Kent Sexual Assault & Abuse Service
Ashford, Kent
KSAAS (formerly East Kent Rape Crisis Centre) has provided sexual violence services in East Kent since 1981. We offer ongoing practical support and therapeutic services for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any time in their lives, across Kent & Medway. KSAAS holds UKAS accreditation through The Survivors Trust and is Professionally Approved by Rape Crisis England & Wales, demonstrating the consistent, high-quality services we provide. KSAAS operates specialist Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services, including joint ISVA and Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) provision for those experiencing sexual violence alongside domestic abuse. We also offer trauma-focused therapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults, accessible through hubs across Kent & Medway. Our Vision KSAAS s vision is a community where everyone is free from all forms of sexual violence. We work within a feminist, equalities and human rights framework, providing help, hope and healing to those impacted by sexual violence and helping to cultivate a safe, non-violent community. Our Mission It is our mission to: Respond to and promote the needs of those who have experienced sexual violence through a feminist empowerment model of work. Reduce the impact of sexual violence by supporting, educating, informing and advocating for all survivors. Challenge oppression in all forms. Challenge societal attitudes that condone and collude with sexual violence. Please note that this post is restricted to women under the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1). Your supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the candidate profile and should be no more than four A4 pages. Role details Salary: £24,133.20 (increasing to £26,133.20 once ISVA accredited). Base: Ashford / Canterbury Travel to other sites may be required. Hours: 35 hours per week (initial 1-year contract). Occasional out-of-hours meetings may be required. Benefits: 3% pension contribution; employee discounts scheme; 28 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays; employee assistance programme; flexible working negotiable. Requirements: right to work in the UK; enhanced DBS check (carried out through KSAAS); full UK driving licence and use of own car. Responsible to: Head of ISVA Services Core functions Work as a committed member of the Kent Sexual Assault & Abuse Service (KSAAS) team. Support KSAAS s aims, values and working principles, and work in line with KSAAS policies and procedures. Take all possible steps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of service users, staff, volunteers and KSAAS management. Specific duties Provide support to children and young people, and their families, through a range of channels as appropriate, including face-to-face, video, text and telephone. Travel to schools and community venues to provide support as required by your caseload. Contact young people or the parents/carers of allocated child service users in a timely and professional manner. Work with children and young people who are survivors of sexual abuse to promote their emotional and physical wellbeing. Listen to service users needs and use a trauma-informed approach to develop an appropriate support plan. Undertake risk and needs assessments and provide ongoing support and advice on risk management. Support service users to report (if they choose to), and through each stage of the criminal justice process, explaining procedures and their rights and entitlements, including under the Victims Code. Support service users to make informed choices about their options. Support service users to access the services they need and to which they are entitled. Support service users to identify and work towards personal goals. Work in line with data protection legislation (including UK GDPR) and confidentiality requirements when working within multi-agency protocols. Identify and respond to child and adult safeguarding concerns, following relevant legislation, policies and procedures. Advocate and, where appropriate, challenge on behalf of service users. Develop and maintain effective communication with key partners including police, CPS, court services, education/schools, mental health and sexual health services, Victim Gateway, the Witness Service and other voluntary sector organisations. Highlight the needs of child survivors of sexual abuse and promote the service to partner agencies and local communities. Manage a caseload. Maintain accurate, timely notes and records for all service users, in line with UK GDPR and organisational requirements. Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within your area of practice, as required. Attend and contribute to supervision sessions. Work with a clear understanding of the myths and realities of sexual violence and trauma, including longer-term mental health impacts. Contribute accurate information, anonymised case studies and quantitative data to help monitor and evaluate service effectiveness. Complete ISVA/ChISVA training (if not already completed) and undertake ongoing training as directed throughout the role. General responsibilities Support the team to inform and educate the public, media, schools and other statutory agencies through networking, talks, training and presentations. Work flexibly to help KSAAS offer the best possible service to service users. Attend team and service meetings as required and collaborate with colleagues to achieve team and organisational objectives. Attend relevant training, conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives. Performance will be monitored through regular line-management supervision and reviewed at the annual appraisal. Due to the nature of work at KSAAS, tasks and responsibilities can be unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work flexibly when required, including undertaking additional duties not specifically covered in this job description. These duties will normally be in response to unforeseen circumstances or changes in work and will be compatible with the post holder s usual role. Please note that you will be required to undertake a DBS check and may also be required to complete additional security checks to work in some settings. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential. Person Specification Qualifications • Good standard of education (graduate level or equivalent experience) • ISVA trained, or willing to attend training • Child-related qualification • Trauma-informed training • Safeguarding training • ISVA training • Domestic abuse training • Sexual abuse training Experience • Extensive knowledge and understanding of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion • Experience of working with a range of statutory, non-statutory and voluntary agencies • Experience of working with vulnerable adults or children • Experience of working within the violence against women and girls sector Knowledge & Understanding • Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding issues, legislation and best practice • Ability to maintain professional notes and records of interactions and interventions with service users • Understanding of the effects of abuse on children • Proficient IT skills (Windows, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, email and internet) • Understanding of professional confidentiality and its boundaries in relation to service delivery, legal, ethical and safeguarding issues • Specialist knowledge of the immediate and longer-term impacts of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion • Understanding of the need for accurate monitoring • Knowledge of the Victims Code of Practice Skills • Able to prioritise own workload and manage competing demands • Ability to use line management and supervision effectively • Good communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written) • Ability to keep the service user at the centre of all processes • Understanding of inequality and commitment to anti-oppressive practice • Willingness to be creative in approach when working with children and young people • Ability to work on own initiative, in partnership, and as part of a team • Experience of proactive advocacy, representing the voices and needs of service users Other • Required to work flexibly to meet service users needs • Expected to travel to meet service user needs; a driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential How to Apply To apply, please email a detailed CV along with a supporting statement explaining your suitability for the role, to the Head of ISVA Services, Caroline Carter. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 May 2026.
KSAAS (formerly East Kent Rape Crisis Centre) has provided sexual violence services in East Kent since 1981. We offer ongoing practical support and therapeutic services for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any time in their lives, across Kent & Medway. KSAAS holds UKAS accreditation through The Survivors Trust and is Professionally Approved by Rape Crisis England & Wales, demonstrating the consistent, high-quality services we provide. KSAAS operates specialist Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services, including joint ISVA and Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) provision for those experiencing sexual violence alongside domestic abuse. We also offer trauma-focused therapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults, accessible through hubs across Kent & Medway. Our Vision KSAAS s vision is a community where everyone is free from all forms of sexual violence. We work within a feminist, equalities and human rights framework, providing help, hope and healing to those impacted by sexual violence and helping to cultivate a safe, non-violent community. Our Mission It is our mission to: Respond to and promote the needs of those who have experienced sexual violence through a feminist empowerment model of work. Reduce the impact of sexual violence by supporting, educating, informing and advocating for all survivors. Challenge oppression in all forms. Challenge societal attitudes that condone and collude with sexual violence. Please note that this post is restricted to women under the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1). Your supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the candidate profile and should be no more than four A4 pages. Role details Salary: £24,133.20 (increasing to £26,133.20 once ISVA accredited). Base: Ashford / Canterbury Travel to other sites may be required. Hours: 35 hours per week (initial 1-year contract). Occasional out-of-hours meetings may be required. Benefits: 3% pension contribution; employee discounts scheme; 28 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays; employee assistance programme; flexible working negotiable. Requirements: right to work in the UK; enhanced DBS check (carried out through KSAAS); full UK driving licence and use of own car. Responsible to: Head of ISVA Services Core functions Work as a committed member of the Kent Sexual Assault & Abuse Service (KSAAS) team. Support KSAAS s aims, values and working principles, and work in line with KSAAS policies and procedures. Take all possible steps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of service users, staff, volunteers and KSAAS management. Specific duties Provide support to children and young people, and their families, through a range of channels as appropriate, including face-to-face, video, text and telephone. Travel to schools and community venues to provide support as required by your caseload. Contact young people or the parents/carers of allocated child service users in a timely and professional manner. Work with children and young people who are survivors of sexual abuse to promote their emotional and physical wellbeing. Listen to service users needs and use a trauma-informed approach to develop an appropriate support plan. Undertake risk and needs assessments and provide ongoing support and advice on risk management. Support service users to report (if they choose to), and through each stage of the criminal justice process, explaining procedures and their rights and entitlements, including under the Victims Code. Support service users to make informed choices about their options. Support service users to access the services they need and to which they are entitled. Support service users to identify and work towards personal goals. Work in line with data protection legislation (including UK GDPR) and confidentiality requirements when working within multi-agency protocols. Identify and respond to child and adult safeguarding concerns, following relevant legislation, policies and procedures. Advocate and, where appropriate, challenge on behalf of service users. Develop and maintain effective communication with key partners including police, CPS, court services, education/schools, mental health and sexual health services, Victim Gateway, the Witness Service and other voluntary sector organisations. Highlight the needs of child survivors of sexual abuse and promote the service to partner agencies and local communities. Manage a caseload. Maintain accurate, timely notes and records for all service users, in line with UK GDPR and organisational requirements. Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within your area of practice, as required. Attend and contribute to supervision sessions. Work with a clear understanding of the myths and realities of sexual violence and trauma, including longer-term mental health impacts. Contribute accurate information, anonymised case studies and quantitative data to help monitor and evaluate service effectiveness. Complete ISVA/ChISVA training (if not already completed) and undertake ongoing training as directed throughout the role. General responsibilities Support the team to inform and educate the public, media, schools and other statutory agencies through networking, talks, training and presentations. Work flexibly to help KSAAS offer the best possible service to service users. Attend team and service meetings as required and collaborate with colleagues to achieve team and organisational objectives. Attend relevant training, conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives. Performance will be monitored through regular line-management supervision and reviewed at the annual appraisal. Due to the nature of work at KSAAS, tasks and responsibilities can be unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work flexibly when required, including undertaking additional duties not specifically covered in this job description. These duties will normally be in response to unforeseen circumstances or changes in work and will be compatible with the post holder s usual role. Please note that you will be required to undertake a DBS check and may also be required to complete additional security checks to work in some settings. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential. Person Specification Qualifications • Good standard of education (graduate level or equivalent experience) • ISVA trained, or willing to attend training • Child-related qualification • Trauma-informed training • Safeguarding training • ISVA training • Domestic abuse training • Sexual abuse training Experience • Extensive knowledge and understanding of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion • Experience of working with a range of statutory, non-statutory and voluntary agencies • Experience of working with vulnerable adults or children • Experience of working within the violence against women and girls sector Knowledge & Understanding • Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding issues, legislation and best practice • Ability to maintain professional notes and records of interactions and interventions with service users • Understanding of the effects of abuse on children • Proficient IT skills (Windows, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, email and internet) • Understanding of professional confidentiality and its boundaries in relation to service delivery, legal, ethical and safeguarding issues • Specialist knowledge of the immediate and longer-term impacts of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion • Understanding of the need for accurate monitoring • Knowledge of the Victims Code of Practice Skills • Able to prioritise own workload and manage competing demands • Ability to use line management and supervision effectively • Good communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written) • Ability to keep the service user at the centre of all processes • Understanding of inequality and commitment to anti-oppressive practice • Willingness to be creative in approach when working with children and young people • Ability to work on own initiative, in partnership, and as part of a team • Experience of proactive advocacy, representing the voices and needs of service users Other • Required to work flexibly to meet service users needs • Expected to travel to meet service user needs; a driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential How to Apply To apply, please email a detailed CV along with a supporting statement explaining your suitability for the role, to the Head of ISVA Services, Caroline Carter. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 May 2026.
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Salary: £57,528 per annum Contract : Permanent, full time Location : Greater London About the role This is an exciting opportunity to lead the operational development and delivery of a charity s criminal justice healthcare strategy at a pivotal moment for the organisation. Working closely with the Head of a national listening programme, who leads listening and policy activity in the health sphere, you will take national lead responsibility for shaping, embedding and continuously improving services that sit at the intersection of family support and healthcare within the criminal justice system. You will bring strategic vision alongside strong operational discipline, working through a matrix-management approach to deliver services that are clinically safe, contractually sound, and genuinely transformational for the people supported. Key responsibilities You will lead the design, development, roll-out and delivery of criminal justice healthcare services, including oversight of family link workers, providing consistent and effective leadership through a matrix-management model. You will review current logic models, propose and embed effective service changes, implement practice guidance and procedures, and optimise programme integrity supported by robust impact data. You will ensure services are safely and effectively aligned and integrated with clinical services led by strategic and operational partners, and that they are delivered in line with contractual, regulatory and budgetary requirements. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, clinical healthcare partners, service commissioners, professional colleagues and experts by experience, you will deliver sustainable systemic service improvements and contribute to wider system change. You will monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of services, using findings to drive continuous improvement in practice and delivery, and advise on the operational viability, feasibility, risks and implementation of key business objectives, ensuring these objectives are met. In close partnership with the Head of the organisation s listening programme, you will strengthen the links between listening activity and improved patient outcomes. You will also contribute to the organisation s overall corporate strategy through close involvement in organisation-wide, policy-focused and operational projects, and through involvement in bids, tenders and grant applications. From time to time, you will be called upon to represent the organisation at external meetings, speak at industry events, and present reports to trustee board or committee meetings. About you The organisation is looking for a senior leader with significant experience in criminal justice healthcare, prison-based services, or a closely related field, who combines strategic thinking with hands-on operational expertise. You will have a track record of leading services through change, managing complex stakeholder relationships across clinical and non-clinical partners, and using data and evidence to drive service improvement. You will be confident operating in a matrix environment, comfortable representing your organisation at a senior level, and deeply committed to the people and families supported. How to apply If you feel that you meet the requirements of this role, please complete an application form by clicking the apply now button. The organisation reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Other information The organisation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications, including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment). This post is subject to a six-month probationary period, verification of identity and right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a three-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), prison vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison. A certificate of good conduct from the police force of the country of residence will also be required if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over. You may have experience in the following: Head of Criminal Justice Health, Criminal Justice Healthcare Lead, Head of Prison Healthcare, Criminal Justice Health Manager, Prison Health Services Manager, Head of Health and Justice Services, Criminal Justice Clinical Lead, Health and Justice Programme Director REF-
Salary: £57,528 per annum Contract : Permanent, full time Location : Greater London About the role This is an exciting opportunity to lead the operational development and delivery of a charity s criminal justice healthcare strategy at a pivotal moment for the organisation. Working closely with the Head of a national listening programme, who leads listening and policy activity in the health sphere, you will take national lead responsibility for shaping, embedding and continuously improving services that sit at the intersection of family support and healthcare within the criminal justice system. You will bring strategic vision alongside strong operational discipline, working through a matrix-management approach to deliver services that are clinically safe, contractually sound, and genuinely transformational for the people supported. Key responsibilities You will lead the design, development, roll-out and delivery of criminal justice healthcare services, including oversight of family link workers, providing consistent and effective leadership through a matrix-management model. You will review current logic models, propose and embed effective service changes, implement practice guidance and procedures, and optimise programme integrity supported by robust impact data. You will ensure services are safely and effectively aligned and integrated with clinical services led by strategic and operational partners, and that they are delivered in line with contractual, regulatory and budgetary requirements. Working collaboratively with senior leaders, clinical healthcare partners, service commissioners, professional colleagues and experts by experience, you will deliver sustainable systemic service improvements and contribute to wider system change. You will monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of services, using findings to drive continuous improvement in practice and delivery, and advise on the operational viability, feasibility, risks and implementation of key business objectives, ensuring these objectives are met. In close partnership with the Head of the organisation s listening programme, you will strengthen the links between listening activity and improved patient outcomes. You will also contribute to the organisation s overall corporate strategy through close involvement in organisation-wide, policy-focused and operational projects, and through involvement in bids, tenders and grant applications. From time to time, you will be called upon to represent the organisation at external meetings, speak at industry events, and present reports to trustee board or committee meetings. About you The organisation is looking for a senior leader with significant experience in criminal justice healthcare, prison-based services, or a closely related field, who combines strategic thinking with hands-on operational expertise. You will have a track record of leading services through change, managing complex stakeholder relationships across clinical and non-clinical partners, and using data and evidence to drive service improvement. You will be confident operating in a matrix environment, comfortable representing your organisation at a senior level, and deeply committed to the people and families supported. How to apply If you feel that you meet the requirements of this role, please complete an application form by clicking the apply now button. The organisation reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Other information The organisation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications, including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment). This post is subject to a six-month probationary period, verification of identity and right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a three-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), prison vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison. A certificate of good conduct from the police force of the country of residence will also be required if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over. You may have experience in the following: Head of Criminal Justice Health, Criminal Justice Healthcare Lead, Head of Prison Healthcare, Criminal Justice Health Manager, Prison Health Services Manager, Head of Health and Justice Services, Criminal Justice Clinical Lead, Health and Justice Programme Director REF-
