Specialist Advocate

Job type

• Full-time

Location

750-760 High Road Leytonstone, London E11 3AW

Full job description

About the Role
We are looking for a Specialist Advocate to join our team, supporting women affected by violence and abuse who are from diverse backgrounds, primarily Asian communities, with some Turkish clients also accessing our services. This role involves direct advocacy and support, helping clients navigate systems including housing, health, legal processes, and safeguarding.

We are specifically seeking someone fluent in Bengali to complement the languages spoken by the caseworker team, as many of the women we support speak Bengali as their first language and may not feel confident communicating in English. Being able to communicate directly with clients in their preferred language is vital to building trust, ensuring confidentiality, and providing the right support in sensitive situations. This language skill is essential to the role and reflects the needs of our client group.

Primary Tasks

• To provide advice & advocacy, casework to women who are from migrant and refugee communities who have experienced VAWG
• To work with women with insecure immigration status
• To work with women affected by homelessness
• To provide advice and support to women who are at risk of honour based violence and forced Marriage
• To be responsible for providing Pan-London Housing advice and case work on housing options to women and girls affected by all forms of VAWG, achieving positive outcomes
• To be able to deliver Harmful Practices training to professionals
• To deliver presentations to professionals and the community around Ashiana services
• Deliver high-quality, empowering, and trauma-informed practical and emotional support in line with service standards, addressing all areas of need, including but not limited to safety planning, mental health, financial support, employment, housing, NRPF, legal matters, immigration, and move-on support
• To attend relevant case conferences and meetings held by statutory agencies
• To establish and maintain contact with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies and organisations pan London
• To provide support, advice and advocacy services primarily to Black & Minoritised women and girls in relevant boroughs who are experiencing domestic violence/sexual violence, enabling them to make informed decisions and exit violent relationships
• To support and where appropriate, accompany service users to the Housing Department, DWP, Solicitors, and Courts etc
• Attend partnership events, VAWG forums, community engagement events, awareness-raising activities, and service promotion events as and when required
• To provide support via Web Chat as and when necessary

Community Outreach:

• Set up and facilitate support group sessions for women and girls in allocated Boroughs
• To promote the groups widely in particular to all domestic violence partner agencies and take referrals from these agencies
• To deliver face to face appointments as and when required

Training Sessions:

• To prepare and deliver Training sessions to professionals with a particular focus on harmful practices and NRPF
• To prepare and deliver presentations on harmful practices and NRPF to community based organisations

Experience

Essential:

• Fluent in Bengali to balance the language skills in the caseworker team as many of our clients require support in this language
• A minimum of two years’ experience working women and girls aged 14+
• Experience of understanding of working with women affected by VAWG
• Experience working in culturally diverse environments
• Knowledge of safeguarding and support frameworks
• Experience of working with women survivors of sexual abuse
• At least two years experience of working with a housing advocacy
• Experience of working with women who have no recourse to public funds
• Experience of working with women who have complex needs & multiple disadvantages

Desirable:

• Understanding of issues affecting Bengali-speaking communities
• Experience of working in the voluntary sector
• Experience of fund-raising

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• A clear understanding of the options available to women who experience VAWG including up to date knowledge of welfare benefits, housing and immigration
• To be sensitive and aware of South Asian, Middle Eastern & Iranian cultural and community needs in all aspects of their duties and responsibilities
• Sound understanding of equal opportunities in practice
• A clear understanding of the issues facing women affected by VAWG

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Ability to liaise effectively with people at a variety of levels in statutory authorities and other agencies
• Ability to form supportive, professional relationships with service users
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to work on ones own initiative
• Ability to work within organisation's policies

Equality Statement
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Bengali speakers are currently underrepresented in our caseworker staff, and we welcome applications from individuals who can help us better serve our Bengali-speaking clients.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £42,195.70 per year

Experience:

• VAWG: 2 years (required)

Language:

• Bengali (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London E11 3AW

Full Job description available as PDF below:

job_description_specialist_female_advocate_cjobs_2025_12_15_02_23_08_pm Download

Network

Helping women and girls at risk of domestic violence and abuse.

Support

Refuge Advice Counselling Training Outreach Prevention

Partnerships

London Violence Against Women Consortium

Ascent Specialist Refuge Network

Ascent Ending Harmful Practices

London Councils

Resources

News

Refer to Us

Education

Information Packs

Be Safe, Cover Your Tracks

Contact Us

Contact Us Ashiana Network’s Complaints Policy is publicly available on this website. It can also be provided in alternative formats upon request, including large print or different languages.

If you have any complaints, please email

All service users are informed how to access the policy when they first engage with our services.

We are committed to making our information accessible and will support anyone who needs help understanding or using this policy. Copyright © Ashiana Network

Registered Charity Number , London, UK

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