-centred support and action plan with women accessing support, enabling you to support them to address their needs and any risks in relation to the interventions identified above including providing ‘through the gate support’. The role will combine a casework- based approach, along with a signposting and advice service for the women in custody.

You will have demonstrable experience and understanding of working with women in a challenging multi-agency environment, ideally working with prisoners and/or their families.

You will build strong relationships with the Pre Release teams to ensure clients are able to maintain or access suitable accommodation, finance, benefits and debt, family and social inclusion support including negotiating terms on behalf of the women. Ensure that interventions are responsive to and meet the needs of women from diverse and minoritised backgrounds. This, together with referrals to wider partner organisations in the community, will ensure additional support needs are addressed post-release and continuity of support exists

A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential

About You:

To be successful as the Advance Prison Advocate you will need the below experience and skills:

Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice system obtained through academic study, experience of working in the criminal justice system (or closely associated social system).

The ability and experience as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons.

You will possess excellent organisational skills, excellent communication skills and be able to work in a prison environment whilst remaining calm.

Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of managing a caseload including maintaining and updating records, remaining focused on action plan goals, and keeping to deadlines

You will have the ability to complete trauma informed, support and action plans in collaboration with the woman; to support in addressing their multiple and individual needs and enable them to engage with services, which will result in timely and prescribed outcomes being achieved.

· *Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

•  35-hour working week

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• One-week paid carers’ s leave
• Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Description:

Job Purpose
Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent
advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women's offending.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.

Key Responsibility Areas
1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.
3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Marketing & Communications Assistant to support the Marketing & Communications team based at our London or Glasgow offices.

Deadline: 5pm on Sunday 13th April
Location: Hybrid working at the London OR Glasgow office
Salary: Starting salary £26,125 plus London weighting if London-based (£3,285)
Hours: Full-time, 32 hours per week (as part of our 32-hour week pilot and may revert to 35 hours after July 2025)
Contract type: This is a fixed-term role for 12 months

This exciting role will provide support to the Marketing and Communications team as we work to get mental health information and advice to the people who need it and support the wider organisation’s communications needs. In this varied role, you’ll help ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day workload of the team, as well as creating content for our diverse audiences.

What does the role involve?

• Writing engaging, channel-appropriate content, such as social media posts or marketing email content.
• Liaising with internal stakeholders to clarify briefs, source copy and imagery, gather feedback and progress projects to agreed timelines.
• Create graphics, and sourcing relevant photography, video and audio to present our content in the most appropriate and engaging ways for our diverse and inclusive audiences.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• Proven written communication skills with the ability to create clear and accurate content in plain English.
• Proven organisational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard and consistently meet deadlines.
• Understanding of creating content for different digital channels – website, email, social media – and the different considerations for each.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

About us

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application form by clicking 'Apply via Website'. Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs alone will not be accepted. Applications will close at 5pm on Sunday 13th April 2025 and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for Tuesday 22nd April 2025.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home for full time staff, pro rata for part time staff.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Benefits

• Be part of an exciting pilot scheme providing a brand new programme to assist locals to overcome health-related barriers to be back on the path to employment 
• Be able to have your say in how to improve services and be able to finally focus on the quality of service rather just box ticking 
• Manage a smaller caseload in order to really provide tailored, quality support to our clients to make the biggest impact possible 
• Come join a organisation where we practice what we preach by ensuring each employee is truly supported in the role and opportunity for professional development is always explored
• Be part of a charity who truly cares by putting clients wellbeing above all else and always celebrates our clients achievements no matter how big or small
• Join a growing, adaptable organisation that looks to promote internally based on capability rather than time in seat
• Enjoy 25 days annual leave on top of a mandatory Christmas shutdown period which adds another 5 additional days of annual leave each year

The Opportunity  

WorkWell is a government funded programme that offers an early-intervention work and health support and assessment service. This provides holistic support to overcome health-related barriers to employment, and a single, joined-up gateway to other support services. 

We work in partnership with mental and/or physical health clinical teams, GP practices and other referral partners who refer clients who are currently in employment but are experiencing difficulties in the workplace and require assistance to help them return to work, remain in work or find new employment. This programme will also support those who have fallen out of work to get the support they need to return to employment. That support will be tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. 

We would like you to join our team of Work and Health Coaches to provide highly effective support to individuals and guide them on their journey to returning, remaining or finding new employment while also supporting them to improve their health and wellbeing. The Work and Health Coach is instrumental in supporting participants to remove health related barriers by sourcing and funding appropriate interventions. 

The vacancy is for a part time Work and Health Coach for a 12 month contract (maternity cover). 

Who we are: 

Founded in 1992 by a group of mental health professionals, Working Well Trust was established to address the issue of low employment rates for people who have experienced mental health issues.  Since starting we have seen advances in the specialist support offered to people seeking employment and a change in cultural attitudes towards mental health.  

In the last few years we have adapted this approach to work with people with Autism (ASD), people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities or complex issues including homelessness or addiction. 

We focus on four main areas: 

Employment Support – offering support that meets the individual’s needs using both the traditional stepped approach and the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. 

Employer support – enabling the recruitment and retention of their employees. 

Social Enterprises – we offer training within social enterprises for people who want to gain a new skill, increase their confidence and be part of a team. 

Business and Enterprise support – providing one to one advice to clients who wish to start up or expand an enterprise. 

Co-production - Working Well remains committed to the principles of the recovery model and continuously improve its services through co-production. 

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details on this role. 

Closing date: 14th of April 2025 at 9am

Interviews will be arranged throughout the application window. Therefore, it is important to get your application in as soon as possible. We may close this vacancy early.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues?

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

Can you demonstrate our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness and Responsiveness and want to be part of our mission to create opportunities for individuals to make choices, find their own solutions, build resilience and manage their whole life and wellbeing?

If the answer to all of these is yes, we want to hear from you.

Crisis House Support Worker
Reference number: 270
Responsible to: Crisis House Coordinator
Working base: Crisis House – Hemel Hempstead 
Working hours: Full time (37.5 hours). The service rota covers 24/7 hour service, 365 days a year and includes night shifts.
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £23,500 rising to £25,000 per annum

About the Service

Hertfordshire Mind Network’s Nightlight Service is proud to provide urgent support, crisis intervention and emotional support to people experiencing Mental health Crisis in Hertfordshire as an alternative to statutory pathways. We provide support to adults across Hertfordshire 7 days a week, 365 days a year through our Helpline, Crisis Cafes and a 24/7 Crisis House. We aim to provide a safe space for people in crisis to talk and feel supported, be listened to without judgement, access relevant support with problem solving and facilitate access to external services when necessary.

As a member of our team you will work closely with service users in crisis by using a person-centred approach as to ensure that each individual is supported with dignity and respect.

By honouring the individual experience of each service user, we are able to respect their autonomy as well as encourage and facilitate positive steps towards management of crisis and recovery. Our services are needed now more than ever!

About the role

As a Crisis House Support Worker, you will work closely with other staff as part of a team in supporting the development of quality Crisis Support and instilling Hertfordshire Mind Network’s values throughout the provision.

Purpose of Post

To be a key member of staff supporting the delivery of the Nightlight mental health Crisis Service. Drawing upon your own lived and/or professional experience (where applicable,) in order to provide a mix of face-to-face, therapeutic and holistic support for those accessing overnight provision.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide emotional support and work towards developing, flexible and realistic crisis/person-centred plans with Service Users.
• To work within agreed guidelines with and for Service Users, whilst being guided and supported by Senior Staff (as well as the Leadership team) in regard to documents/plans such as: Assessments of Need, Risk, Crisis support plans and Review forms.
• To draw upon one’s own lived experience (If applicable) as appropriate, as to promote the delivery of person-centred support.
• To provide immediate and appropriate advice and information to clients as to support with crisis prevention.
• To liaise with Nightlight management and external services such as: police, ambulance service, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, Single Point of Access, Safeguarding Out of Hours Service, Mental Health Liaison Teams, Adult Community Mental health Services, etc. as needed in terms of accepting referrals and proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitating appropriate support.
• Complete appropriate signposting/onward referrals to both internal and external services in accordance with identified needs and risks.
• Arranging transport for service users to facilitate access to services as needed.
• Support clients with activities of daily living as required.
• Ensuring record keeping is maintained to the required standards at all times and contributing to service monitoring requirements.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eligibility for blue light card.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Whilst experience is advantageous, the most important thing to us and the people we support is having the right values, skills and commitment to delivering high quality, person centred mental health crisis support.

Closing date for applications is 25th April 2025.
Interviews to be held week of 7th May

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.

No agencies please.

Job Title: Sexual Health Independent Gender Violence Advocate (Sexual Health IGVA)

Location: The Gaia Centre (Lambeth, London)
Salary: £28,104 per annum, inlusive of London weighting if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (18 Months)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Sexual Health IGVA supporting women and children who are impacted by Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Sexual Health based IGVA (Independent Gender Violence Advocate) will provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of gender-based violence including victims/survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. This role will also focus heavily on raising awareness and building skills within communities and host services to better identify and respond to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The IGVA will deliver VAWG services embedded within sexual health settings in Lambeth sexual health clinics and outreach teams, which contribute to local implementation of relevant national, regional, and local strategies. This role will include supporting people who may not be residents of Lambeth but who access open access sexual health clinics and outreach. The service will be co-located in the local Lambeth sexual health clinics and drop-in locations. The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. 

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

The working patternfor this role is 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday. Occasional late early shifts: 8:00am-4:00pm or late shifts: 1:00pm – 8:00pm on a rota basis to cover duty (approximately 2-3 days a month). Flexibility on how the hours is spread across the week within these times.

Closing Date: 09:00am 10 April 2025

Interview Date: 25 April 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

In 2024, Tower Hamlets received Trailblazer funding to develop and implement new models of community-based mental health care that integrate clinical and voluntary sector provision, in line with  The Community Mental Health Framework.

The Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance (THMHA) was formed two years ago to create a bold new community-based mental health support service for Tower Hamlets residents. THMHA consists of 18 Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) service providers that have come together in partnership. The primary criterion for membership is that the organisation either specialises in mental health support or has a significant and growing focus on mental health in its work. Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Redbridge is a member of this alliance.

Alongside THMHA members, Look Ahead, and East London Foundation Trust, we are implementing a new community-based, 24/7 mental health care system that prioritises the tailored needs of individuals facing mental health challenges. The goal is to provide support in a non-hospital setting, preventing the need for more intensive interventions in the future.

Coproduction and Community Engagement (CCE) Coordinator will play a vital role in ensuring the services at the Barnsley Street Project are designed and delivered in true partnership with the local community. This role is particularly focused on minoritised and underrepresented groups, ensuring their voices are central to service development. The ideal candidate will be passionate about inclusive service design, community engagement, and mental health equity. You will work closely with clients, carers, and community partners to create a responsive and culturally competent service that meets the needs of Tower Hamlets' diverse population.

Contracted Weekly Hours: 37.5. Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Contract Type: Fixed contract till Dec 2027

Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays per annum

Salary: £26,000 – £28,000

Location: ICN office in Bournemouth

International Care Network (ICN) is a Christian charity whose aim is to help to rebuild the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants. We are seeking a passionate, innovative and committed Wellbeing Coordinator to lead the development and implementation of a new wellbeing service designed specifically for refugees and asylum seekers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) and other parts of Dorset. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers together with a mental health/wellbeing qualification and/or equivalent experience.  They will be dedicated to providing warm, welcoming, culturally-sensitive and person-centred mental health and wellbeing support. They will work pro-actively and collaboratively with ICN service users, staff, partners and local services to co-develop, deliver and evaluate a local service that enables individuals to build resilience and agency on their recovery journey. They will be confident in providing trauma-informed support and guidance including referral to counselling and other services, particularly for those who experience barriers in this process.

The role is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund until December 2027 and has the Lived Experience support of Dorset’s leading charity in this area, the Dorset Mental Health Forum (DMHF).

ICN provides benefits to staff including:

• Company pension scheme.
• Travel costs paid for at 45p per mile, not including travel to and from work.
• Staff welfare opportunities including socials and access to external clinical supervision.
• Training opportunities relevant to role.

ICN will seek to ensure that all existing and potential employees are given equal opportunities. We are committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in our employment policies and practices. Our aim is to promote diversity so that no employee or potential employee will be subject to unlawful or unfair discrimination because of gender, age, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality or other ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity or membership or non-membership of a trade union or political beliefs. We will seek to ensure that no applicant for employment is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be justified.

ICN take the safeguarding of service users, staff and volunteers very seriously, with a robust safeguarding policy and process in place. As part of this ICN are committed to developing a safe culture ensuring that all steps are taken to recruit staff and volunteers who are safe to work with our service users and staff, including requiring relevant DBS checks to be taken for roles working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

About the role:

Join the Stacey Street Hostel team and play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of individuals who have faced rough sleeping and complex needs. As a Specialist Multiple Disadvantage Worker (SMDW), you'll provide specialist interventions through our recovery programme, which is rooted in harm minimisation, dual diagnosis support, and strength-based recovery frameworks. You’ll work closely with a dedicated team of professionals, including the Services Manager, Team Manager, and Project Workers, to deliver person-centred support plans and help clients access vital services such as health, mental health, and social care.

In this role, you’ll build trusted relationships with service users, advocating for their needs and empowering them to engage with the support they deserve. You’ll be instrumental in identifying and overcoming system barriers that prevent clients from accessing the care they need, making a direct impact on their recovery and long term wellbeing. Your work will focus on providing intensive support, guidance, and skill-building to help clients gain the confidence and tools to maintain their engagement with treatment and support services.

At Single Homeless Project (SHP), we are committed to your career growth. As an SMDW, you'll have access to continuous training, development opportunities, and career progression in a supportive, collaborative environment. Join us at Stacey Street Hostel to be part of a team that makes a tangible difference in the lives of rough sleepers while advancing your professional journey within a leading charity that values social change and personal growth.

About you:

• Proficiency in managing caseloads, conducting assessments, and analysing data to identify resident needs.
• Strong communication and coordination skills to work with professionals from various disciplines.
• Commitment to ongoing training, participation in reflective practice, and contributing to service improvement initiatives.
• Ability to create collaborative support plans, build rapport, and foster collaboration with residents.

About us:

Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.

We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 12,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.

We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need. 

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 13th April at Midnight 

Interview date: Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd April in Islington

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed by SHP for the successful applicant.

In 2024, Tower Hamlets received Trailblazer funding to develop and implement new models of community-based mental health care that integrate clinical and voluntary sector provision, in line with  The Community Mental Health Framework.

The Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance (THMHA) was formed two years ago to create a bold new community-based mental health support service for Tower Hamlets residents. THMHA consists of 18 Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) service providers that have come together in partnership. The primary criterion for membership is that the organisation either specialises in mental health support or has a significant and growing focus on mental health in its work. Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Redbridge is a member of this alliance.

Alongside THMHA members, Look Ahead, and East London Foundation Trust, we are implementing a new community-based, 24/7 mental health care system that prioritises the tailored needs of individuals facing mental health challenges. The goal is to provide support in a non-hospital setting, preventing the need for more intensive interventions in the future.

Your role will be to help deliver personalized interventions, helping individuals access the right services, by supporting them to set gaols and offering guidance to help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

Justlife’s Vision

Making people's experience of temporary accommodation be short, safe and healthy.

About this role

The role of Health Engagement Worker will involve supporting a caseload of service users that are experiencing homelessness. The role requires the use of specialist knowledge and relationship skills to influence service users with varying degrees of mental health, addiction and trauma related issues to engage with health services.

This will include advocacy in registering them for medical services and accompanying them to appointments; assisting them in addressing all aspects of physical and mental health or substance addiction needs, as well as advocating or them to get access to source housing and social security benefits. Working collaboratively with our partners Arch Healthcare the role is dependent on good communication and joint working with a variety of partners and professionals.

The role requires a high degree of motivation to support complex and vulnerable people, often in a lone-working situation. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our service users, and with some experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity.

A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support service users, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse, crime and low self-worth. A role of this nature will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such requires a high degree of resilience to cope with the emotional demands of the role.

Making decisions, “in the moment” to do the right thing to mitigate risk with service users can place high emotional demands on the job holder. The role is highly reactive, unpredictable and at times, chaotic. The role therefore requires a high degree of self-awareness to one’s own resilience levels and exercising appropriate levels of self-care.

Why do we exist

Justlife is in existence because we know thousands of people struggle to manage in poor and unsuitable temporary accommodation. Their stay isn’t temporary, they are likely to be suffering with deteriorating mental and physical health, becoming victims of crime, losing control of their life and even dying prematurely. We are working towards making their stays as short, safe and healthy as possible.

How do we operate?

Our values guide our work and are very important to us:

• Collaboration before competition
• People before programmes
•  Innovation before Institutions

What do we do?

Justlife delivers impactful services in Greater Manchester and Brighton & Hove, supporting and empowering people experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation. We also drive positive system change across the national temporary accommodation sector, convening those with a common interest; people with lived experience, landlords, charities, local and national government, and carrying out research and gathering insights.

We aim to grow our impact and reach, supporting more people in temporary accommodation and to build a movement that brings about lasting positive change.

Why work for us?

Here at Justlife, we're committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective.

Perks of working at Justlife

• Great holiday package! Starting at 27 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays (increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 30 days after 10 years’ service)
• Additional 5 days annual leave purchase scheme through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced pension contribution scheme, 5% Justlife contribution (correct at time of print)
• Cycle to work scheme
• 2 Volunteering days per year

Key terms and conditions

Job Title: Health Engagement Worker

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Normal hrs to be worked: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Location: Brighton

Salary: £29,892 per Annum

Application Process

To apply, please upload a covering letter addressing how you meet the person specification, together with an up to date CV and an Equal Opportunities.

Deadline for applications is midnight 13th April, but we may close this early if enough suitable applicants are identified. Interviews will be held in the week of 21st April.

You will receive an automated email receipt of your submitted forms. If you do not hear from us by 5pm 16th April, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. We are grateful to you for considering this role but unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful shortlisting.

Role Summary

The role requires a high degree of motivation to support complex and vulnerable people, often in a lone-working situation. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our service users, and with some experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity.

A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support service users, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse, crime and low self-worth. A role of this nature will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such requires a high degree of resilience to cope with the emotional demands of the role.

Role Description

Service Delivery

Using frontline practical and procedural knowledge of working with complex service users to support them to engage with health care services during their housing vulnerability. This could include, but is not limited to;

• Assisting them in addressing housing, financial, health or wellbeing needs
• Accompanying them to appointments
• Connecting them with appropriate support services such as substance misuse services or food banks
• Collaborating with agencies such as the local authority, housing providers and support services
• Advocating on behalf of the service user to access medical care, housing and benefits.
• Maintaining regular contact, a listening ear and emotional support during times of crisis
• Helping increase their self-confidence and self-efficacy to improve their chances of moving on from homelessness
• Manage own calendar to deliver a caseload during periods of work-related pressure, including actively pursuing the project outcomes set for the project and individual clients.
• Use interpersonal and communication skills to provide support to service users and collaborate with others including colleagues, partner agencies, health care professionals and external agencies.
• Take duty of care seriously by assessing the service users social and environmental conditions, drawing out and passing on relevant information to and from healthcare professionals, ensuring client confidentiality is maintained.
• Use of excellent writing skills to prepare and submit housing applications along with a good working knowledge of housing legislation in order to advocate on behalf of service users.
• Support delivery of the activities programme where needed.
• Brief and liaise with other members of the team and external agencies regarding service users, enabling them to effectively carry out their roles.
• To record all service user data on the Inform system within the standards set by the organisation.
• Carry out light physical tasks, such as travelling to visit service users, shopping or lifting office equipment.
• Oversee work streams within the project as directed by the Project Lead.

Service Development

• Collaborate with the Advocacy and Patient Discharge Coordinater, maintain good standards of support for patients as well as good communication with hospital staff and the weekday in-reach team.
• Contribute to initiatives that seek to influence service improvements, implement changes and develop new interventions and support for clients.
• Provide reports and case studies when requested.
• To be part of and contribute to the Justlife staff team, attending meetings as appropriate and to be involved in appropriate staff development, training, supervision and reflective practice as well as continuing professional development and training events where appropriate and be committed to team events.

Research

• Supporting the wider Justlife vision to feed into research and help develop the service including the involvement of service users in design and delivery of the service.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in light of the changing needs of Justlife. It is expected that the post holder will be as positive and flexible as possible in using this document as a framework, and in performing other duties commensurate with these responsibilities, the band of the post and skills and qualification of the post-holder.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults (those experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability, or a comparable client group)
• Experience of working with drug and alcohol dependent adults or those experiencing poor mental health

Skills

• Care, empathy and skilled in dealing with emotionally vulnerable service users
• Excellent ability to engage with service users in an empowering manner
• Effective communication; written and oral skills
• Effective administrative and IT skills
• Excellent organisational skills

Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of assessment, support planning and interventions that help clients experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability to become and stay healthy.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges and solutions to working with a client group who may be experiencing one or more of the following: poor health (physical and mental), substance misuse and homelessness.
• An understanding of health and safety policies and procedures that aim to keep staff and clients safe.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to equal opportunities in our service delivery
• High self-awareness and the ability to maintain personal well-being through periods of pressure and stress
• Ability to be self-motivated and work well in a team or as a lone worker

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate

Salary: £27,000-£29,000 pro rata

Location: HMP Bronzefield

Hours: 21 Hours per week (with the possibility to increase to full time hours)

Contract: Fixed Term – until 31st March 2025 with a possibility of an extension to March 2026

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending. We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community.

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

About the role:

The Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate will support women within the prison setting, provide pre-release support, focused on Accommodation, Finance, debt & benefits, Family & significant others and Social inclusion including ‘through the gate’ support.

This exciting new role will be based in HMP Bronzefield and will support in developing referral pathways for women and work in partnership with different departments and services within the prison as well as those in the community. You will co-design an action plan with women accessing support, enabling you to support them to address their accommodation, finance, debt and benefits and health needs and any risks in relation to the interventions identified, as they prepare for release. The role will involve a combination of casework-based approach with delivery of programmes and courses, along with a signposting and advice service for the women in custody.

You will have demonstrable experience and understanding of working with women in a challenging multi-agency environment, ideally working with prisoners and/or their families.

You will build strong relationships with the Pre Release teams to ensure clients are able to maintain or access suitable accommodation, finance, benefits and debt, family and social inclusion support including negotiating terms on behalf of the women. Ensure that interventions are responsive to and meet the needs of women from diverse and minoritised backgrounds. This, together with referrals to wider partner organisations in the community, will ensure additional support needs are addressed post-release and continuity of support exists.

A car may be desirable for this role, though not essential

About You:

To be successful as the Advance Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate you will need the below experience and skills:

Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice system obtained through academic study, experience of working in the criminal justice system (or closely associated social system).

The ability and experience as a caseworker delivering gender specific and trauma responsive interventions which support resettlement and rehabilitation of female adults in the criminal justice system whether in the community or in prisons.

You will possess excellent organisational skills, excellent communication skills and be able to work in a prison environment whilst remaining calm.

Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of managing a caseload including maintaining and updating records, remaining focused on action plan goals, and keeping to deadlines

You will have the ability to complete trauma informed, support and action plans in collaboration with the woman; to support in addressing their multiple and individual needs and enable them to engage with services, which will result in timely and prescribed outcomes being achieved.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered.

· Interviews are taking place on: W/C Monday 3rd March 2025

· *Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits:

An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

Pension scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Employee eye-care scheme

Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

Organisation wide away days

Thorough induction and training

Career development pathways

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.