Development Worker/Social Advocacy in Coventry

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About The Team We Are Recruiting To

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. We have a simple vision and strategy that defines what we are trying to achieve, our purpose and our approach which underpin the principles of Adult Social Care, and we continue to work in support of this.

In a simple sense all our work, at whatever level should continue to support the strategy of: 'Providing support, in the least intrusive manner possible, based on the assets, resources and abilities that are available to people'.

What is the job role?

The Pod team are committed to working in ways that are rights based, collaborative, creative, dynamic and personalised. The Pod have asserted National influence through work with TLAP, Public Health England, National Development Team For Social Inclusion In Mental Health, Local Government Association and presenting to the Health and Social Care Committee in Parliament. We aim to secure fast, firm and sustainable outcomes.

You will:

• Work alongside people referred from Secondary Mental Health Services —people living with severe and enduring mental ill‑health or a mental health crisis.
• Be a social advocate and social broker—linking in the Law Centre, Trade Unions, community groups, local activists, entrepreneurs, artists, and the movers and shakers of Coventry.
• Keep roles clear, timeframes honest, and decisions inclusive and transparent, always keeping the citizen at the centre.
• Use Statutory Assessments as a framework for open, useful conversations that build understanding and better outcomes.
• Get involved in citywide social activism like Time Union and other projects that connect people, their assets and passions, and enable change for the common good.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

You do not need a professional background in mental health or social care. Most of our team didn't either—so please don't let that put you off. Lived experience of severe and enduring mental ill‑health is a desired qualification. We also value experience from allied areas like trade unions, the arts and cultural industry, advocacy, or community development (paid or voluntary). These are strong foundations for a Development Worker/Social Advocacy role.

You'll be great at this if you:

• Enjoy one‑to‑one work with people who want to make changes in their lives.
• Naturally assure power sits with those people.
• Are comfortable working in multi‑disciplinary teams and with community organisations/social activists.
• Can spot and research opportunities in culture, leisure, education across Coventry that match someone's goals.
• Are confident with ICT, including databases.
• Communicate clearly, ask the right questions, negotiate, and capture information accurately.
• Can juggle competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.
• Have awareness of the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Health Act, and good‑practice guidelines.

Please note that for internal candidates, secondments will be considered. If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities. If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package.