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 Young Women & Girls Mentor Advocate
Salary: £26,000 - £32,000
Location: Hammersmith, Stratford, Finsbury Park and community locations across London
Hours: 35 Hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term Contract – until June 31st 2026
Location: Based across Advance’s London Women’s Centres (Hammersmith, Finsbury Park and Stratford), with some travel to community locations across London.
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.
Job Summary
In recognition of the distinct challenges facing young women and girls (YWG), Advance has developed and delivers specialist provision for young women and girls on the Maia & Lift programme, in partnership with three other specialist organisations – Chance UK, Working Chance and Woman’s Trust. Advance provides a dedicated service for young women and girls (aged 13 to 25) at risk of domestic abuse, exploitation and contact with the criminal justice system.
The Maia Service is designed to enable YWG to escape harm and to thrive in their lives and aspirations, by supporting YWG to build confidence, self-esteem and resilience, manage their health and wellbeing and access and engage with other support services. In addition to dedicated advocacy support, YWG will be able to access mentoring from Volunteer Mentors with lived experience and a programme of prevention and awareness-raising groups and workshops run out of Advance’s Women’s centres.
Our team of Maia Mentor Advocates deliver consistent, holistic support to a small caseload of YWG, working to build relationships of trust, empower YWG to explore their identities, sense of safety, aspirations, and providing practical help and advocacy where needed. The postholder will work closely with the Maia Team to provide gender and age specific support, safeguard YWG, capture and record outcomes and enhance the knowledge of other professionals working with this cohort.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
* Provide long term mentoring support to a cohort of YWG (aged 13-25), 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 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 health and wellbeing, relationships, education, training and employment and risk of contact with criminal justice system.
* 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 discrimination and hardship she may be facing as a result of her identity is highlighted for further awareness-raising and advocacy by Advance.
* 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.
* Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with a range of professionals (including Youth Offending Teams, Probation, 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 experience a smooth referral process and receive 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 Advance’s 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.
* Support the Maia team to provide Duty cover of the Maia email inbox and phone line to answer enquiries and process new referrals, with the support of the Maia Service Manager.
* Be responsible for your own personal learning development and keep up to date on research, relevant legislation, policy and practice, and other literature relevant to the role, as well as participating in Maia Service team meetings, peer support, reflective practice and contributing to the development of a culture of open communication and critical reflection within the Maia Service team.
* Participate in supervision, training and other meetings as required, and assist in the development of services in line with agreed development plans.
Closing Date Sunday 2nd March 2025
Interviews are taking place week commencing 10th 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:
* A 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
* 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.