Advocacy Worker (Children and Young People)
Job Type: Temporary 18 hours per week
Location: Northumberland
Salary: £14 per hour
We are on the lookout for a dedicated Independent Mental Health Advocate to join our team. This role involves providing confidential and empathetic advocacy services to children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld.
As part of this role, you will work in close collaboration with the management team, ensuring that our services not only meet, but exceed the stipulated contract specifications. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of looked after children and young people, championing their rights and advocating for their mental health needs. Join us in making a positive impact in our community.
Day-to-day of the role:
- Undertake advocacy work in line with practice guidelines, relevant legislation, and contract specifications, ensuring a high standard of direct service delivery.
- Work with children and young people within their care, education, and treatment settings, through various forms of intervention.
- Inform children and young people of their rights and empower them to access these rights.
- Work towards agreed outcomes, presenting options, taking instructions, and working to an agreed action plan.
- Produce written or verbal representation to ensure the views of the child or young person are heard and considered in decision-making.
- Maintain records in line with recording guidelines.
- Engage with professionals and agencies to facilitate issue resolution and raise advocacy awareness.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of training and learning opportunities related to advocacy.
- Assist with data collection and reporting as required.
- Take shared responsibility for personal supervision and continuing professional development.
- Promote and model good practice in upholding the rights of children and young people.
- Share key case stories and practice examples to support wider storytelling, fundraising, and policy work.
- Challenge discrimination and prejudice, and promote respect, dignity, fairness, and diversity.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- At least 1 year of UK Experience in Mental Health, advocacy or a related field.
- Professional qualification in advocacy, social care, counselling, youth work or other relevant field.
- Knowledge of children's rights and relevant legislation.
- Ability to work from home and have access to a motor vehicle, to travel widely across service areas to meet demands of the provision (Some areas may include remote locations without easy access to public transport)
- Willing to undertake an enhanced criminal records check (DBS) Children & Adults (inc Barred list).
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality data protection; and child & adult safeguarding procedures.
- Ability to listen to and communicate effectively with children, young people and others.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary.
- Holiday pay.
- Free training and development.
- Supportive team environment.
- Making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.
To apply for the Children's Advocate position, please submit your CV detailing your relevant experience for this role.