Young Women and Girls' Mentor Advocate

Role:              Young Women and Girls’ Mentor Advocate

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

Rate:               £19 - £20 umb

Start Date:   ASAP

Duration:      Temp until 31.1.06

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

 Our client, a specialist charity, is looking for a Young Women and Girls’ Mentor Advocate to join their team to provide 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.

Synopsis of 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 the 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 the discrimination and hardship she may be facing as a result of her identity are 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.
• 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 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 that 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.
• 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.

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 t,o equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency