Young Women and Girls' mentor Advocate

Role:               Young Women and Girls’ Mentor Advocate

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

Rate:               14.34 PAYE or £18 umb

Start Date:      ASAP

Duration:        Temp ongoing

Hours:            21 hours per week – Either Mon – Wed or  Wed – Friday  Hybrid, some home working

Our client is looking for two Young Women and Girls’ Mentor Advocates to provide long-term mentoring support to a small cohort of girls aged 9-13 who are experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, school exclusion, exploitation, gang involvement or contact with the criminal justice system

Synopsis of duties:

• Provide centre-based and outreach support and adopting a child-centred, strengths-based approach.
• Support the physical, emotional, social and educational development of young girls, helping them to build communication skills, resilience, confidence and positive relationships.
• Identify and assess the needs, strengths and goals of young girls on an ongoing basis, carry out safety planning and develop, review and support individual support plans.
• Support young people in a range of settings, including schools, community spaces, care homes and local authority buildings, delivering outreach and group work and providing mentoring, coaching and practical support.
• Proactively work with young girls and their families to address issues before they escalate, helping to prevent crises such as abuse and exploitation.
• Meet each child on a weekly basis, either online or through home/community-based sessions, building positive relationships and planning appropriate activities around their individual interests, abilities and goals.
• Take responsibility for the safety and welfare of young girls when supporting them in the community, during sessions and within group activities.
• Provide high-quality support to families, ensuring that interventions are tailored to their individual needs and contributing to effective systems and procedures.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and proactively assess risks and safety concerns, raising concerns with the Service Manager and taking appropriate action to safeguard young girls.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with a range of professionals, including Social Workers, schools, Pupil Referral Units, Youth Offending Teams, Police, Health, Education, Jobcentre Plus, Local Authority and voluntary and community organisations.
• Use institutional advocacy and multi-agency working to maximise positive outcomes for young girls and contribute to coordinated support plans.
• Assist the Service Manager to develop and maintain links with statutory and non-statutory partner agencies, develop referral pathways and provide guidance and training for professionals working with young girls at risk.
• Lead workshops and activities focusing on emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships and independent living.
• Maintain accurate records, monitor progress and provide regular updates on young girls’ progress and outcomes.
• Ensure accurate and timely case recording and monitoring information is maintained in accordance with contractual and service requirements.
• Maintain accurate case management records, collate relevant monitoring and evaluation data and keep the Service Manager informed of issues, achievements and outcomes.
• Provide Duty cover for the service email inbox and phone line, responding to enquiries, providing guidance and support and processing new referrals with the support of the Service Manager.
• Take responsibility for personal learning and development and remain up to date with relevant research, legislation, policy, safeguarding practice and other developments relevant to the role.
• Participate in team meetings, peer support, reflective practice, supervision and training, contributing to a culture of open communication and critical reflection.
• Assist in the development and improvement of services in line with agreed development plans.

Essential Requirements

• A relevant qualification, for example in violence against women and girls (VAWG), criminal justice, youth work, social work, education or another relevant area.
• Significant experience of supporting children aged up to 13 on a one-to-one basis and within group settings, using trauma-informed approaches.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable children and families, including domestic abuse, exploitation, gang involvement, CSE, mental health, self-harm, ADHD, ASD, multiple needs and contact with the criminal justice system.
• Understanding of the practical and emotional support needs of young girls, including education, confidence-building, healthy relationships and resilience
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and gender-informed approaches when supporting children experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage
• Current knowledge of legislation, guidance and regulations relating to safeguarding, child protection and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
• Strong understanding of risk management, needs assessment, safety planning and support planning, particularly when working with young girls with complex or multiple needs.
• Experience of delivering youth work and group activities, including managing challenging behaviour within larger groups.
• Strong crisis management skills and the ability to remain calm and effective when working in stressful situations.
• Experience of working in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations and developing and maintaining strong professional relationships.
• Experience of working with children and young people with multiple needs, including ADHD, mental health difficulties, self-harm, CSE and ASD, and an understanding of how these can impact the individual and their family.
• Ability to work in a child-centred manner and quickly build trust and rapport with young people.
• Ability to have motivational conversations about challenging topics in a non-judgemental and child-centred way.
• DBS on the update service or dated within the last 12 months
• Available immediately

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

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency