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About the Role

Seeking a committed, skilled, and compassionate advocate to join the Wathwood Hospital Advocacy service. This role involves working directly with individual patients detained under the Mental Health Act within a medium secure forensic setting, providing information, support, and representation to empower them in decisions about their care and ensure their views are heard.

Responsibilities

• Provide Generic Mental Health Advocacy and statutory Independent Mental Health advocacy to all qualifying patients.
• Enable eligible people with mental health problems to have their perspective recognised.
• Engage and maintain an efficient administration system for service evaluation.
• Raise awareness of advocacy, IMHA, and the service to other professionals, individuals, and agencies.
• Establish and maintain relationships of trust with patients.
• Work with individual patients to provide information, support, and representation in decision-making processes.
• Work with groups of patients to assist them in developing and expressing a collective point of view.
• Liaise with other professionals and services to 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 self-Advocate.
• Develop and agree targets and a work schedule with the Service Manager.
• Maintain detailed case notes and accurate statistical information using computerised systems.
• Provide written or verbal reports as requested.
• Make handwritten notes while meeting with patients or attending meetings.
• Add case notes electronically retrospectively.
• 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.
• Work independently on own initiative and prioritise workload.
• Participate in regular supervision sessions with the service Manager or Senior Advocate.
• Attend monthly team catch-up meetings.
• Work within the principles and policies of Together, the Service Specification, and the Contractual requirements of the service.
• Complete accredited training for Independent Advocacy Qualification, including the IMHA module.
• Undertake all necessary mandatory and job-related courses and learning activities.
• Participate in mandatory breakaway and physical disengagement training.
• Maintain professional boundaries in all aspects of work with patients.
• Uphold and practice Together’s organisational values.
• Represent the service positively with service users and other agencies.
• Adhere to Together’s Equalities policy.
• Maintain confidentiality with regard to service users.
• Adhere to Together’s Safeguarding policy.
• Adhere to Together’s policies regarding Confidentiality and GDPR.

Requirements

• Ideally 3+ years’ experience as an IMHA or within mental health services, general healthcare, or other public-facing roles (including customer service).
• A Level 3 National Advocacy Qualification (NAQ) or a willingness to work towards it within your first year in post.
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people using varied and adaptable communication approaches.
• Strong note taking, record keeping and time management skills.
• The ability to manage complex, sensitive and challenging situations with confidence, empathy and clarity.
• A DBS check is required for this role.
• Experience in supporting vulnerable individuals gained from paid work and/or voluntary and/or life experience.
• Understanding of the principals 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 services 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.
• Experience of working in an advocacy or care setting (Desirable).
• IAQ Level 4 in Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Desirable).

Skills

• Communication
• Note taking
• Record keeping
• Time management
• Empathy
• Confidence
• Clarity
• Email
• Word processing
• Liaison
• Negotiation
• Adaptability
• Resourcefulness

Location

• Health and Advocacy (H&A)

Work Type

• Part Time
• 22.5 hours per week

Experience Level

• Ideally 3+ years’ experience as an IMHA or within mental health services, general healthcare, or other public-facing roles

Education Level

• Level 3 National Advocacy Qualification (NAQ)
• IAQ Level 4 in Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Desirable)

Salary/Compensations

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

About the Company

• Wathwood Hospital Advocacy

Equal Opportunity

• To adhere to Together’s Equalities policy