VOICE Practitioner

THE GREEN HOUSE BRISTOL; Bristol; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The Green House Bristol is seeking a VOICE Practitioner to support young survivors of sexual abuse through creative engagement and systemic change. This role involves facilitating group sessions, collaborating on projects with parents and professionals, and contributing to the continuous improvement of services for young people and families. Ideal candidates will bring relevant experience, a commitment to empowering youth and families, and the ability to work in a flexible and supportive environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Continuous Professional Development Fund

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation
• Experience in a similar support role for at least 2 years
• Experience of working with multi-disciplinary professionals

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Young People’s VOICE Groups, supporting project development.
• Support the Parent/Carer VOICE group, co-producing new program approaches.
• Collaborate with Family Support and Therapy Teams for drop-in spaces.

Skills

Building trusting relationships

Ability to self-regulate

Writing clear reports

Organizational skills

Managing multiple projects

Education

3 A levels or equivalent

Training in youth work or social work

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Green House is the only specialist service in Bristol, Bath & Northeast Somerset and South Gloucestershire supporting children, young people, and families who have experienced sexual abuse.

Our distinct approach is:

1. Evidence-based, guided by research and best practices.
2. Led by the voices of young people and their families.
3. Centred on community and connection.
4. Focused on the transformational power of the creative arts.

In 2022, we transitioned from a single therapy option to a whole family, community-based model which provides a more accessible and comprehensive approach to support, whilst reducing wait times by 63%. Though we deliver a local service, our work is influencing the national response to child sexual abuse. We provide national training on pre-trial therapy and survivor-led leadership programmes. It is an exciting time to join us as we establish our new service model, deliver a new strategy and look to increase both our local and national visibility. You will be joining an ambitious team who work tirelessly to improve the lives of children, young people and families who have experienced sexual abuse.

Purpose of the job

The Green House’s VOICE change-making project aims to support young survivors and their family members to lead social change through creativity. Together, we aim to break the silence and create systemic change around child sexual abuse. Our approach recognises the inherent strengths and possibility of all young people. We develop creative spaces where young people can connect with their community, grow beyond traumatic experiences and learn to lead services like ours, alongside national social change. We see creative change-making and connecting those with lived experience together as imperative to healing. It is the hope for change that helps young people and their families to learn to live a whole life alongside traumatic experiences and step into their potential.

The VOICE Project has two workstreams: Young People’s VOICE and Parent/Carer VOICE. We work with young people to deliver a creative arts leadership programme (6 weekly group), alongside creative drop-in spaces, individual projects and paid-for mentorship opportunities. We work with our Parent/Carer VOICE group to deliver monthly group sessions, parent-led drop-in spaces and individual projects. The VOICE Project also leads our national child sexual abuse (CSA) practitioner network.

This is an exciting time to join the Green House VOICE Project, we have just secured national funding for the first time and are looking for a VOICE Practitioner to work alongside our new Senior VOICE Practitioner to deliver development and expansion of the programme.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Work with the Senior VOICE Practitioner to deliver the Young People’s VOICE Groups (6 weekly), working with to support young people to develop group/individual projects and campaigns within each group cycle.
2. Work with the Senior VOICE Practitioner to support development of the Parent/Carer VOICE group, co-producing with Parents/Carers and the Senior Leadership Team a new approach to the (currently) monthly programme.
3. Collaborate with the Family Support Team and Therapy Team to deliver regular drop-in spaces for Parents/Carers (“Turn-Up Tuesdays”) and Nature-Based Therapy drop-in spaces (“NBT Drop In”).
4. Work with the Senior VOICE Practitioner to support delivery and expansion of CSA Practitioner network for wider professionals, creating opportunities to connect young people’s groups together nationally.
5. Work with the Senior VOICE Practitioner, Head of Fundraising and Trustee Board to develop and deliver a quarterly co-production group of young people and parents who can support operational delivery/development of the Green House.
6. Contribute to the development of a theory of change for the VOICE Project, working with the Senior VOICE Practitioner, young people, parents/carers and Senior Leadership Team.
7. Work with the Research Manager and Senior VOICE Practitioner to deliver our approach to outcome monitoring and evaluation of the VOICE Project.
8. Ensure that delivery is timely and in-line with the project plan for the VOICE Project, including attendance at weekly team meetings, and contributing to the annual revision of associated documentation e.g., manuals, session plans led by the Senior VOICE Practitioner.
9. Conduct Initial Meetings for young people and parent/carer’s looking to join the VOICE Project – supporting the wider TGH team with recruitment reminders/approaches e.g., attending Family Support/Therapy Team meetings (where appropriate).
10. Work with the Senior VOICE Practitioner to develop relationships with our local and national partners to enable effective change-making for young people and parents/carers.
11. Assess risk and report safeguarding concerns in line with the Green House Policies, main up-to-date safeguarding training, and stay informed on relevant legislation about child sexual abuse and procedures.
12. Maintain accurate, confidential records of all sessions and family contacts, ensuring timely documentation using internal systems e.g., Oasis.
13. Support wider Green House service development, participate in supervision, clinical supervision and training, adhere to Green House policies, and contribute to team communication and operational improvements.

PERSON SPECIFICATION Criteria E=Essential D = Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding Training or qualification in youth work/ social work/ education/ childcare / mental health working with children and young people. E
• 3 A levels/ equivalent/ relevant NVQ E Knowledge and experience of direct work with young people and families with who have experienced sexual abuse and/or complexity of trauma symptomology. E
• Knowledge and experience of working with young people and their families around mental health, risk and safety planning. E
• Knowledge of current safeguarding legislation for children and young people and vulnerable adults. E
• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary services and experience of liaising with a variety of professionals. E
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches to supporting children, young people, and families. D
• Knowledge and understanding of systemic practice. E Knowledge of co-production, co-creation, participation and the principles of peer support E
• Knowledge of ICT including Internet, and Microsoft Office Excel and Word. E Skills and abilities Skills in building trusting relationships that can positively impact young people and parents to create change. E
• Ability to manage different projects at the same time. E
• Ability to amplify the voices of young people who have experienced sexual abuse. E
• Ability to undertake the work within an anti-discriminatory and empowerment framework. E
• Ability to give accurate information and practical support to family members of all ages. E
• Ability to self-regulate at the same time as supporting others within a group to manage traumatic content and experiences. E
• Ability to write clear and accurate reports and use regular IT packages. E
• The ability to reflect on own practice; undertake training advice and constructive feedback and willingness to attend clinical supervision. E
• Ability to work within boundaries to respond to clients in a compassionate and personable manner. E
• Excellent organisational skills. E Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work without direct supervision as well as part of a team. E
• Demonstrated aptitude to effectively work with people with a broad range of differences including their ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds, their gender, age, religious belief, disability, and sexual orientation. E
• Ability to maintain attention to detail whilst multi-tasking. E
• Experience Minimum of 2 years’ recent experience in a similar support role. E
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working and building positive working relationships with multi-agency professionals and external agencies, in particular the police and social services. E
• Co-ordination of a Peer Support Service E
• Experience of working with safeguarding and risk issues with children and young people. E
• Experience of consultation and collaboration with clients. E
• Experience of working in culturally diverse communities. E
• Experience of working with children, young people and families who are neurodiverse or have specific learning needs. D
• Experience of working in a trauma-informed manner with clients. E
• Working within an organisation that deals with sensitive and confidential information. E
• Experience of using data base systems for recording information. E

How to apply

Please refer to the full job description and person specification before applying

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement by an email via the button below.

The closing date for all applications is Sunday 29th June, 11:59pm.

Interviews are expected to take place on week commencing 7th July.

We appreciate that some candidates may find other means of communicating their skills and experience more suitable to them. Your supporting statement can be submitted in one of the following formats:

• A cover letter no more than 2 pages long
• 5-minute-long video (either sent as an mp4 attachment alongside your CV or a link to an unlisted YouTube video)

Your supporting statement in one of the above formats should include an answer to the following question:Why is supporting young people and their families to raise their voices and create change for others critical to healing?

There is an optional Equal Opportunities Form included for our internal diversity in recruitment monitoring, which will be sent following receipt of your application. The form will not be seen by those involved in the recruitment process. Although not mandatory, this monitoring allows us to align recruitment with our overall HR strategy, and continuously improve on how we attract, recruit, and retain a diverse range of candidates. If you have any questions, please email and we will be glad to help.

Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Green House is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, disability, race, sex, religion/belief, sexuality, gender identity, marital/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and working patterns. We want to have staff that appropriately represents all the communities we serve as an organisation. Therefore, we are particularly keen to hear from candidates living with a disability, and those from the global majority.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata’d for part-time staff).

We also currently award the Christmas – New Year period off to staff (not deducted from allowance).

• Additional leave allowances

Our sickness, maternity, and partner (paternity) leave allowances have been implemented to support our staff to live a happy work-life balance. For staff living with chronic health conditions, we have also created a Wellness Plan which you can request through your line manager.

• Flexible employer

We have employed parents, individuals completing their higher education, and other circumstances that have called for a flexible approach to work. You will be able to request flexible working either from day 1, or in one of your Support and Supervision (line management) meetings. Whilst we will always consider flexible working requests, the needs of the Charity will also be considered to come to an agreement that suits all.

• Whole-organisation Professional Development Fund and Policy to help your CPD

Every financial year, the Continuous Professional Development Fund is topped up which allows staff to request additional learning support and opportunities. We also offer some paid study leave for this.

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

Alongside working for a charity that understands the importance of looking after your mental health and supporting its staff, there may be instances where you wish to seek support from an independent third party. This is why we offer a confidential EAP, provided by Health Assured, that staff can make use of. We also offer optional resilience-based group supervision to staff.

• Fantastic, kind, and hardworking team

What it says on the tin! The work we do at The Green House is incredibly emotional, and at times challenging. That’s why we’re proud to foster a workplace culture that values humour, shared learning, and collaboration.