Overview
As part of our commitment to expanding and diversifying our support work services, SARSAS offers a rewarding opportunity to join our team as a Specialist Support Worker. You will work with people who have experienced rape or sexual violence and may have multiple support needs. Our specialist support service provides one-to-one and group work support. You will hold a caseload of clients, providing emotional, practical and advocacy support for survivors with multiple support needs and/or external factors. Support may include housing, debt, employment, mental health support needs, managing trauma responses and daily coping tools and techniques. You will also carry out initial assessments for support and facilitate some group work.
Responsibilities
* Hold a caseload of clients and provide emotional, practical and advocacy support for survivors with multiple support needs.
* Offer one-to-one and group work support as part of the specialist service.
* Carry out initial assessments for support and facilitate group work for survivors of sexual abuse.
* Support clients in areas such as housing, debt, employment, mental health needs, trauma management and daily coping tools and techniques.
* Use liaison, advocacy and psychoeducational tools to empower clients and help them achieve positive outcomes in health, safety, relationships, confidence, employment and community integration.
* Develop knowledge of partner agencies and external pathways to support.
* Carry out needs and risk assessments to ensure clients are offered appropriate pathways of support.
* Be willing to travel regularly across Somerset and work independently from SARSAS hub spaces or community settings.
About you
* Experience of working with people who have experienced trauma and an understanding of the complexities of working with clients with multiple support needs.
* Passionate about working with survivors of sexual violence and knowledge of the impacts of trauma; awareness of barriers to accessing support.
* Strong personal skills to support and empower clients through liaison, advocacy and psychoeducational tools.
* Knowledge of partner agencies and external pathways to support.
* Ability to carry out needs and risk assessments and facilitate group work for survivors of sexual abuse.
* Willingness to travel regularly across Somerset and work independently from SARSAS hub spaces or community settings.
About SARSAS
SARSAS exists to relieve the trauma and distress and help rebuild the lives of survivors who live in Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and BANES, who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any point in their lives. SARSAS campaigns and raises awareness about rape and sexual violence to change the narrative and enable survivors’ voices to be heard. Partnership work with a range of agencies locally and nationally is a priority to enable social change. Our work is guided by feminist principles and a trauma-informed approach that keeps the effects of trauma at the forefront of our support.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone can bring their full, authentic selves to work. We actively encourage applicants with protected characteristics. We are committed to inclusive recruitment and selection processes, with reasonable adjustments available to support participation in the process. Applicants should highlight any adjustments needed to enable participation in recruitment.
Contract information
* Salary: £28,065 per annum
* Hours: 37 hours per week
* Based: Taunton (with travel throughout Somerset) up to 2 days per week working from home
* Contract: Permanent
* Applicants will undergo an enhanced criminal record check before employment starts
How to apply
Closing date for applications is Midnight on Wednesday 29 October 2025. Interviews will be held in person in our Taunton hub. For more information and to download an application pack, go to our website: https://www.sarsas.org.uk/get-involved/recruitment/.
If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@sarsas.org.uk or ring our Bristol office on 0117 929 9556 and speak to Laura Fitzgerald, HR Administrator.
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