Loss & Bereavement Specialist Worker

Salary: £27,000-£32,000 pro rata

Location: Advance Head Office Hammersmith & Women's centres across London, with co‑location at HMP Bronzefield

Hours: 21 hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term – March 2027

Employment Qualification: This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, satisfactory enhanced DBS check and Prison Vetting level EL2.

Responsibilities

Conduct a trauma‑informed, person‑centred assessment to understand the client’s emotional needs and the impact of loss due to imprisonment or contact with the criminal justice system, and identify practical and specialist needs.

Work with women to develop a support plan, providing information and knowledge about how to navigate possible changes in circumstances related to their children’s care, and offer crisis intervention and support during acute phases of loss/bereavement.

Liaise with the Prison Healthcare team, OMU, visits team and the Family Support Officer to facilitate interactions between women and their children/family members, ensuring emotional needs are met in custody and community via the Women’s centres.

Create a link between prison and the community, helping women navigate support services and positively reintegrate into their community upon release. Deliver a case‑work‑based approach together with a signposting and advice service, based in the community while offering drop‑in support in HMP Bronzefield for women approaching release.

Qualifications

• Experience working with bereaved individuals and providing grief counselling, with knowledge of relevant therapeutic modalities.
• Comprehensive understanding of the grieving process, experience with traumatic and complex grief, and knowledge of violence against women and its links to the criminal justice system.
• Proven ability and experience as a caseworker delivering trauma‑responsive interventions supporting resettlement and rehabilitation of vulnerable people in the criminal justice system, both in the community and in prisons.
• Knowledge of caseload management, record keeping, action‑plan focus and deadline adherence.
• Ability to work with a wide range of women, some of whom may be experiencing complex trauma or high risk of re‑offending.

Benefits

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro‑rata for part time), plus public holidays on top.
• Additional days off for International Women’s Day, religious observance and moving home.
• Perkbox – employee discount platform.
• Pension scheme.
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eye‑care scheme.
• Clinical supervision for front‑line staff.
• Refer a Friend Scheme – £250 for each referral who passes probation.
• Organisation‑wide away days.
• Thorough induction and training.
• Career development pathways.

Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding

Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability or special needs, please let us know and we will aim to accommodate.

We are committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero‑tolerance of harm. Our policies, procedures and practices promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all services. Staff undergo mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role.

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