Advocacy Jobs in West Midlands

Citizens Advice Wirral is a local charity that supports Wirral residents by providing advice, information, casework and social prescribing services. We assist clients with a range of issues including benefits, debt, employment, housing and life challenges that affect their health and wellbeing. Citizens Advice Wirral also actively works for change in the policies and practices of organisations that impact our clients - we are passionate about the difference our Research and Campaigns work can make to people’s lives.

Our values shape how we as an organisation operate and how we work with each other across all roles: Open and Honest, Professional, Empowering, Non-judgmental and Approachable. They apply to all areas of our advice-giving, our research and campaigns work and how we challenge discrimination and champion equality.

We are recruiting for a Help To Claim adviser to provide support to people making a new Universal Credit claim and work with them up until they receive their first correct payment. This role will involve working across a variety of channels including telephone, web-chat and video conferencing.

Working for Citizens Advice Wirral has a range of benefits including:

• A generous holiday allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days) plus bank
• holidays (pro-rata)
• Agile working, including up to 5 additional days of flexi leave each year
• (pro-rata) and both home and office-based days (role dependent)
• A contributory pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

To find out more and start your application please go to our website via the apply button.

Closing date: 5pm 28th April 2024

The role

As Welfare Officer you will work alongside four National Support Coordinators, ensuring our members receive welfare and benefit related information, advice, and guidance via telephone, zoom meetings, and email.

We are looking for someone to work 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. There will be the need to occasionally work during weekends and evenings and therefore there is a need to work flexibly when required.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience of working within a similar role.

A keen interest in or a knowledge/experience of charitable support provision is essential.

We are a looking for an innovative self-starter to join our small national team of 16 staff. You must be an excellent communicator, with experience of using databases, ability to meet deadlines and work on your own initiative. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we?

Myaware is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to the care and support of people affected by myasthenia. 

We are working hard to raise awareness, as it is a little-unknown condition. We provide support for people with myasthenia and their families, whilst offering advice and tips for living with the illness. 

We also fund the research that brings us closer to finding a cure as well as funding specialists nurses and advisors. 

Members of myaware have full access to a wide range of support services and events including access to specialist welfare and benefits advice.

Myaware supports people with myasthenia and their families.  We campaign for better medical services for people with myasthenia and work to inform medical professionals. 

The myasthenia’s are a group of neuromuscular conditions. They are rare but also manageable and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Myasthenia gravis, ocular myasthenia, and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome are autoimmune conditions whereas congenital myasthenic syndrome is caused by an inherited genetic fault. It is thought that there are approximately 20,000 people currently living with myasthenia in the UK. 

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance
• Perkbox account (global benefits and rewards platform)
• Group Life Assurance after 6 months of service 
• NEST workplace pension scheme
• Investment in your personal and professional development

We have an exciting opportunity to join us in making a difference!  

Citizens Advice Birmingham has partnered with Alzheimer's Society to deliver Welfare Benefits Advice for people living with dementia. This includes those with the condition and their carers. 

Are you an experienced adviser who has a strong background in the delivery of high-quality advice and a good working knowledge of welfare benefits? 

We are looking for an enthusiastic caseworker to join the team, to provide the following:

• You will undertake casework, assisting clients to access their entitlement to welfare benefits and other sources of financial help, up to and including tribunal representation.
• Advice will be delivered virtually according to the service user’s needs and preferences. This will include phone, secure email or secure video calls.
• Help to design welfare benefit information leaflets and upskill referrers, preparing and providing training on our referral processes.
• Working independently and building relationships with third sector colleagues will be important, as will the ability to achieve targets, and support the work of volunteers. 

Annual Leave:  25 days plus 8 bank holidays pro rata per annum from 1st January to 31st December. This rises to 30 days pro rata over the next 5 years

Previous applicants need not apply

Closing Date: Thursday 2nd May 2024 at noon

Interview Date: Monday 20th May 2024

As Complex Needs Practitioner you will engage young people in a variety of interventions, using a person-centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

Birmingham Young People’s Service provides holistic support services for young people 10 to 25 with needs related to alcohol and substance misuse, including those that are affected by a family members alcohol and substance misuse.

All Complex Needs Practitioners are expected to work days, evenings, and weekends across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, when required. Which will need a flexible working pattern from the successful candidate. The caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health, social care, education, youth provision, and criminal justice.

As an energetic and confident self-starter, you will have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g., NVQ Level 3 or above, Dip SW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies).  Alternatively, we will consider candidates with experience of working in the health & social care field, education settings, alcohol, and substance misuse fields with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.

Experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings is essential. You will also need a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills. We also work on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office.

We have two vacancies available. This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post-holder to work 37 hours per week. 

To apply, please visit our website and send a CV and covering letter explaining why you feel you are right for the role.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.
 
Aquarius is part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. We know that recovery can look and feel very different to each and every one of us. But we also know that if we provide the right support, at the right time, we can inspire recovery nationwide and that recovery is possible for everyone

An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen to join our Aquarius service in Birmingham. The Youth Participation Worker will facilitate and develop a Youth steering group, support aftercare for young people leaving treatment, coordinate and facilitate diversionary activities to support young people and their families.

The post holder will develop and support delivery of all volunteer programmes inclusive of Peer Support and Peer Mentoring Programmes, to include the recruitment, placement and retention of volunteers/peer mentors.  They will ensure that general service User participation and empowerment is implemented across the Service.

In addition, the post holder will:

• Actively recruit volunteers, peer mentors and facilitate Youth Steering group meetings.
• Work with the Senior practitioner & Team leader, to develop and implement a service user involvement strategy, including establishing and supporting a service user board.
• Develop and deliver volunteer, peer mentoring and service user involvement programmes in accordance with the Aquarius organisational framework.
• Support the delivery of aftercare provision.
• Assist colleagues with the coordination and delivery of diversionary activities.
• Keep accurate records and the necessary data for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• To provide written records and reports as required by the organisation.
• Be available to work days, evenings, and weekends when required, to meet the demands of the service and be willing to travel to various locations, as necessary.

An energetic and confident self-starter, you have a certificate in youth and community work e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies) or significant experience of working in a similar role with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care. As well as significant knowledge and experience of working with young people, you have knowledge of project planning and experience of working in the substance misuse sector. What’s more, you have a flexible approach, a commitment to the principles of confidentiality and excellent record keeping and Microsoft Office.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

To apply, please visit our website and send a CV and covering letter explaining why you feel you are right for the role.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.

Aquarius is part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. We know that recovery can look and feel very different to each and every one of us. But we also know that if we provide the right support, at the right time, we can inspire recovery nationwide and that recovery is possible for everyone

Independent Advocate

Job title: Independent Advocate – supporting parents and adults with learning disabilities.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week, working Monday to Friday.
Salary: £23,069 – £23,280 per annum depending on experience and qualifications.
Place of work: Birmingham, You will be based at CASBA’s brand new fully accessible office in Selly Oak. The role requires you to work in service users’ homes and community venues.

About us

CASBA is an advocacy charity in the south Birmingham area. We make sure the voices of people with disabilities are heard and their rights accepted. We empower people with disabilities to speak up for themselves or advocate on their behalf when needed.
Our team are passionate about the difference we make and are now looking for someone to join us as an independent Advocate.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who cares as much as we do about getting the voices of people with learning disabilities heard and their rights accepted. This pivotal role supports and champions people with learning disabilities during pregnancy and on becoming new parents to develop good parenting skills to ensure their children receive the appropriate support they need. You will enable people to make informed choices about decisions by providing them with accurate and accessible information, including the setting up and facilitating of workshops, training, groups, and activities.

You will also provide advocacy to ensure people with learning disabilities can secure their rights and entitlements, maximise their income, deal with crisis and work to prevent it, access services and the community, and be valued as citizens.

About the person

You will have:

• experience of working as an advocate in various settings ensuring their voices are heard and rights are accepted.
• experience of supporting people to navigate challenges they face and access appropriate services.
• understanding of issues faced by parents with learning disabilities and a commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity.
• ability to work using own initiative, prioritising work, case management and time management.
• excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt communication depending on the needs of the person.
• ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team setting.
• As part of your professional development in the role, the successful candidate will be supported to complete Advocacy qualifications as appropriate.

Why us

This is an exciting time to be joining CASBA, we have an ambitious five-year strategic plan and we have moved to fully accessible offices. We rebranded last year and have many exciting projects and partnerships on the horizon.

Citizens are at the heart of our work and CASBA is making an amazing impact in our local community. Join us to be part of it.

What we offer

We offer hybrid and flexible working, including the opportunity to work compressed hours and if required term-time only options, depending on the role. We also offer a generous holiday allowance (up to 30 days). Entitlement increases with service, and pension contributions.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all ethnicities and backgrounds, including people with disabilities.
We are dedicated to creating a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve. If you are disabled, have the skills, and or the experience to do the job, then we would love to meet you for an interview.

If you would like a conversation about the role before you apply, especially if you feel you don’t meet all the requirements, please call us to discuss. We know that certain sectors of society count themselves out of applying, so please give us a call before you do that.

To Apply

Please click apply now to complete our short application form and to submit your CV.
CASBA is an advocacy charity in the south Birmingham area. We make sure the voices of people with disabilities are heard and their rights accepted. We empower people with disabilities to speak up for themselves or advocate on their behalf when needed.

Closing date: 18-05-2024

You may also have experience in the following: Community Outreach Specialist, Client Advocacy Coordinator, Social Justice Advocate, Peer Support Specialist, Empowerment Advocate, Community Engagement Officer, Advocacy Liaison, Supportive Services Facilitator, Public Policy Advocate, Outreach and Education Coordinator, Client Rights Advocate.

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You will work with young people between the age of 17-25 with needs related to substance misuse, including those that are affected by their parent’s substance misuse. The purpose of the role is to engage young people in a variety of interventions, using a young person centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

Based in the Transitions team, you will support young people with multiple risk factors and substance use. Our Complex Needs Practitioners work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings. The caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health, social care, education and criminal justice.
 
A core part of the role will be working with young people and their families to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the young person’s wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to homelessness, family work, exploitation, physical and emotional health as well as substance misuse.
 
An energetic and confident self-starter, you have proven experience within health and social care, particularly working with young people and supporting them through mental ill health.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

To apply for this role, please visit our website via the apply button. 

Aquarius is a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. From 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship will be merging with the mental health charity Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius will become a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind will then be renamed to reflect the new, bigger and better organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary

About us:

Community ConneX is a campaigning organisation and a multi-project service provider working across West London. We support autistic people, people with a disability, and people and families experiencing barriers to live healthier, happier, and inclusive lives. We do this by ensuring their needs, rights and aspirations are met.

Advocacy 1st is a free, independent service provided by advocates who specialise in the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act.

Location: Remote based in Oxfordshire

Key duties:

· Recruiting, training and providing ongoing support to volunteers

· Working with the children and young people to assess their service requirements

· Working with stakeholders to raise awareness and recognise and identify care leavers and young people in need of the Independent Visitors and Care Leavers service

· Looking at opportunities to engage and work with services to identify care leavers and independent visitors

· Reporting and discussing all safeguarding concerns with the service manager

· Completing initial assessments and matching volunteers to young people

· Raising the profile of the Independent Visitors and Care Leavers service

Our ideal candidate:

· Has qualifications relevant to the role

· Has experience of working with children and young people.

· Is aware of legislation such as Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014, Children Act 1989, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC)

· Has excellent communications and writing skills, and the ability to tailor written and verbal communications to a wide range of different audiences

· Can maintain existing relationships and develop new relationships with clients, families, colleagues and volunteers

· Can generate reports and make presentations

In return we offer a range of benefits including:

· Pension contribution up to 5%

· Death in service insurance

· Employee assistance programme

· Bluelight Card

· Cycle to work scheme

· 23 days of annual leave + bank holidays (increases after 2 years of service)

· Gym membership

· Healthcash plan

· Professional development

We are committed to safeguarding and equal opportunities, and we guarantee an interview to all applicants with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the post.

We also want to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable facilities to participate in job applications or interviews to perform essential job functions. To support this, we are a Disability Confident committed employer.