Hope for Justice is working in partnership with the British Red Cross, The Snowdrop Project, St Mary s University & SOHTIS to pilot the Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA) model across the UK. The aim of the IMSA model is to ensure that all survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking have access to an accredited independent advocate.
Hope for Justice will lead the central IMSA Model Hub throughout the pilot, working to support IMSAs and their employing organisations throughout the UK. This role will form part of the central hub team, delivering an Advocacy Advice and Intervention Service for professionals and survivors across the UK.
The IMSA Advocacy Advice Service offers specialist, tailored advice and signposting for modern slavery support throughout the UK. The service can be accessed by survivors and professionals. The IMSA Advocacy Intervention Service offers short-term, issue specific advocacy for survivors to overcome barriers.
As an Advice and Intervention IMSA, you will support the delivery of the Advocacy Advice and Intervention Service through providing specialist, tailored advice and signposting and independent advocacy to a small caseload of survivors. The role will also be vital to responding to all enquiries into the IMSA model pilot via the central hub and assessing the level of service required (i.e. advice, intervention or referral to an IMSA for long-term independent advocacy).
Key Result Areas:
Provide expert advice and advocacy as part of the IMSA Model Hub Advocacy Advice Service, fulfilling Tier 1 (advice) and Tier 2 (advocacy intervention) of the IMSA model
All incoming advice enquiries and survivor referrals are triaged and processed effectively
Survivors receive best practice independent advocacy and understand their socio-legal rights and entitlements, working together with the Advice & Intervention IMSA to overcome barriers and find pathways forward
The advocacy advice service is an expert resource for the IMSA Model Hub, contributing to research, strategy development, MEAL, and training needs
As an Advice and Intervention IMSA you will be an integral part of the delivery of the IMSA model pilot, a unique and exciting opportunity to demonstrate the crucial importance of independent advocacy for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking.
This is a UK-based role within our UK Advocacy Team and a fixed term contract for 41 months.
Requirements
Support the delivery of the IMSA Model Hub through the advocacy advice service
Respond and appropriately triage enquiries into IMSA Model Hub advocacy advice service
Provide tailored, specialist advice, advocacy and signposting in response to enquiries in a timely and efficient manner (Tier 1 of the IMSA model)
Manage a small caseload of clients to provide advocacy intervention, working together to overcome barriers and develop pathways forward (Tier 2 of the IMSA model).
Identify appropriate new referrals for IMSAs within the IMSA model pilot and/or the HfJ IMSA team (Tier 3 of Hope for Justice IMSA model).
Contribute to the delivery of the IMSA model advocacy advice service ensuring that:
Survivors know and understand their rights and entitlements in their own language
- Trauma-informed ways of working are applied
- Survivors needs are assessed, potential barriers are overcome, and clear pathways of support are identified in accordance with the Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards 2018
- Survivors are supported to access relevant legal and support agencies and systems
Support the Advocacy Advice Coordinator with the delivery and implementation of structures, processes, and best practice for the advice service, including contributing to funding, finance, and MEAL systems
Support the Advocacy Advice Coordinator and MEAL Manager to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the IMSA model advocacy advice service to internal and external stakeholders
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes in legislation and policy in relation to modern slavery and report on the impact of these changes on survivor outcomes
Adopt reflective practice approaches, identifying areas for improvement and seeking continued professional development opportunities
Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and in accordance with organisational policies, procedures, and practice
Support the Advocacy Advice Coordinator in the development and delivery of capacity strengthening information sessions for internal and external stakeholders
Establish good working relationships with key agencies and services within the sector to develop strong advice pathways and partnerships
Maintain accurate and up-to-date case management notes, ensuring that data protection and information sharing policies are upheld
Work collaboratively across the IMSA Model Hub and wider network of IMSAs to support best practice
Support the aims of the IMSA Model Hub and the IMSA project, promoting the benefits of independent advocacy and the opportunity to reform responses to survivors of modern slavery access across the UK