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- Tasks: Support families and carers of those with complex mental health needs through advocacy and practical assistance.
- Company: Join EPUT, a compassionate organisation dedicated to empowering patients and their families.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, NHS discounts, training opportunities, and a chance to buy/sell annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in mental health while shaping a new role and building valuable relationships.
- Qualifications: Lived experience in caring or service use is essential; strong communication and organisational skills are a must.
- Other info: This role offers the chance to influence change and work closely with various key agencies.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Family and Carer Ambassador
The closing date is 14 October 2025
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.
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.
Main duties of the job
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
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Job responsibilities
1. Work with carers and families from admission to the unit to discharge.
2. Help carers / families understand the inpatient system and processes and be a source for high quality information that is easy to understand.
3. 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.
4. Empower families / carers to access information and to be part of planning (with CYP consent).
5. Have knowledge and networks of the local area to support carers and families with information and signposting.
6. 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.
7. Help families / carers raise concerns where necessary and take action to escalate those concerns if necessary.
8. 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.
9. Maintain accurate records and comply with local procedures for record keeping, confidentiality and security.
10. 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.
11. To ensure all public and patient contact with the office is of the highest professional standard.
12. To embed patient and public involvement at all levels of decision making.
13. Provide carer support to carers, friends and families of those admitted to the ward.
14. Ensure all 72 hour carer phone calls are completed and followed up.
15. Ensure all carers receive a copy of the wards carers pack, including our carer letter.
16. Invite carers to ward reviews.
17. Collating themes from the carer cards in reception to support development to the strategy and our service.
18. Lead on the monthly carers group, ensuring carers are invited and followed up.
19. Maintain professional boundaries with both service leaders and carers at all times.
20. Document carer input on the Carenotes system and ensure information is circulated to team.
21. Refer carers to Carer services and support.
22. Build links with local carer charities, such as Carers Support West Sussex.
23. 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.
24. Create a relapse prevention and support plan with the carer.
25. Initiate and follow up referrals to carer support.
26. Monitor the progress of the carer strategy and link into the triangle of care lead.
Promoting Rights and Signposting
1. Sharing information to support understanding and preparing for Care Plan Approach (CPA) meetings; Understanding and preparing for Care Education and Treatment Reviews (CETR).
2. Family and individuals rights, including legal frameworks (MHA, MCA, Human Rights Act, Child and Families Act).
3. The community teams and their roles (CYPS, CAMHS, IASS, CCGs).
4. Signpost to groups in their local area and on Social Media.
5. Information about key policies (eg. NICE, STAMP, Transforming Care).
6. 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
2. Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedures.
3. Participate in the staff appraisal process and to undertake for any staff you manage.
4. Participate in local induction programmes for new staff as required.
5. Comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.
6. Keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy.
7. 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.
8. Contribute to the learning environment conducive for students and other staff in training.
9. To contribute to the maintenance and development of the Trust nursing/AHP strategy.
10. To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the service.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
- NVQ III or equivalent level of experience
- Good general education with Maths and English to GCSE standard or equivalent.
Knowledge
- Lived experience as a carer of a person with mental health condition or illness
Skills/Experience
- Relevant previous experience of working in an administrative/secretarial environment.
- Previous experience of working in health care environment.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Family and Carer Ambassador employer: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family and Carer Ambassador
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to highlight your lived experience in your conversations with potential employers. This role values personal insights, so sharing your journey can create a strong connection and demonstrate your understanding of the challenges faced by families and carers.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the mental health sector. Attend relevant events or workshops where you can meet people who work in health, education, and social care. Building these relationships can lead to valuable recommendations and insights about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the key agencies and organisations that collaborate with Family and Carer Ambassadors. Understanding their roles and how they interact with families and carers will help you articulate how you can contribute effectively during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your passion for effecting change by engaging in community initiatives or volunteering related to mental health support. This not only enriches your experience but also shows your commitment to empowering others, which is crucial for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Family and Carer Ambassador
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Lived Experience: Make sure to emphasise your lived experience in your application. This could include being a carer, having worked on a ward, or being a service user. Clearly articulate how these experiences have shaped your understanding and approach to supporting families and carers.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Detail your proactive, compassionate, and detail-oriented nature in your CV and cover letter. Provide specific examples of how your strong communication skills have helped you advocate for others in the past.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the values of the Trust, such as Care, Learn, and Empower. Mention any relevant training or experiences that align with the role's requirements and the organisation's mission.
Professional References: Include professional references covering the last three years of employment, as personal or character references are not accepted. Ensure that your references can speak to your relevant skills and experiences related to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
✨Showcase Your Lived Experience
As a Family and Carer Ambassador, your lived experience is crucial. Be prepared to share personal stories that highlight your understanding of the challenges faced by families and carers of those with complex mental health needs.
✨Demonstrate Compassion and Empathy
This role requires a compassionate approach. During the interview, express your passion for supporting others and provide examples of how you've effectively communicated and advocated for individuals in need.
✨Highlight Your Organisational Skills
Being detail-oriented and well-organised is key in this position. Discuss any relevant experiences where you successfully managed multiple tasks or coordinated with various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
✨Prepare for Cross-Organisational Collaboration
Since the role involves working with different agencies, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborating across sectors like health, education, and social care. Share specific examples of how you’ve navigated challenges in these environments.
