Independent Advocate -Bank worker in London

About The Advocacy Project

We help people speak up and make decisions about their health, wellbeing and social care. We’re here to make sure people who are vulnerable because of their circumstance can understand their rights, make effective choices about their lives and voice their concerns. Some of the ways we do this include:

• Advocacy services that make sure people can express their wishes when decisions are being made about their care or wellbeing.
• User involvement projects that help organisations improve what they offer by listening to people who use their services.
• Local Healthwatch services, which act as health and social care champions for the areas they serve and give people a direct channel to share their feedback.
• Innovative Personal Health Budget projects that allow people to access items and services to improve their wellbeing.

Our services are independent, confidential, and free to those receiving them. Together, our teams are standing up for essential rights and supporting people to have a say on the issues that matter to them.

About the role

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Independent Advocate to join our team on a zero-hours contract. This role involves providing high-quality advocacy support across various disciplines, ensuring individuals have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. You will work with people in hospitals, care homes, their own homes, and within the community, supporting them to understand their rights and choices. The role requires travel across London. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the post holder will be required to visit CQC registered care homes and would be subject to government requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Provide independent advocacy under the Care Act 2014, supporting individuals to understand and exercise their rights.
• Act as an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA), representing individuals who lack capacity to make specific decisions.
• Undertake the role of a Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
• Support individuals through Rule 1.2 advocacy, ensuring their views are represented in court proceedings.
• Provide Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Work directly with clients, ensuring their wishes and needs are heard and respected.
• Maintain accurate records and adhere to relevant policies, procedures, and legislation.

General responsibilities

• Participate in team meetings and training.
• Participate in personal, team and organisational development.
• Contribute to monitoring reports.
• Keep to our policies, including health & safety, and risk regulations.
• Work to our mission, vision, and values.
• Carry out other projects and tasks as needed.

Person specification

We welcome applications from people with transferrable skills and qualities, and people with diverse employment histories and personal backgrounds.

Essential qualities and attributes:

• Willingness to travel across London for client visits.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload.
• Strong commitment to upholding individuals’ rights.
• Understanding of the role and responsibilities of an advocate.
• Understanding of issues faced by people with mental health conditions, physical health conditions and learning disabilities.
• Ability to listen and build trust, to encourage people to express their own views and to represent clients’ self-defined interests.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Good at working with a wide variety of people including commissioners, service users and colleagues.
• IT literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Commitment to working within The Advocacy Project code of conduct, equality and safeguarding policies.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative, to plan and prioritise your own workload.
• Willingness to promote The Advocacy Project and its services in line with our mission, vision and values.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Willingness and ability to travel across all London boroughs and surrounding areas as required by the service.
• Ability to undertake occasional journeys outside London, which may involve travel times of up to 2–3 hours each way.
• Flexible approach to working hours and locations.
• Ability to work independently and manage travel arrangements effectively.

Desirable knowledge, experience and qualifications:

• Experience of delivering different forms of advocacy (instructed and non-instructed; IMHA, ICAA, IMCA, IHCA) within a statutory advocacy service.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act / Care Act/DolS and other statutory legislation as it applies to advocacy.
• Knowledge of mental health sections and social care services, including current issues in policy and practice.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals in a health or social care setting.
• Understanding of the Accessible Information Standard.

Benefits of working for us

We’re committed to providing an empowering, flexible and supportive working environment for all our staff. Our employee benefits include 30 days annual leave (including up to 3 days between Christmas and New Year), participation in a pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, access to a free confidential counselling service, and an interest-free travel/bike loan. All our staff are supported to learn and develop in a variety of ways, including a monthly lecture series where we invite sector experts to talk to our staff on topical issues. We are a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer.