Independent Advocate recruitment

Contract Type

Permanent, Maternity Cover and Sessional contracts available (all permanent posts are subject to project funding)

Hours

Variable - full, part time and sessional posts available

Up to full time (37 hours per week)

Application deadline

12 noon on 31 July 2020

Interviews held:

12 August 2020

Based

Newcastle city centre

Salary

£23,573 - £26,999 - depending on experience and qualifications

Employer

Connected Voice

Connected Voice is a charity and the principal voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation for Newcastle and Gateshead. Our mission is to support the development of voluntary and community action that is effective, sustainable and brings about positive social change. Connected Voice Advocacy (formerly Advocacy Centre North) is a service delivered by the charity and provides a free, independent, high quality and ethical advocacy service.

We are seeking to recruit an Independent Advocate to join our highly motivated and experienced team. We provide high quality, independent advocacy to support adults with a range of health and social care needs to enable them to take action to say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need.

Independent Advocates can support both community and statutory advocacy services, providing a range of advocacy services in relation to health and social needs under the Mental Health, Mental Capacity and Care Acts and/or advocate for adults in the community in vulnerable circumstances.

Vacancies include full time, part time and sessional work in the following:

Statutory advocacy – providing independent advocacy under the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and Care Act (Relevant Person’s Representatives, IMCA, IMHA and ICAA roles). Currently hold contract to deliver roles for Gateshead Council. This is available on part or full time post.

Bespoke advocacy packages – providing a range of statutory and non-statutory roles for local authorities, case managers, and hospital trusts. Roles include Relevant Person’s Representative, IMHAs, community advocates. Examples include IMHA to patients in specialist autism unit, child protection or court of protection. This is a part time or sessional post.

Families through Crisis – providing community based advocacy for families in Newcastle who are at a point of crisis who might be otherwise unable to engage with services that can support them (trigger points: benefit sanctions, sudden job loss, eviction or threat of eviction, family crisis). They may have low level mental health difficulties (diagnosed or undiagnosed) and be in a position where some intervention and support can move them towards resolution and a more stable position. This project is delivered in partnership with North East Law Centre and Changing Lives, which provides advice and practical support. This is a 3-day a week post.

Health and Care Advocacy – providing community based advocacy for individuals aged over 18 living in Newcastle and Gateshead who are facing a specific issue in an area of the health and social care systems, who belong to the following groups (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community/Mental Health needs/Learning Disabilities/Physical Disabilities/Older people/Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Transgender). This is a full or part time vacancy.

Sessional Advocates – We also are interested in adding to our team of sessional advocates.