VoiceAbility are recruiting a full-time advocate to join our Peterborough team. VoiceAbility supports people who face disadvantage or discrimination to have a voice that counts. Providing advocacy and user involvement services across England, VoiceAbility is a growing organisation working with people who are vulnerable or marginalised to raise their voices and have their rights respected.
About the role:
Advocates support people who may be marginalised or vulnerable to speak up and be heard. Their work strengthens voices, supports human rights and changes lives. Advocacy can be vital for people who cannot speak up for themselves, or people who feel they do not have the power to do so. Advocates work in the front line delivering positive outcomes for the people they support. Advocates will support and enable service users’ understanding of their options. Advocates empower individuals to communicate their views in decision making processes, supporting them to make challenges when necessary and asking pertinent questions on the person’s behalf where they are unable to do so for themselves.
Salary: £21,000 - £26,500 Per Annum – Starting at £21,000 depending on Qualifications. Future scope to earn up to £28,000 subject to qualifications and performance.
Location: Temporarily homebased due to Covid-19 with travel across Peterborough to care homes, hospitals, and clients’ homes. Following temporary homeworking, office based in Peterborough with travel across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to care homes, hospitals, and clients’ homes.
Hours: 37.5 Full time role
Contract Type: Permanent
Benefits: 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays; 5% employer pension & 3% employee contribution; Salary sacrifice pension scheme; Separate Life Assurance Cover; Staff discount scheme including supermarkets, fashion, restaurants, cinemas, holidays and much more; Discounted Gym Membership; Cycle to Work; Employee Assistance programme; Supportive working environment fostering a good work/life balance; Support with professional development.
About you:
• Be passionate about empowering and enabling individuals to have their wishes, feelings, beliefs, and needs taken into account when decisions are made about their care
• Demonstrate excellent verbal, listening and written communication skills
• Have the ability to engage with people with complex needs and communication difficulties
• Be experienced in influencing and working with health and social care professionals, legal services, care staff, family members etc.
• Be able to build good relationships with clients, health and social care professionals, legal professionals and carers
• Be able to identify and act appropriately where issues of safeguarding individuals arise
• Have strong IT skills to accurately record information in line with policy and current data standards
• Be experienced in working with marginalised and vulnerable adults and/or children
• Be able to research complex and sensitive issues independently, using case law, national policy and guidance for advocates to work for resolution of issues
• Be able to work to tight and changing deadlines
• Be able to work independently
• Hold a full, clean UK driving licence and have access to own transport. There is travel involved in the role.
Desirable skills or experience:
• Hold or be working towards Independent Advocacy Qualification.
• Knowledge and experience of the, Care Act (2014) and Mental Capacity Act (2007),The Principles of Human Rights and Advocacy, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Mental Health Act (1983, revised 2007).
NB If you don't already hold the Independent Advocacy Qualification, it is a requirement of that you complete this within 12 months of commencing employment.
You may have experience of the following: Advocacy, Vulnerable Adults, Social Work, Healthcare, Policy, Legislation, Support Work, Charity, Third Sector, Advice & Guidance.
How to Apply: To apply for this role, please complete the online application form using the criteria in the person specification and upload your CV detailing your work history. NB CV's will not be used to short list.
Closing date for applications: Friday 11th December 5pm
Assessment/ test: 17th December
Interviews: To be held online via Teams 21st December
Equality and Diversity Statement
VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.
Our mission is strengthening voice, supporting rights, changing lives
Our vision is of a society in... Read more
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for a capable individual to coordinate and provide support for refugees arriving in Suffolk under the UK Government’s resettlement programme.
Suffolk Refugee Support has provided intensive support for these families and individuals during their first year and beyond. Since 2016 when the programme began, we have welcomed 30 families to Suffolk. We are committed to providing support for at least four more new families arriving in 2021, and continued support for those who are already rebuilding their lives here.
The Refugee Resettlement Coordinator / Advice Worker will be responsible for leading on aspects of the programme, including: negotiating with statutory and voluntary service providers, offering a supportive and welcoming environment and ensuring that all partners are working to the same plan.
This role involves supporting both very newly arrived families in their first year of arrival as well as follow up interventions for families who have been in the UK for longer under the refugee resettlement programme.
You will be responsible for coordinating, planning and delivering case work support to refugees on the programme, including proactively engaging them in positive activities, referring them to other organisations and promoting wellbeing. Interventions will be aimed at ensuring that refugees gain independence, learn English and other skills and feel integrated and connected in their new environment.
You will be working alongside one other part-time Advice Worker and a small group of volunteers, under the overall guidance of the Advice Service Manager.
The post holder will be required to support individuals, families, children, women and young people from very diverse backgrounds and engage them equally irrespective of political, religious or other affiliations. The post holder must act professionally at all times and uphold the values, ambitions and aims of Suffolk Refugee Support.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Service Delivery
- To lead on the work of SRS on this scheme, coordinating the support delivered and liaising with both the contract lead at Suffolk County Council and the regional lead at the East of England LGA, and with all stakeholders involved in the delivery of support to the programme’s clients in Suffolk.
- To represent the interests of resettled refugees in Suffolk to ensure the best outcomes for them – paying particular attention to ensuring they integrate into their new environment and become self-sufficient as soon as possible.
- To devise and implement written comprehensive action plans for welcoming new refugees under this scheme, including: preparation prior to arrival, support for the first year and beyond.
- To plan and develop, in conjunction with the Advice Service Manager, the delivery of key interventions for resettled refugees who have been in the UK for longer than a year.
- To manage a team of volunteers to provide additional support to clients.
- To help facilitate and organise the attendance of clients at appropriate ESOL classes throughout the year.
- To manage the petty cash for the programme to ensure all monies are paid in accordance with the policies of the programme and SRS and that accurate and full records are kept.
- To manage the transition of families from intensive support towards independence.
- To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities and to work to improve them using innovative and flexible methods.
- To provide regular updates on the progress of the scheme to staff, managers and trustees of SRS.
- To liaise closely with Suffolk County Council and other interested parties to ensure all progress of the project is reported according to the Home Office requirements. This will include incorporating changes to the programme as they are announced.
- To work with partner agencies to ensure support is appropriate and complete and that referrals to other agencies achieve full engagement from clients. This will involve attending planning meetings to represent clients’ views and to work towards more effective systems and processes for clients in partnership with other agencies.
- To attend external meetings and to positively and professionally represent Suffolk Refugee Support.
- To occasionally contribute to newspaper, radio and television features and SRS newsletter articles re. the scheme and its clients (in liaison with SRS’s Communications Officer) to promote public awareness and positive perceptions.
- To take responsibility for keeping up to date with changes to legislation, policy and rules affecting asylum seekers and refugees, including attending training as applicable.
- To contribute to other SRS work including weekly team meetings and activities as requested by Management, such as general translation support, assisting with external SRS events or other similar activities.
- To work in line with SRS’s policies and codes of conduct
Client Facing Work
- To deliver a broad range of advice in areas including setting up benefits, securing school places and English classes, accessing health services, encouraging and supporting participation in leisure activities, social groups, meaningful engagement opportunities, training events and courses, and supporting people into volunteering.
- To organise and deliver information sessions on living in the UK, parenting or safeguarding issues, and addressing other needs as identified.
- To work in a motivational way with individuals and families to overcome hurdles and to inspire them to become independent from benefits and reliance on support in order to take full responsibility for their new lives in the UK.
- To encourage clients to speak English, by keeping translation to a minimum and using only when strictly necessary to ensure understanding.
- To record, monitor and evaluate case work practice in a timely manner, adjust as needed, and maintain confidential records for each client using data systems and with regard to data protection policies and legislation.
- To provide employment support to individuals including identifying goals, providing effective support to achieve goals in the short, medium and long term and get people ready for work. To include developing interview skills, identifying volunteer/ work placements, confidence building, assisting with job searching, and information sharing.
- To maintain contact with individuals who do not access our advice services, ensuring that they are supported and working towards independence. This may involve completing home visits and attending appointments or events off site if requested in advance by Management.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.