Community Mental Health Advocate
Location
West Sussex | United Kingdom
Job description
Job Summary:
To be responsible for the provision of independent, professional mental health advocacy primarily within community settings across West Sussex and ensure that the views and needs of people with mental health issues are heard, respected and acted upon.
The Advocate’s role is to take action to help people say what they want, secure their rights and obtain the services they need. Mind in Brighton and Hove’s (MiBH’s) Advocacy Services work in partnership with the people they support and take their side.
Main Duties:
• To discuss and meet with individuals to determine their needs for support and representation, working creatively and flexibly to deliver positive outcomes
• To provide general information to individuals on mental health issues, including their rights, to ensure that they are clear about the options available to them and fully involved in decisions about their treatment and care
• To advocate for individuals at key decision making meetings about their care and treatment, for example, care reviews, assessments, housing and complaints meetings
• To liaise with a range of statutory and voluntary sector services to represent and progress individuals’ issues
• To manage an advocacy caseload, record accurate and professional case notes and ensure that individuals are kept informed of and involved in all aspects of the advocacy process
• To work to agreed referral processes, case working standards, monitoring systems and contractual arrangements and targets
• To fully understand MiBH’s Confidentiality Policy and able to explain it in straightforward language, at all times observing and respecting the individual’s right to confidentiality within the policy
• To contribute to the protection of individuals from the risk of abuse and harm to self and others, working in accordance with MiBH’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
• To work closely with other community advocacy and IMHA colleagues and with other MiBH services.
• To work as part of a team contributing to service developments, sharing success stories and suggestions for improvement to help shape the future direction of the service
• To work in accordance with MiBH’s Equality and Diversity Policies and Procedures and work proactively to ensure the service is accessible
• To ensure that monitoring information including equalities monitoring and satisfaction surveys are routinely collected and fed back to the organisation
• To promote self advocacy and assist people to self advocate as appropriate in line with Recovery principles
• To provide individuals with information about how they can feedback to the advocacy service and how to get involved with activities of MiBH, if they wish
• To build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders to promote the advocacy service and a shared understanding of advocacy
• To be proactive with regard to personal learning and understanding maintaining up to date knowledge of mental health and health and social care policy, local structures, legislation and other advocacy related issues
• To actively participate and contribute to ongoing learning and development through line management supervision, annual appraisal and undertaking agreed training
• To be mindful of the budget set for the provision of the service, implementing efficiencies and innovations which lead to improved performance
• To work with and support volunteers across all aspects of the organisation
Organisational Responsibilities:
• To work in accordance with MiBH’s aims, objectives and values
• To work in accordance with all MiBH’s policies and procedures
• To promote the work of MiBH and positive understanding, awareness and attitudes towards mental health
• To work flexibly to best meet the needs of the service which may include undertaking occasional evening and weekend work
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder will be expected to adopt additional tasks when required; these tasks will be in keeping with the general profile of the role.
A closing date and interview date will be added to our website once suitable applications have been received.
Job tags
Salary
£25.82k per annum
