At a Glance
- Tasks: Empower individuals by providing advocacy support and navigating complex systems.
- Company: Join Rethink Advocacy, a supportive organisation dedicated to mental health.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Passion for empowerment and experience in advocacy services required.
The predicted salary is between 26457 - 29457 £ per year.
Location: Field Based – Wandsworth & Richmond
Contract: Permanent, Full Time – 35 Hours
Salary: £26,457 (plus £3000 London Allowance)
DBS Check: Enhanced with Adults
Make sure every voice is heard. At Rethink Advocacy, we believe everyone deserves to have their rights respected, their views listened to, and their voice heard. As an Advocate, you'll play a vital role in empowering people to understand their options, navigate complex systems, and influence decisions that affect their lives.
This is an opportunity to join a dedicated advocacy team supporting people across Wandsworth and Richmond. Working independently in the community, you'll meet people in a variety of settings including hospitals, care homes, supported living services, secure facilities and people's own homes. You'll be trusted to manage your own diary, organise client visits and deliver outstanding advocacy support where it matters most.
About The Role
As an experienced or qualified Advocate, you'll manage your own caseload and provide statutory and non-statutory advocacy, focusing on IMCA and Care Act cases. You'll work alongside people who may be facing some of the most important decisions of their lives, helping them:
- Understand their rights and choices.
- Have their views represented and heard.
- Access information in a way that works for them.
- Participate in care, treatment and support decisions.
- Navigate legal and health and social care frameworks.
- Build confidence and develop self-advocacy skills wherever possible.
No two days are the same. You'll balance client meetings, report writing, safeguarding responsibilities, promotion of advocacy services and collaborative working with professionals and stakeholders across the local area.
What You'll Be Doing
- Managing a diverse and rewarding advocacy caseload.
- Delivering both instructed and non-instructed advocacy.
- Supporting people to understand and exercise their rights.
- Preparing high-quality reports and case records.
- Identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
- Promoting advocacy services to professionals, communities and service users.
- Participating in reflective practice, supervision and ongoing development.
- Supporting volunteers, students and trainee advocates where required.
What We’re Looking For
We're looking for someone who is passionate about empowerment, inclusion and making a genuine difference to people's lives.
You’ll Have
- A Level 2 Award in Independent Advocacy and willingness to complete the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification, or an existing Level 3 National Advocacy Qualification or Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
- Experience delivering advocacy services in a paid or voluntary capacity.
- Knowledge of advocacy principles and relevant legislation.
- Experience managing a caseload effectively and independently.
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
- A person-centred approach and the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and with a range of communication needs.
- Strong organisational and IT skills.
- The ability to travel throughout the Wandsworth and Richmond area and occasionally elsewhere in England for work-related activities.
Why join Rethink Mental Illness?
You'll be joining a supportive organisation that values professional development, reflective practice and continuous learning, while making a real impact in the lives of people affected by mental illness and other complex circumstances.
Why Work With Rethink Mental Illness?
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that when you feel supported, you can make the biggest difference. That’s why we offer a range of benefits to help you thrive:
- 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 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 LGBTQIA+, people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation
We have an ambition of becoming 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.
Advocate employer: Rethink Mental Illness
At Rethink Mental Illness, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment where every employee can thrive. Our commitment to employee wellbeing is reflected in our comprehensive benefits package, including access to a Wellbeing Hub, flexible working arrangements, and generous leave policies. With a strong focus on professional development and a culture that values diversity, we empower our team members to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve within the North East Prisons.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Advocate
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Rethink Mental Illness!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Rethink Mental Illness, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Rethink Mental Illness or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Advocate
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.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Rethink Mental Illness:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Rethink Mental Illness! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rethink Mental Illness
✨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.
