Safe Spaces Survivor Advocate

Safe Spaces Survivor Advocate
Salary: £24,956 per annum rising to £25,350 per annum on successful completion of probation, and £26,925 after successful completion of ISVA accreditation.

Hours:

37.5 hours per week (09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday)
Holiday: 25 days annual holiday entitlement increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service per annum plus bank holidays
Base:
Plymouth, Swindon or Gloucester with a mixture of office and home working.

Contract:

Permanent
About the Role
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.
The Survivor Advocate will work pro-actively to risk assess and support client needs and develop a comprehensive support plan to help keep victims safe. This role will use advocacy and partnership working skills to ensure victims are supported throughout any internal church processes or criminal justice processes.
The post holder will manage a busy caseload and have excellent partnership skills and an understanding of Adult and Vulnerable people Safeguarding procedures.

Key responsibilities:

* Advocate on behalf of victims and survivors of church related abuse
 
* Contribute to addressing situations where there is risk of danger, harm or abuse
 
* Assess the needs of, and risks to victims/survivors of church related abuse
 
* Communicate with people from vulnerable groups
 
* Recognise and respond to suspected abuse of people from vulnerable groups
 
* Support the safeguarding and protection of people from vulnerable groups
 
* Work in partnership with agencies to address church related abuse
 
* Support victims and survivors of church related abuse through the court process
 
* Manage working relationships with victims and survivors
 
* Promote understanding of the various forms of abuse including domestic abuse, sexual violence and abuse and spiritual abuse
 
* Establish requirements for special measures at court
Essential requirements:
 
* Experience of working with people in crisis
 
* Experience of risk assessments and decision making
 
* Well-developed interpersonal skills (written and oral)
Added benefits:
 
* A comprehensive induction and training programme, with a hybrid working policy for a better work/life balance.
 
* A wellbeing day per financial year (1st April to 31st March)
 
* Access to external supervision to discuss personal or emotional responses to traumatic cases, to ensure emotional and psychological wellbeing.
 
* Health and wellbeing resources including our staff Wellbeing Group, Staff Consultation Committee, and active participation in our employee engagement platform.
 
* Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which includes a 24/7 telephone helpline offering medical, emotional, and financial support.
 
* Working for an organisation committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, and all backgrounds regardless of age, race, faith, disability, neurodiversity's, genders, gender expression or sexuality. First Light are a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have an LGBTQIA+ Staff Network.
 
* Annual pay review and employer contribution pension scheme.
Additional Information:
The successful applicant will be subject to a Disclosure & Barring check, and a social media check conducted by a third-party organisation as part of our Safer Recruitment process. Any future offer of employment is contingent on the satisfactory completion of these checks, as well as the receipt of two satisfactory employment references, with one being from your current or most recent employer.

Please note that in some roles staff may be required to work from a home/office base in accordance with our Hybrid Working policy.
Deadline for receipt of applications: 09:00 23rd February 2026
Expected date for interviews:
To be arranged with the candidate
If you do not hear from us within 10 working days of the deadline for receipt of applications, please assume you have been unsuccessful at this time. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early for the right candidate, so we encourage early applications.

To apply:

Due to Safeguarding requirements we are unable to accept CVs as part of your application or employ any candidate who has been a client of First Light within the last two years.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for First Light, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Please complete the application form on the top right of the advert on our website. Ensure that you outline your relevant experience and evidence suitability for the role against the role profile, which is a combined job description and person specification