Independent Mental Health Advocate Wathwood Hospital Advocacy service in London

Wathwood Hospital Advocacy is seeking a committed, skilled and compassionate advocate to join our team. Are you a qualified Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) or passionate about becoming one? Do you want to make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients detained under the Mental Health Act within a medium secure forensic setting?

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: Ideally 3+ years’ experience as an IMHA or within mental health services, general healthcare, or other public-facing roles (including customer service).
• Qualifications: A Level 3 National Advocacy Qualification (NAQ) or a willingness to work towards it within your first year in post.
• Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people using varied and adaptable communication approaches.
• Organisation: Strong note taking, record keeping and time management skills.
• Professionalism: The ability to manage complex, sensitive and challenging situations with confidence, empathy and clarity.
• Safeguarding & Compliance: A DBS check is required for this role.

What You Will Do

As an IMHA, you will work directly with individual patients to:

• Provide information, support and representation.
• Empower them to participate in decisions about their care, treatment, legal rights and daily life.
• Ensure their views are heard and respected in all relevant processes.

Training & Development

You will be required to complete all mandatory training and job related learning activities. Please note: this includes annual breakaway and physical disengagement training, which requires a level of physical ability.

If you’re driven by compassion, committed to upholding people’s rights and ready to empower individuals at some of the most critical moments in their lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Part Time - 22.5 hours per week

£27323.51 per annum pro rata (basic salary) plus £620 per annum pro rata (geographical allowance)

Key Responsibilities

Job Purpose

• Provide Generic Mental Health Advocacy and statutory Independent Mental Health advocacy to all qualifying patients, including patients detained under the MHA 1983, conditionally discharged restricted patients, people subject to Guardianship under the Act or on Supervised Community Treatment and patients being considered for section 57 treatment.
• Enable eligible people with mental health problems to have their perspective recognised, respecting the multiple needs of the diverse client group and encouraging the widest possible access.
• Engage and maintain an efficient administration system that will meet the needs of the service in helping to evaluate the benefits of the service to the service users and commissioners.
• Raise awareness of advocacy, IMHA and the service to other professionals, individuals and agencies.

Job-Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships of trust with patients, to build rapport and engagement with the Advocacy service.
• Work with individual patients to provide information, support and representation in order to assist them in any decision-making process affecting their care, treatment, legal status or other aspect of their daily lives while in hospital.
• Work with groups of patients on a ward or in other forums to assist them in developing and expressing a collective point of view.
• Liaise with other professionals and services to express and promote the Advocacy and IMHA service.
• Support the Manager in providing training to ensure awareness and understanding of Advocacy and IMHA.
• Support patients to develop the skills needed to be able to self-Advocate.
• Develop and agree targets and a work schedule with the Service Manager that meets the requirements of the post and work to meet them.
• Maintain detailed case notes and accurate statistical information and other records for the purpose of information retrieval, service evaluation and casework using computerised systems.
• Provide written or verbal reports as requested.
• A requirement of the role is handwritten notes are needed to be made whilst meeting with patients or attending meetings. Case notes will need to be electronically added retrospectively.
• Be able to read out patients reports on their behalf in meetings, at short notice.
• Work as part of a team, to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to patients.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and prioritise workload while working as part of a team, with good communication with the management team.
• Participate in regular supervision sessions with the service Manager or Senior Advocate. This would include monthly team catch up meeting.
• Work at all times within the principles and policies of Together, the Service Specification and the Contractual requirements of the service (including security) and the Advocacy Charter.
• Successful completion of accredited training for Independent Advocacy Qualification in particular completing the IMHA module of the National Advocacy Qualification, during first year of employment.
• Undertake all necessary mandatory and job-related courses and learning activities.
• Maintain professional boundaries in all aspects of work with patients.
• Undertake such other duties or responsibilities, commensurate to the nature and grade of the post, as may from time to time be requested.

Generic Tasks

• Uphold and practice Together’s organisational values in delivering this role.
• Represent the service positively with service users and other agencies.
• Adhere to Together’s Equalities policy.
• Maintain confidentiality with regard to service users.
• Be aware of and adhere to Together’s Safeguarding policy.
• Be aware of and adhere to Together’s policies regarding Confidentiality and GDPR.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Essential

• Experience in supporting vulnerable individuals gained from paid work and/or voluntary and/or life experience.
• Understanding of the principles of advocacy.
• Understanding of the specific role, purpose and responsibilities of an Independent Mental Health Advocate.
• Understanding of discrimination and its effects.
• Experience of liaison and negotiation with health and social care professionals.
• Competence in the use of email and word processing software.
• Demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude.
• Able to be empathetic towards service users and create a trusting environment.
• Ability to work alongside individuals experiencing mental distress.
• Ability to work in partnership with service users.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries when working with service users.
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe environment.
• Ability to be adaptable and resourceful in overcoming challenges.
• Committed to work in ways which reflect Together’s values.
• Always safeguard the wellbeing of patients and colleagues.

Desirable

• Experience of working in an advocacy or care setting.
• IAQ Level 4 in Independent Mental Health Advocacy.