Job summary
The Havens, London's specialist Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), is recruiting a compassionate and dedicated Adolescent Advocate to join our trauma-informed multidisciplinary CYP 0-19 team.
This role provides specialist support to young people aged 13-19 who have experienced sexual violence, either following a forensic medical examination (FME)
The Adolescent Advocate will manage a varied caseload, working directly with young people, their families, caregivers, and wider networks--including education, health, criminal justice sector, police, and social care professionals--to ensure their needs are understood, coordinated, and met.
The role focuses on early intervention, safeguarding, care planning, and onward referral, supporting recovery through a tailored, trauma-informed approach.
Main duties of the job
Provide short to medium term trauma-informed support to adolescents aged 13-19 following an FME or professional referral.
Conduct timely post-FME welfare contact with clients.
Manage a varied caseload, including welfare checks, risk and needs assessments, and development of tailored care plans.
Coordinate follow-up care, including medical and sexual health aftercare.
Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns, making timely referrals to external agencies and the Trust's safeguarding team.
Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams across health, social care, education, and criminal justice sectors.
Maintain and update CYP databases to ensure accurate case management.
Attend internal and external multidisciplinary and interagency meetings to advocate for young people's needs.
Maintain accurate clinical documentation in line with Trust and medico-legal standards.
Support service delivery by maintaining databases, processing referrals, and managing enquiries.
Uphold client privacy, dignity, and respect for cultural, religious, and social diversity.
Consider complex needs--including mental health, substance misuse, and learning difficulties--when assessing and planning care.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide early support and referrals to adolescent clients and their families, supporting them to navigate systems related to the recent sexual assault.
- Short-medium-term case work and onward referrals, welfare calls Attend in-house MDT and interagency meetings
- Undertake risk and needs assessments and develop plans of support
- Identify contraception issues and sexual health risks in children and young people and refer them on to appropriate services
- Proactively identify children and young people who may have safeguarding concerns and ensure these concerns are escalated promptly in line with organizational policies.
- Liaise with relevant organisations such as social care, education, CAMHS, GPs to ensure that a young person at risk is safeguarded effectively
- Work closely with in-house and external nursing and medical teams to ensure timely and coordinated care, including scheduling medical assessments, STI screenings, and follow-up appointments after forensic medical examinations
- Provide advice, support and signposting to help clients access appropriate and convenient services in the community for ongoing support as needed
- Support with the development of information resources for children and young people
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide early support and referrals to adolescent clients and their families, supporting them to navigate systems related to the recent sexual assault.
- Short-medium-term case work and onward referrals, welfare calls Attend in-house MDT and interagency meetings
- Undertake risk and needs assessments and develop plans of support
- Identify contraception issues and sexual health risks in children and young people and refer them on to appropriate services
- Proactively identify children and young people who may have safeguarding concerns and ensure these concerns are escalated promptly in line with organizational policies.
- Liaise with relevant organisations such as social care, education, CAMHS, GPs to ensure that a young person at risk is safeguarded effectively
- Work closely with in-house and external nursing and medical teams to ensure timely and coordinated care, including scheduling medical assessments, STI screenings, and follow-up appointments after forensic medical examinations
- Provide advice, support and signposting to help clients access appropriate and convenient services in the community for ongoing support as needed
- Support with the development of information resources for children and young people
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Additional training in adolescent mental health / therapeutic work with young people
- Additional training in child protection and safeguarding practices
Desirable
- Membership of a professional body
- Qualified in counselling, psychotherapy, youth work, or social work
- Additional training in the field of sexual violence and trauma
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with adolescent survivors of sexual violence
- Experience in providing trauma-informed psychological support to clients with complex and multiple needs
- Knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and young people, including current legislation. This includes being able to identify vulnerabilities and risk factors and escalate to relevant external agencies
- Experience in conducting risk and needs assessments, care planning, case management and co-ordination
- Experience of working with a multidisciplinary team within a complex environment
- Experience of interagency working
- Knowledge of confidentiality and information sharing protocols.
Desirable
- Relevant experience of working with young people in a healthcare, social work or counselling setting
- Ability to provide an additional area of speciality knowledge relevant to the role
- Experience of working in an NHS service
- Knowledge of sexual health
- Knowledge/sensitivity to the influence of culture and belief systems on sexual health values
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Essential
- Excellent written & oral communication skills
- Ability to make decisions under pressure
- Ability to prioritise own work load
- Excellent IT literacy including knowledge of/ability to learn new platforms and applications that facilitate remote working
- Time management skills
- Ability to reflect on one's own practice
Desirable
- Ability to resolve conflict
- Ability to plan, deliver & evaluate educational programmes for internal/external stakeholders, e.g. schools, organisations
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Additional training in adolescent mental health / therapeutic work with young people
- Additional training in child protection and safeguarding practices
Desirable
- Membership of a professional body
- Qualified in counselling, psychotherapy, youth work, or social work
- Additional training in the field of sexual violence and trauma
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with adolescent survivors of sexual violence
- Experience in providing trauma-informed psychological support to clients with complex and multiple needs
- Knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and young people, including current legislation. This includes being able to identify vulnerabilities and risk factors and escalate to relevant external agencies
- Experience in conducting risk and needs assessments, care planning, case management and co-ordination
- Experience of working with a multidisciplinary team within a complex environment
- Experience of interagency working
- Knowledge of confidentiality and information sharing protocols.
Desirable
- Relevant experience of working with young people in a healthcare, social work or counselling setting
- Ability to provide an additional area of speciality knowledge relevant to the role
- Experience of working in an NHS service
- Knowledge of sexual health
- Knowledge/sensitivity to the influence of culture and belief systems on sexual health values
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Essential
- Excellent written & oral communication skills
- Ability to make decisions under pressure
- Ability to prioritise own work load
- Excellent IT literacy including knowledge of/ability to learn new platforms and applications that facilitate remote working
- Time management skills
- Ability to reflect on one's own practice
Desirable
- Ability to resolve conflict
- Ability to plan, deliver & evaluate educational programmes for internal/external stakeholders, e.g. schools, organisations
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Havens Pan London - Camberwell, Ladbroke Grove, Whitechapel
London
SE5 9RS
Employer's website
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
