At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and carers of those with complex mental health needs, providing advocacy and practical help.
- Company: Join Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, a compassionate and inclusive healthcare provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, excellent pension, staff discounts, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive community with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families and carers while shaping your role.
- Qualifications: Proactive, compassionate individuals with strong communication skills and lived experience are encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 30145 - 36843 £ per year.
Family and Carer Ambassador | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.
Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.
Previous applicants need not apply
As a Family and Carer Ambassador, you will provide practical and emotional support to families and carers of those with complex mental health needs.
You will also offer advocacy to ensure that the families / carers and patients’ needs and views are heard and acted on, whatever their communication needs are.
You will identify and address cross organisational challenges.
You will work closely with key agencies across the health, education, social care and voluntary sector; this will also include links with adult services where either there are requirements for transition planning to adult services or where the families / carers are receiving adult service support.
To be successful in this role, you must be proactive and compassionate, have a great eye for detail, excellent organisational skills and strong communication skills.
You must be passionate and sensitive about effecting change, and empowering patients, families and carers.
This is a new post; therefore, although having clear parameters and expectations, there will be opportunities to shape and influence the role and build and develop important relationships with stakeholders and partners.
Lived experience is a key aspect of this role.
What is lived experience?
It is the knowledge and understanding you get when you have personally lived through something.
Examples of lived experience
- being a carer to family or friends
- extensive experience of working on a ward
- been service users
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
- Work that wraps around your needs
Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
- Work with carers and families from admission to the unit to discharge.
- Help carers / families understand the inpatient system and processes and be a source for high quality information that is easy to understand.
- To work proactively with the allocated inpatient units.
Supporting communication processes between the clinical unit and carers/families; enabling units to create a compassionate and responsive approach to families and carers.
- Empower families / carers to access information and to be part of planning (with CYP consent).
- Have knowledge and networks of the local area to support carers and families with information and signposting.
- To be a point of liaison with the Unit on family and carer matters, specifically quality improvement initiatives to enable more robust and inclusive engagement / involvement.
- Help families / carers raise concerns where necessary and take action to elevate those concerns if necessary.
- Champion the role of “families / carers as partners” within units, supporting the families and carers to ensure their voice is heard and they are seen as equals in patients’ inpatient care pathway.
- Maintain accurate records and comply with local procedures for record keeping, confidentiality and security.
- To act as a champion for families, carers, patients and their interests and involve the public and patients in the policy development and decision-making.
- To ensure all public and patient contact with the office is of the highest professional standard.
- To embed patient and public involvement at all levels of decision making.
- Provide carer support to carers, friends and families of those admitted to the ward.
- Ensure all 72 hour carer phone calls are completed and followed up.
- Ensure all carers receive a copy of the wards carers pack, including our carer letter.
- Invite carers to ward reviews.
- Collating themes from the carer cards in reception to support development to the strategy and our service.
- Lead on the monthly carers group, ensuring carers are invited and followed up.
- Maintain professional boundaries with both service leaders and carers at all times.
- Document carer input on the Carenotes system and ensure information is circulated to team.
- Refer cars to Carer services and support.
- Build links with local carer charities, such as Carers Support West Sussex.
- Attend the locality Triangle of Care meeting, held quarterly, to represent the carers voice and review our carer involvement through the use of the Triangle of Care self- assessment.
- Create a relapse prevention and support plan with the carer.
- Initiate and follow up referrals to carer support.
- Monitor the progress of the carer strategy and link into the triangle of care lead.
- Promoting Rights and Signposting
- Sharing information to support understanding and preparing for Care Plan Approach (CPA) meetings; Understanding and preparing for Care Education and Treatment Reviews (CETR).
- Family and individual’s rights, including legal frameworks (MHA, MCA, Human Rights Act, Child and Families Act).
- The community teams and their roles (CYPS, CAMHS, IASS, CCGs).
- Signpost to groups in their local area and on Social Media.
- Information about key policies (eg. NICE, STAMP, Transforming Care).
- Signposting when they may need legal advice and how to go about this.
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of the post and the post holder may be requested to carry out any other duties which are appropriate to their post and banding.
The post may change over time to meet organisational requirements and the job description may be changed after consultation with the post holder at any time
- PROFESSIONAL, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT
- Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedures.
- Participate in the staff appraisal process and to undertake for any staff you manage.
- Participate in local induction programmes for new staff as required.
- Comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.
- Keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy.
- To be professionally accountable for the maintenance of standards and professional practice as set by Trust Policies/Procedures, and relevant professional codes of standards and guidelines.
- Contribute to the learning environment conducive for students and other staff in training.
- To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust nursing/AHP strategy.
- To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the service.
- This advert closes on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
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We think this is how you could land Family and Carer Ambassador | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Chelmsford
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
