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 immediatelyThis 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