SOUTHALL BLACK SISTERS
VACANCIES
Working at Southall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters (SBS) operates a specialist advice and advocacy centre for Black and minority ethnic women fleeing gender-based violence and related violations of their human rights. We are nationally and internationally renowned for our work, which by its very nature addresses issues of multiple or intersectional discrimination, involving the simultaneous experience of race, gender and other forms of inequality. You will be joining a team of inspiring women, whose dedication has saved thousands of lives and continues to empower women to assert their fundamental human rights to justice, equality and freedom.
Southall Black Sisters is committed to maintaining a supportive working environment, where team members feel valued, empowered and safe. To that end, our employees benefit from:
- 25 days of annual leave (pro rata) excluding Bank Holidays, increasing by 1 additional day per completed year of service up to a maximum of 30 days
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including access to confidential support from BACP accredited counsellors
- A focus on continued learning and development through accredited training delivered by experts in their field
- A 3% employer pension contribution
Current Opportunities
Executive Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Responsible to: Management Committee via SBS Chair
Salary: £60k – £65k
Place of Work: Southall & Remote
Application Deadline: 07 February 2022 (5pm)
Interview Date: 15/16 February 2022
Southall Black Sisters is looking for an exceptional strategic leader with that mix of political vision and management & people skills which will ensure that the organisation retains and grows its iconic place in anti-racist, anti-fundamentalist, feminist politics, and provides an exemplary advocacy service to Black and minoritised women.
Purpose of post
- To provide strategic vision and leadership to the operation and development of Southall Black Sisters within the direction set by the Management Committee, both internally and externally.
- To take overall responsibility for SBS’s management and administration within the governance and accountability frameworks established by the Management Committee.
- To ensure SBS’s operational activities align with its objectives.
Application Process
To apply for this post, please email your CV, a supporting statement of no more than two pages, and Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form to hr@southallblacksisters.co.uk. Your supporting statement should evidence how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the job description and person specification.
Please include ‘Executive Director’ in the subject line of your email.
Due to the nature of our work, this post is open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1). We particularly welcome applications from Black and minoritised women.
Independent Domestic Violence Advocate x 2
Contract Type: 1 year FTC with possibility of extension
Hours: Full Time
Responsible to: Advocacy Service Manager
Salary: £26k – £29k depending on qualification and experience
Place of Work: Southall
Application Deadline: 31 January 2022 (12:00pm)
Interview Date: 03 February 2022
Southall Black Sisters is looking for 2 experienced Independent Domestic Violence Advocates to join our dynamic team in Southall to provide high-quality advice, support, and advocacy services to victims of domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence, including forced marriage, rape and sexual abuse, so-called honour crimes, and related issues such as immigration, asylum, and No Recourse to Public Funds.
You will assist women to access support under various destitution schemes, promote social inclusion, encourage independence, and develop the personal resilience of women using our advocacy service.
Working within a multi-agency framework, you will ensure women’s needs are met by encouraging engagement with a range of SBS and external services, keeping service users at the heart of all service delivery.
Purpose of post
- To provide high-quality and comprehensive advice, information, practical and advocacy support relating to domestic and other forms of gender-based violence perpetrated against Black and minoritised women and children.
- To assist with educational, developmental, policy and campaigning work arising from advice and casework.
- To promote the aims and objectives of SBS as a specialist organisation for Black and minoritised women and children.
Application Process
To apply for this post, please email a completed application form and Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form to hr@southallblacksisters.co.uk. Your application form must evidence how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the requirements of the job description and person specification.
Please include ‘Independent Domestic Violence Advocate’ in the subject line of your email.
Due to the nature of our work, this post is open to Black and South Asian women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1).
Interim Finance Manager
Contract type: 3 – 6 month FTC
Hours: Full Time
Responsible to: Executive Director
Salary: £36k – £40k (pa) depending on experience
Place of Work: Southall
Application Deadline: Applications to be reviewed and interviews held on a rolling basis
Southall Black Sisters is looking for an accomplished and fully qualified (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) Interim Finance Manager to join our team on a temporary basis. The role presents an exciting opportunity to maximise the organisation’s efficiency by automating and streamlining its finance and accounting systems.
Person specification
- Fully qualified: ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent
- Experience of management accounts, budgeting, and statutory accounts preparation
- Excellent Excel skills (Vlookups, Pivot Tables & Formulae)
- Knowledge of Charity SORP and reporting of Restricted Funds
- Knowledge of all aspects of small community organisation including Sales/Purchase/Nominal ledgers, cashbook, payroll
- Familiarity with Sage/QuickBooks Online would be advantageous
- 3 years post-qualification experience is desirable
Duties
- Preparation of monthly management accounts
- Balance sheet reconciliation
- Preparation of draft YE a/cs (April- March accounting year)
- Fulfilling statutory requirements
- Supervision of Finance Assistant
- Systems implementation – review and automation/streamlining of current systems
Due to the nature of our work, this post is open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1). We particularly welcome applications from Black and minoritised women.
Application Process
To apply for this post, please email your CV and Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form to hr@southallblacksisters.co.uk
Please include ‘Interim Finance Manager’ in the subject line of your email.
Testimonials from our staff and volunteers, past and present:
Vidya, Domestic Violence Advocate
The work of an advocate is challenging, to say the least, but it is also immensely rewarding. While the women who approach us for assistance come with stories of unspeakable cruelty and injustice, these are almost always tempered with touching accounts of kindness, strength and survival. SBS plays a significant role in bringing some relief to vulnerable women and children in times of crisis, and I am grateful to have had the chance to do the same.”
Radhika, Legal Policy & Campaigns Officer
Every day I play a part in helping survivors of abuse access safety, justice and support – whether that is changing the life of one woman by helping her seek redress for being abused and abandoned abroad, or of hundreds and thousands of women through our ongoing challenges to unjust and discriminatory policies which marginalise migrant women. Can you leave work every day saying you made a positive difference? I can.”
Biba, Volunteer
I have really enjoyed volunteering at SBS, as I have learnt so much from everyone in the office, and from all the tasks I have been given to do. I have learnt that even the mundane jobs such as filing play a vital part in keeping a woman safe from danger, and getting her the justice she deserves. Every day is a new challenge, and I leave grateful that I could do something that has made a positive change to someone’s life.
I can honestly say its one of the most interesting things I’ve done, I have met some wonderful people, and I would recommend volunteering at SBS to anyone who is up for a rewarding challenge.”
Natasha, Volunteer
As a volunteer, I have had many different roles: Admin Support – helping with the website, social media, reception. Advocacy Support – Refuge Searches for clients, case filing and upkeep. Client Support – Accompany clients to meetings at the Job Centre or to see their Solicitors.
Working with SBS has really helped me to put everything into perspective personally and professionally. Although I am only a supporting role, I genuinely feel that a win for SBS is a win for me.”
Courtney, Volunteer
Akshaya, Volunteer
It was also a positive experience to see all the staff members in SBS campaigning for the same course so strongly! I felt welcomed into the organisation by all the staff members including senior management. Everyone has also been accommodating of my needs as a students, giving up time to explain the policies and campaigns run by SBS.
I am very grateful for the placement where I had a great opportunity to learn more about the great work SBS carry out.”