Job Advert
ABOUT US
HERSANA CIC is a non-profit organisation providing tailored support to Black femmes who have faced all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Our commitment lies in offering a unique service shaped by and for Black femmes, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing the intersectional needs of Black women, Black non-binary people, and Black trans individuals who identify with and feel safe within femme-led spaces.
Our vision as an organisation and for our community is that one day we will live in a society where Black femmes feel confident in reporting their experiences, accessing holistic support services, and being believed, empowered, and supported on their journey to recovery.
Our mission is to create wholistic, gender-specialist, culturally specific and trauma-informed safe spaces for Black women and girls affected by or at risk of gender-based violence across England and Wales, as well as campaign to eradicate violence against women and girls in all its forms. We aim to centre Black femmes in every narrative and to provide these services in a safe and Black femme only environment.
Over the years, our service has sought to support and empower Black femme survivors to cope and build resilience, be better informed, reduce the risk of further victimisation, improve health and wellbeing, and receive the right support. HERSANA provides advocacy services to clients who have experienced or are at risk of all forms of GBV. Our Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocates and dedicated team offer holistic support to survivors navigating the criminal justice system, housing, health, and other immediate and long-term needs.
As a leading expert on violence against women and girls, HERSANA provides accredited and tailored training to a wide range of statutory professional services and workshops to schools, colleges and community groups. We use the knowledge gained through working on the frontlines with clients to advocate for national and local policy change, to improve outcomes statutory guidance for Black femme victims and survivors of GBV. We build evidence through key pieces of research. We push for legislative change, improved statutory guidance for victims, and better understanding of the needs of Black femmes around the country. We equally contribute to ongoing research and knowledge development on Black femme specific subjects. These resources reflect our dedication to enhancing understanding, support, and empowerment within our community. Additionally, we provide in-person and online therapeutic support to our service users in Sussex, Surrey, and London.
Our daily work aims to contribute to and create value within the sector, ensuring Black femmes are not just accommodated but become principal players in the design, delivery, and access to support services.
Safe spaces designed by us, for you and with you in mind and at the forefront.
BEING AN INDEPENDENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ADVOCATE AT HERSANA
As an experienced IGVA you will work within a dynamic, fast paced, crisis intervention, advocacy and support service to ensure the voice of Black femme survivors informs every stage of the process. Working as part of a team you will support a range of clients, making proactive contact and providing high quality advocacy and support which is led by client needs and risk assessments. We have a strong commitment to community and partnership working which means you may also have the opportunity to get involved in delivering training and outreach work.
You will ideally hold an ISVA and/or IDVA accreditation and have an excellent understanding of gender-based violence and abuse and its effects on women and children, and of best practice within the support sector. As an experienced advocate who has worked with complex and multiple needs, you will be skilled in risk management and safety planning, remaining calm in a crisis and in handling sensitive information daily. Experience of direct work with Black femme survivors of abuse and of working within safeguarding procedures is essential for this post, as is the need to adopt and promote a strong partnership approach to service provision.
You will be highly organised, self-motivated, and passionate about ending gender-based violence and creating safe spaces for Black femmes. You will have a "can-do" approach and demonstrable commitment to HERSANA's feminist approach to supporting Black women and their children to be safer.
You will receive training and support for this role, as necessary.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, you’ll need to complete the Application Form, including the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Section. When completing it please relate your application to the requirements stated in the attached person specification, as shortlisting for interview is dependent on the extent to which your application matches these. We are unable to accept CVs. We are accepting applications from Sussex and London.
Black and 'Minority Ethnic' Women only need apply (Schedule 9, Part 1, 158 and 159 Equality Act 2010). All posts are subject to a DBS vetting and barring check.
Deadline Extended: We are still accepting applications for the Independent Gender-Based Violence Advocate role.
