At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team delivering impactful advocacy for those experiencing mental illness.
- Company: Join a supportive organisation committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic environment focused on continuous improvement and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified advocate with experience in managing high-performing teams.
The predicted salary is between 37406 - 40406 £ per year.
Location: Field-based (Wandsworth & Richmond)
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours
Salary: £37,406 plus £3000 London Allowance
About the role
We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Advocacy Manager to lead our Wandsworth & Richmond service. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a high-performing team delivering independent, person-centred advocacy that makes a real difference to people's lives. You’ll shape and develop services, drive quality and performance, and ensure people experiencing mental illness have their voices heard. You’ll be part of a supportive national network of managers—working collaboratively, sharing learning, and helping us continually improve how we deliver advocacy.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead, motivate and develop a team of advocates and trainees
- Deliver high-quality, issue-based advocacy aligned with legal frameworks and standards
- Oversee service performance, ensuring KPIs are met and outcomes are achieved
- Manage resources, caseloads and workforce planning effectively
- Drive service improvement, innovation and local business planning
- Ensure safeguarding, risk management and compliance are embedded in practice
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders, partners and local networks
- Lead on audits, reporting and continuous quality improvement
- Handle complaints and incidents with professionalism, ensuring learning is applied
About the service
The Wandsworth & Richmond Advocacy Service provides a broad range of statutory and community advocacy, including:
- IMCA
- IMHA
- Care Act Advocacy
- Community advocacy
You’ll lead a dedicated team of advocates, ensuring the service is responsive, effective and tailored to local community needs.
Who we’re looking for
- A qualified advocate (essential)
- An experienced people manager who can lead and develop high-performing teams
- Confident in managing performance, change, and complex situations
- Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and respond to competing demands
- Calm under pressure and able to navigate challenging situations
- A strong communicator, both written and verbal
- Knowledgeable about safeguarding and statutory advocacy frameworks
- IT literate, with experience using case management systems
- Able to travel across the service area
What success looks like
- Your team delivers high-quality, person-centred advocacy
- Services meet performance targets and demonstrate real impact
- Staff feel supported, developed and motivated
- Strong partnerships are built across the local system
- Continuous improvement is embedded in everything you do
An enhanced DBS check (Adults & Children) is required. This post is subject to safeguarding and compliance requirements.
Benefits
- Inclusive Culture: Join staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion.
- Wellbeing Support: Access our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and the Unmind mental health app.
- Recognition & Rewards: Enjoy discounts, cashback offers, and celebrate achievements through our PULSE platform.
- Flexible Working & Generous Leave: Starting at 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with options to buy or sell extra days.
- Learning & Development: Grow your career with structured onboarding and training opportunities.
- Financial & Family Support: Contributory pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits like season ticket loans and cycle-to-work schemes.
- Referral Bonus: Earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Diversity is important to us, and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services.
We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background- regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.
Becoming a truly anti‑racist organisation
We have an ambition of become a truly anti‑racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti‑racist statement. We have designed a multi‑year anti‑racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti‑racist organisation.
Advocacy Manager employer: Rethink Mental Illness
As an Advocacy Manager with us, you'll join a dynamic and inclusive team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the Wandsworth & Richmond community. We offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, professional development, and flexible working arrangements, ensuring you have the resources and recognition needed to thrive. With a strong commitment to diversity and continuous improvement, we empower our staff to lead high-quality advocacy services while fostering personal and career growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Advocacy Manager
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Rethink Mental Illness. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Advocacy Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Rethink Mental Illness. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Advocacy Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Rethink Mental Illness
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Rethink Mental Illness. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
