Part-Time 25hrs Forensic Advocate | Mental Health Advocacy in Enfield

Part time, 25 hours per week (full time option available)

Up to £29,000 FTE

Excellent benefits including Employer contribution to pension, Employee Assistance Programme, 30 days annual leave pro rata

Charity People are delighted to be partnering with Mind in Enfield and Barnet, a fast-growing charity in North London, to recruit a Forensic Advocate.

Mind in Enfield and Barnet provides much needed therapy, wellbeing support and advocacy services to people with mental health problems.

The Advocacy, Advice and Information department works to empower people and communities, and challenge stigma and disadvantage caused by Mental Health problems. They champion individual's voices, uphold their rights, and promote personal autonomy through the provision of high-quality information, advice, and advocacy support.

The Forensic Advocate will provide professional advocacy to all eligible patients. The role will ensure that patients voices are heard and respected, rights upheld, and facilitate positive engagement with ward staff, professionals involved in their care, treatment planning processes, and relevant meetings. This may be facilitated through attendance at patient's forums, ward meetings, working with patients on a one-to-one basis providing information, representation and support to develop self-advocacy skills; and developing new forums and forms of support.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver High-Quality Patient Advocacy: Provide professional, inclusive advocacy to inpatients and community-based clients, ensuring their rights are upheld and concerns are addressed through direct support, representation at clinical meetings, and regular engagement.
• Maintain Casework and Service Standards: Manage an active caseload, ensuring accurate and timely record-keeping, compliance with legal frameworks (e.g. Mental Health Act), and adherence to organisational standards and procedures.
• Develop Collaborative Partnerships and Outreach: Build effective relationships with ward staff, carers, peer advocates, and external agencies, coordinate monthly outreach clinics, and contribute to forums and community meetings to promote service integration.
• Support Training, Development, and Service Improvement: Co-develop training for peer advocates, staff, and carers, promote self-advocacy, participate in service development, and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and best practices.

The successful candidate will have some experience of working in a Forensic Advocacy role, as well as working in an Inpatient setting, and in an Advocacy role. You will have good knowledge of Mental Health Act 2007, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and other relevant legislation.

You also be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent multi-tasking and time management skills
• Ability to produce well -written reports and meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate clearly and assertively with a diverse range of colleagues and clients at all levels
• Be self-motivated
• Approachable and able to engage service users, placing boundaries when required
• Basic IT skills including Microsoft Office & Database Packages

This role is providing specialist advocacy for 12 Forensic Wards at Chase Farm Hospital and in community locations, covering six roles each with a 2nd advocate.

This is an on-site role.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.