Head of Support and Advocacy

Job summary

This is a key leadership role with responsibility for our growing range of advocacy and practical support services. Youll primarily lead services, including our ISVA provision, community activities, support for loved ones, through-the-gate work, and complex support, ensuring they are well-led, connected, and responsive to what survivors actually need.

Working closely with our Service Director, Operations Director and wider Executive Team, youll help turn organisational strategy into good day-to-day practice. Youll support managers and senior practitioners, oversee service performance and quality, and ensure we meet our commitments to survivors, commissioners and partners. Youll also have an important role in safeguarding, reporting, service development and ensuring our trauma-informed and survivor-centred approach is reflected consistently across our work.

Were looking for someone who understands that advocacy is about more than navigating systems. It can mean helping someone access practical support, ensuring their voice is heard, connecting them with services around them, or simply making sure they dont fall through the cracks. Youll need experience in leading services or clinical provision, alongside an understanding of how to support adults and/or young people who may be experiencing vulnerability. Just as importantly, youll need to be comfortable building relationships with people with lived experience and bringing their voices into the development of services.

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.