Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (Exploitation and Sex Work)

About us

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.

Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.

Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.

About the Service - Women and Children's Services

We run services and dedicated women’s centres for those who are at risk or struggling with challenging circumstances, including women in the criminal justice system and those with experience of trauma, selling sex or sexual exploitation.

We understand that women and girls have experiences which are different to men and can experience vulnerabilities that are specific to their gender. Childhood abuse and domestic abuse are common features in the lives of the women we support which impact on their health and wellbeing. Underpinning all our services is an in-depth understanding of trauma and a focus on recovery, resilience and community integration.

About the Job

We are seeking to recruit a Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) to join our Modern Slavery, Exploitation and Sex Work Service. This specialist service supports individuals aged 16+ who have experienced:

• Sexual Exploitation
• Human Trafficking
• Financial Exploitation
• Criminal Exploitation (including Home Takeover)

• Domestic Servitude • Sexual Violence

• Sex Work

Many of the people we work with face multiple and overlapping disadvantages, including the ongoing impact of trauma, substance use, homelessness, poor mental health, and exclusion from mainstream services. This role will play a vital role in providing accessible, trauma-informed emotional support that empowers individuals to rebuild safety, stability, and trust. To ensure consistent 1-1 support is offered, this caseload is capped to support up to 25 individuals at any one given time.

The successful candidate will offer support across the Northumbria force area to provide high quality support, safety planning and advocacy as part of a multi-agency response to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. The nature of the support that an ISVA provides will vary from case to case and will depend on the needs of the individual and their circumstances.

At Changing Lives, we value a diverse workforce and are keen to recruit people of all ages and from all backgrounds, abilities and ethnicities.