Independent Mental Health Advocate

J ob  D escription

Job  Description

Job Title:

Salary :

Independent Mental Health Advocate

£24,906.14

 - £27,335.59

(FTE)

Dependent on qualifi
hours

cations and  pro -rata based on 35

Immediate Supervisor:

Group Crisis & Advocacy Services Manager

Hours

Full and Part Time

Location:

Staff Benefits:

Any Special Conditions
of Service:

The Mind Wellbeing Centre, Drake Street, Rochdale  other
venues as necessary.

25 Days Annual Leave, rising with extended service to
32 days per year, plus statutory bank holidays pro rata
Auto -enrolment Pension scheme with 3% contribution
from the organisation
Within reason, we offer Flexible working arrangements
to help balance work and personal commitments.
We offer ongoing training and development
opportunities
We are committed to providing wellbeing
opportunities in support of staff, including an
Employee Assistance Programme.

All service delivery will model the belief that we all
have the potential to make positive change and to lead
meaningful and purposeful lives.
All staff will contribute to the ongoing development of
an ambitious and inspirational culture and provide hope,

empowerment and choices that support individuals to
thrive and reach their full potential.

To support this we embrace our values of:

Open  – We reach out to anyone who needs us.

Together

 – We are stronger in partnerships.

Responsive

 – We listen, we act.

Independent

 – We speak out fearlessly.

Unstoppable

 – We never give up .

Summary  of Main Duties

and Objectives

of  t he Job :

Rochdale and District Mind have held the Secure Advocacy contracts for Prospect
Place, Tatton and CAMHS (Fairfield Hospital) for over 16 years. Having held the
contract for such a prolonged period is a testament to the level of service we provide
and the staff working within the service. Currently one of our team has been
promoted to a group manager role and one has secured full time work within an NHS
setting. In the past the units were covered separately by two advocates – currently
logistics have changed which require we are in 3 separate locations concurrently –
hence 3 staff. We have been informed the contract will be until at the least April 2027.

The advocacy service has a base at the Wellbeing Centre however a significant
amount of the advocates time will be working upon the units. We have a cloud-based
database for case-notes which greatly helps in allowing flexible working.

Rochdale and District Mind are willing to train and support the right candidate to
achieve the Advocacy Qualification as we consider our core values to be the most
important aspect when supporting patients detained in hospital. The successful
applicant wil

l:

1.  Provide statutory support as defined by the MH Act to detained patients

across a range of settings

2.  Follow a rights

-based approach supporting patients

3.  Attend meetings with or on behalf of patients relating to their care whilst in

hospital

4.   Record case -notes in accordance with agreed timescales

5.  Proactively approach patients upon units to offer support.

6.  To be able to evidence Rochdale & District Mind’s values at all times, which
underpin Rochdale & District Mind’s mission to ‘ensure that people do not
face mental health issues alone and can lead their lives free from stigma and
discrimination’ by being op
en, collaborative, responsive, independent and
unstoppable.

Responsibilities

:

1.  To work within our policies and procedures for maintaining safeguarding
principles whilst working with service users, volunteers and staff, with
support from your line manager and the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

2.  To maintain an up to date work plan and to regularly meet with line manager

for supervisions, appraisals and reviews as necessary

3.  To undertake any duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature, as may
be determined by the CEO from time to time in agreement with the post
holder and after consultation.

General principles for all Mind staff

:

1.  To promote the empowerment of people who experience mental health

 and

emotional wellbeing

 issues and to help them speak out.

2.  To support the active participation of mental health
wellbeing  service users in the services they receive.

and emotional

3.  To practice anti

-discriminatory behaviour and to adhere to Rochdale and

District Mind ’s objectives and policies in the delivery of all

its  services.

T hese responsibilities are subject to annual review and may need to be adjusted in
line with service developments.

Prepared by

Frank Manning

Date

19/2/2026

Agreed by  Post holder

_________________________

  Date

____________

Supervisor

_________________________

  Date

____________

Chief Officer

_________________________

  Date

____________