Advocate Sutton resilience Project
Job Description
Post: Advocate
Reporting to: Business Development Manager
Hours: 24 hours per week
Office-Base: Sutton office
Salary: £14.29 per hour = £17,833.92 annual salary for 24 hours a week
Contact: isaac.ngugi@advocacyforall.org.uk
Summary
This three-year pilot project, to deliver a coordinated Advocacy Resilience and Financial Wellbeing Service supporting adults recovering from mental health crisis and experiencing financial hardship, mental health challenges, or risk of homelessness.
AfA will provide a dedicated Advocacy Resilience Officer to support adults moving from detention under the Mental Health Act, discharge from Community Treatment Orders, or stepping down from statutory advocacy. Support (for up to two months) will include:
• Regular face to face sessions to improve Wellbeing support post crises
• Supporting clients to understand financial pressures and develop strategies
• Support clients in finding sustainable housing options
• Support clients to develop their confidence and self-advocacy skills to be more resilient
Referring clients to mental health, counselling, and social prescribing services where needed
Support individuals to move from crisis intervention to sustainable recovery and stability
This new service will holistically support individuals to have financial and mental health resilience at a time where many people are struggling, at times through no fault of their own. This intervention will stabilize individual’s postcrisis, reducing repeat statutory intervention and breakdown.
About Advocacy for All
Advocacy for All is a locally rooted advocacy organisation with a strong history, which exists to give people a voice through one-to-one advocacy and self-advocacy groups. We believe that Bigger Voices = Better Lives.
Our approach is person-centered, empowering and rights-focussed. We place a strong value on supporting people to be as independent as possible. We believe that being fair, valuing diversity and involving people are extremely important.
Advocacy supports clients to express their views, assisting them in safeguarding their rights and ensuring that those who are particularly vulnerable or excluded have an opportunity to take forward issues which are of importance to them.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• To provide holistic short term 1-1 advocacy support to help people who use the service, to achieve positive outcomes
• Enable people to explore their thoughts and feelings, identify key problems and work towards smart goals
• Help people access community services, especially housing and mental health services
• Support people to understand and manage their housing options
• Support people to develop strategies for cost-of -iving crisis and money management
• To work alongside the wider Advocacy for All team
• Work in partnership with other local charities and agencies
To use own initiative to make links with local and regional organisations, in order to promote the project and the rights and choices of people using the service
• To support with responding to enquiries.
• To support with the production of promotional materials for the project
• To maintain records, databases and files, as needed.
To ensure that all discussions and meetings concerning the client are focussed on their needs and aspirations. To involve people in discussions about their support in meaningful and appropriate ways.
To communicate in such a way that the individual has a clear understanding of their rights & responsibilities, and are aware of what support is right for them.
To work with each person / group identified who requires support to meet his or her individual needs. Support all individuals in a way that promotes dignity and respect.
To empower individuals to challenge situations where they are not being offered adequate support, in order to foster independence and self-management in their ongoing mental health journey.
• To travel within the Sutton borough, as the needs of project dictate.
• To support the ongoing development of the project
• To have an overview of the self advocacy projects in the borough
• To work in line with Advocacy for All’s policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements Desirable Requirements
Education and Training
• A good standard of education to at least NVQ Level 3/A-level, or equivalent.
• A willingness to undertake training and continuing development.
• Formal advocacy-related qualification or training.
• Learning disability-related qualification or training.
Knowledge and Experience
• Experience of supporting people with mental health difficulties
• Understanding of advocacy
• An awareness of the needs of people with mental health issues
• Experience of using outcomes frameworks to measure progress
• An awareness of the importance of data protection and GDPR.
• An awareness (and a commitment to) the importance of equal opportunities.
• An awareness of adult safeguarding.
• Experience of working in an office environment and experience of home working.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective administrative systems.
• Experience of creating promotional material.
Ability
To independently manage a caseload - working with learning disabled adults using self-advocacy, in order to identify and make changes which will support their overall mental health and wellbeing.
• To recognise the importance of professional boundaries and clear guidance.
• To multi-task, manage own workload and meet deadlines in a busy environment where lone working might be required.
• To use Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint.
• To network and liaise with professionals, external organisations, and members of the public.
• To learn new things and be adaptable to changing circumstances.
• To work productively as part of a team and under own initiative in a lone-working role.
• To work flexibly and outside of office hours, as required.
• To travel freely across the Sutton borough, preferably with a full, clean UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.
• To promote AfA and its values.
• To represent AfA and the project at events.
• To maintain and manage social media sites of various natures.
• To produce newsletters, e-bulletins and other publicity materials to a high standard.
Communication
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• An ability to respond to enquiries in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Able to keep calm under pressure and prioritise accordingly.
• Familiarity with Zoom and online facilitation.
• An awareness of person-centered working.
• A commitment to innovation and a comfort with exploring new technologies.
• An ability to network and foster collaboration with outside organisations, to further develop the project