Head of Service: Support and Advocacy

Job summary

Head of Support and Advocacy

The Head of Support and Advocacy provides operational leadership across We Are Survivors support and advocacy services. Working closely with the Service Director, Operations Director and Executive Team, the role ensures services are effective, well governed and meet the needs of survivors and their loved ones. This includes overseeing our trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach; monitoring service performance; safeguarding and record-keeping; and ensuring contractual commitments and quality standards are met. The role also represents the organisation in external partnerships and helps shape services in response to changes in policy, evidence and the needs of people with lived experience.

About You

Head of Support and Advocacy

Youll be an experienced operational or clinical leader who is comfortable overseeing services that work with trauma, mental health and complex needs. Youll understand how to balance compassionate, survivor-centred practice with effective governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and contractual performance. Experience of working with men, sexual harms or people with lived experience would be valuable, alongside the ability to build strong relationships with staff, partners and stakeholders. Most importantly, youll be someone who can lead with clarity, curiosity and care while helping services continue to learn and improve.

Main duties of the job

Support the Service Director, Operations Director and Executive Team with the successful delivery of all support and advocacy services, meeting contractual obligations and associated KPIs.

Proactively build and maintain a highly influential role as a key senior member of the Management Team.

Operational governance responsibility for the organisations trauma-informed / survivor-centric model and pathway, including those aligned to the NHS (locally, regionally and nationally) and IAPT pathways.

Deliver quality assured trauma-informed / survivor-centric services, in line with the organisations model and pathways.

Operational leadership of the accurate record keeping of all We are Survivors clients and interventions.

Design and develop accurate auditing and reporting to Executive Leadership and stakeholders on service performance and operations, including safeguarding.

Attend / Chair internal meetings in line with organisational requirements for delivery teams.

Engage with and attend relevant external meetings engage, influence and input accordingly.

Keep informed of changes in policy at local and national levels.

Maintain professional registration, membership and undertake compliance as required, including CPD, etc.

Undertake specific tasks as directed by a member of the Executive Team.

About us

We Are Survivors is a survivor-focused voluntary sector organisation that aims to create and facilitate safe spaces for male (including trans and non-binary individuals) survivors of sexual harms across Greater Manchester, providing access to quality-assured support. Our work is focused on developing ways for individuals to empower themselves to work through personal and sometimes painful issues, guided and supported by our trauma-informed team, following the trauma and recovery model.

Our vision is to have A society where NO male survivor is left behind

Job responsibilities

To lead the provision of the most effective and efficient We Are Survivors services in all environments that not only meet the needs of the clients but aid the organisation in making the vision of ensuring no male survivor is left behind a reality.

Person specification

Skills

Essential

• Ability to prioritise own workload.
• Ability to manage competing priorities to meet deadlines.
• Good numerical, written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, or equivalent, and electronic database system.
• Ability to engage with and develop relationships with those with lived experience

Desirable

• Public Speaking.
• Chairing.

Values

Essential

• Ability to hold and demonstrate in your conduct the adherence to the organisational values of Transparency, Integrity, Understanding and Responsiveness.
• A commitment to respecting diversity, inclusion and anti-oppressive practice.

Qualifications

Essential

• BACP, NCS, UKCP, HCPC (or similar).
• Diploma in Counselling / Psychotherapy (or equivalent).

Desirable

• BACP Accreditation (or similar).
• Masters Degree in counselling, psychotherapy or Social Work (or equivalent).
• Certificate / Diploma in EMDR.
• A2030-02
• PG Cert / Diploma in CBT.
• Project Management qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of holding a Clinical Management / Service Management role (or equivalent).
• Knowledge and experience of working within Health & Safety guidelines, processes and legislation.
• Demonstrable experience of working in spaces where lived experience is expected to participate
• Experience of delivering on an organisational strategy.
• Experience of providing 1:1 support or advocacy to adults and/or young people with vulnerabilities.
• Experience of processing data at a strict confidentiality level.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.
• Experience of coaching or mentoring.
• Experience of working within the Criminal Justice System.
• Experience of working within a highly confidential setting, adhering to information governance.
• Understanding of issues relating to sexual harms, particularly those relating to boys and men.
• Experience of working within the voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE) sector.