Job summary
The Havens CYP 0-19 Team is recruiting a Band 6 Adolescent Advocate.
This Pan-Haven role requires working across all three sites.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE), fixed-term 12 months from appointment
We seek an individual with experience supporting clients facing multiple disadvantages and the ability to work effectively with professionals across criminal justice, health, education, and social care sectors. A genuine commitment to supporting our client group is essential.
The Havens are London's Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), located at Camberwell, Paddington (St Charles Hospital, Ladbroke Grove), and Whitechapel. They are jointly commissioned by the London Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC London) and NHS England and provide a 24/7 service supporting people who disclose rape or sexual assault.
Main duties of the job
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.
About us
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 short to medium term trauma-informed support to adolescents aged 1319 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 Trusts 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 peoples 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 needsincluding mental health, substance misuse, and learning difficultieswhen assessing and planning care.
Have experience supporting children and young people in trauma informed settings.
Demonstrate knowledge of adolescent development, sexual health, and the impacts of sexual violence.
Join a service that promotes and supports personal and professional development.
Communicate effectively and compassionately with young people, families, caregivers, and professionals.
Have experience working with clients facing multiple disadvantages, including substance misuse, learning needs, or mental health challenges.
Operate within a defined scope of practice, seeking senior guidance and supervision as required.
Take accountability for your practice and commit to ongoing professional development, including participation in training and competency assessments.
Be flexible, organised, and committed to delivering high standards of care.
Engage in regular training, supervision, and professional development to maintain competence and confidence in the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide short to medium term trauma-informed support to adolescents aged 1319 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 Trusts 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 peoples 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 needsincluding mental health, substance misuse, and learning difficultieswhen assessing and planning care.
Have experience supporting children and young people in trauma informed settings.
Demonstrate knowledge of adolescent development, sexual health, and the impacts of sexual violence.
Join a service that promotes and supports personal and professional development.
Communicate effectively and compassionately with young people, families, caregivers, and professionals.
Have experience working with clients facing multiple disadvantages, including substance misuse, learning needs, or mental health challenges.
Operate within a defined scope of practice, seeking senior guidance and supervision as required.
Take accountability for your practice and commit to ongoing professional development, including participation in training and competency assessments.
Be flexible, organised, and committed to delivering high standards of care.
Engage in regular training, supervision, and professional development to maintain competence and confidence in the role.
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
- Basic understanding of the criminal justice system
- 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 workload
- 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
- Basic understanding of the criminal justice system
- 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 workload
- 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).
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).
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)
