Safehouse Advocate - Kent

We are Hestia. We make a difference. 

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. We provide a range of services, including Domestic Abuse support, Modern Slavery assistance, Mental Health & Complex Needs care, and Criminal Justice. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence.

The service you will work in….

Join us for a deeply rewarding role where you can make a real difference in people's lives. Your responsibilities will include ensuring the safety and security of our residents through daily Health & Safety tasks, as well as providing vital support to survivors of Modern Slavery. Your day will involve conducting Key Work Sessions with survivors, assisting them in accessing crucial services such as legal or medical support, and guiding them through their entitlements and options for education, work, and accommodation. You'll receive comprehensive training and tools to implement a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, empowering you to make a meaningful impact.

With a dedicated budget, you'll have the opportunity to get creative in enhancing our facilities or organizing activities for our residents, fostering a supportive and enriching environment. As part of our larger organization, you'll have access to exciting opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Rest assured, you'll never be alone in your journey.

Our supportive team and managers are always just a phone call away, ready to assist you in any situation. We prioritize work-life balance by encouraging you to clock off on time and offering the flexibility to claim back any overworked hours, providing up to 8 hours per month of extra time off. If you're passionate about empowering individuals and changing lives, we encourage you to apply and join us in this fulfilling and impactful role.

A day in this role looks like….

As a Kent based Safe House Advocate at Hestia, you will play a crucial role in our Modern Slavery Service. Your contributions will directly influence the lives of our service users, guiding them towards a path of empowerment and independence.

A day will never look the same and some of the things you can expect to do/be responsible for are:

• Hold a caseload of residents who are recognised as potential victims of trafficking within the National Referral Mechanism.
• Advocate on behalf of residents to ensure access to ECAT (European Convention for Action against Trafficking) rights and help them navigate through the NRM.
• Identify and assess any risks and put in place appropriate safeguarding measures in response to these risks.
• Report incidents within strict timeframes and liaise with emergency services where appropriate.
• Professionally deal with urgent requests and unpredicted issues.
• Hold regular key work sessions with residents, recording all interactions on case management system.
• Have a good grasp of public and private services available to residents with no recourse to public funds as well as those who do have recourse. Confidently liaising with these services when needed.
• Write official letters on behalf of service users to the Home Office, or other partner agencies.
• Attendance at team meetings, supervisions with your line manager, clinical supervision and mandatory
  training sessions.

Why Hestia?

Joining Hestia means more than just a job; it's an opportunity to be part of something bigger. We offer a supportive, inclusive and resolution driven work environment where your contributions are recognised and valued. As a member of our team, you will have the chance to grow both personally and professionally while making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

We are looking for candidates who bring a combination of passion, expertise, and dedication to the table. To excel in this role, you should possess:

• Experience of supported accommodation and housing management
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and manage service user expectation
• Creative and engaging approach to advocacy
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and ability to address them appropriately
• Excellent written and verbal
  communication skills 

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.