Independent mental capacity advocate jobs
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About The Advocacy Project
We help people speak up and make decisions about their health, wellbeing and social care. We’re here to make sure people who are vulnerable because of their circumstance can understand their rights, make effective choices about their lives and voice their concerns.
Some of the ways we do this include:
· advocacy services that make sure people can express their wishes when decisions are being made about their care or wellbeing
· user involvement projects that help organisations improve what they offer by listening to people who use their services
· local Healthwatch services, which act as health and social care champions for the areas they serve and give people a direct channel to share their feedback
Our services are independent, confidential, and free to those receiving them. Together, our teams are standing up for essential rights and supporting people to have a say on the issues that matter to them.
About the role
This position involves supporting the Finance team by providing financial assistance to the Head of Finance in maintaining the organisation’s financial records and internal controls.
You will utilise your finance skills to ensure that transactions are accurately and promptly recorded, and you’ll assist in preparing high-quality month-end reports. You will also collaborate closely with the Finance Officer and wider teams to contribute to the organisation’s financial reporting and planning.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare monthly management accounts and internal reports for departmental managers and participate in regular review meetings; conduct variance analysis against budget and forecasts and provide commentary for senior management.
- Prepare, check, and submit end-of-month financial data to external accountants.
- Respond to internal and external finance queries in a timely and professional manner.
- Process the month-end transactions on Quick Books.
- Assist the Head of Finance with payroll processing, audits, financial reports, and ad hoc finance-related tasks.
- Prepare budgets and financial forecasts in collaboration with the Head of Finance and ensure accurate upload into the financial system.
- Monitor cash flow and support cash flow forecasting.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of financial procedures and systems to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Assist with the preparation of year-end accounts and liaise with auditors as required.
- Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, internal policies, and reporting standards.
- î Support the Finance Officer in reconciling bank accounts.
- î Undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Finance to support the effective running of the finance function
General responsibilities
- Work according to the Equality Act 2010 and other forms of legislation that combat discrimination and promote equality and diversity.
- Participate in personal, team and organisational development.
- Contribute to internal and external monitoring reports.
- Adhere to organisational policies, including those related to health & safety, safeguarding, and risk management.
- Work in alignment with our mission, vision, and values.
- Person specification
- We welcome applications from people with transferrable skills and qualities, and people with diverse employment histories and personal backgrounds.
Essential qualities and attributes:
- Proven experience in a finance role, preferably in a management accounting or analytical capacity.
- Strong understanding of financial principles, reporting, and analysis
- Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
- Proficiency in Excel and financial software systems.
- Highly organised with the ability to prioritise a heavy workload and multi-task
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
- Ability to work flexibly and to tight deadlines
- A proactive, solution-focused approach to improving systems and processes.
Desirable knowledge, experience and qualifications:
- Accounting qualification or studying towards an accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Experience of working in the charitable or voluntary sector.
- Knowledge of data protection regulations and managing confidential information.
Essential qualities and attributes:
- Understanding of the role and responsibilities of an advocate.
- Understanding of issues faced by people with mental health conditions, physical health conditions and learning disabilities.
- Ability to listen and build trust, to encourage people to express their own views and to represent clients’ self-defined interests.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal). Good at working with a wide variety of people including commissioners, service users and colleagues.
- IT literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, Outlook).
- Commitment to working within The Advocacy Project code of conduct, equality and safeguarding policies.
- Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative, to plan and prioritise your own workload.
- Willingness to promote The Advocacy Project and its services in line with our mission, vision and values.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We help people speak up and make decisions about their health, wellbeing and social care.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About Camden People First
Camden People First is a user‑led organisation run by and for adults with learning disabilities. We promote independence, equality, and self‑advocacy across the London Borough of Camden. Our work centres on empowering people to speak up, make their own choices, and influence the services and policies that affect their lives.
This role supports our mission by helping adults with learning disabilities, build confidence, understand their rights, remove barriers and help them to take an active role in their community.
Role Purpose
To provide high‑quality, person‑centred advocacy for adults with learning disabilities, and neurodivergency in Camden. The Community Advocate helps individuals speak up, be heard, access services, challenge unfair treatment, and participate fully in decisions about their lives. The role also strengthens Camden People First’s presence in the community and supports our self‑advocacy groups.
As a Community Advocate, you will empower people to have a bigger voice, to be heard, and to be actively involved in decisions that affect their lives.
You will support individuals with issues including wellbeing and health, housing needs, accessing services, organising and attending meetings, and ensuring their rights are upheld.
Key Responsibilities
Advocacy & Empowerment
- Support adults with learning disabilities and neurodivergent) to express their views, wishes, and concerns in their own words.
- Provide independent advocacy during meetings, assessments, reviews, and care‑planning processes.
- Support people with a range of communication needs using accessible approaches (signs, symbols, photos, multimedia, etc).
- Help service users understand information and choices using accessible communication (Easy Read, plain English, visuals).
- Encourage and develop self‑advocacy skills so service users can speak up for themselves.
- Manage a caseload of up to 5 active cases at any time.
- Attend meetings and forums alongside service users.
Community Engagement
- Work in partnership with local services, including Camden Council Social Services, health providers, housing teams, and voluntary and community organisations.
- Promote the rights of people with learning disabilities across Camden.
- Support adults with learning disabilities to access community activities, employment, education, and social opportunities.
Casework & Representation
- Manage a caseload of individuals needing one‑to‑one advocacy.
- Attend multi‑agency meetings (such as MASH) to ensure the person’s voice is heard and respected.
- Challenge decisions or practices that undermine an adult with learning disabilities’ rights, wellbeing, or independence.
Safeguarding & Rights Protection
- Identify and report safeguarding concerns in line with Camden People First policies and statutory guidance.
- Promote the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Equality Act, and Human Rights Act and other legislation.
- Ensure all advocacy is independent, confidential, and led by the person.
Administration & Reporting
- Keep accurate case notes, outcome records, and monitoring information.
- Contribute to service evaluation, member feedback, and quality improvement.
- Support the development of accessible information and Easy Read materials.
Internal Relationships
Reports to the Director, with caseload-only supervision by the Volunteer Caseload Supervisor.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Level 4 Independent Advocacy qualification
- Experience working with people with learning disabilities or other vulnerable groups.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including accessible communication methods.
- Understanding of relevant legislation (MCA, Care Act, Equality Act).
- Ability to build trust, maintain boundaries, and work in a user‑led environment.
- Confident in challenging decisions and advocating assertively but respectfully.
- Commitment to co‑production and working alongside self‑advocates.
Desirable Skills
- Experience in advocacy, social care, community development, or peer‑support settings.
- Knowledge of Camden’s local services and community networks.
- Experience producing Easy Read materials or using tools like photosymbols
- Understanding of user‑led organisations and the social model of disability.
Personal Qualities
- Empathetic, patient, and genuinely person‑centred.
- Passionate about equality, rights, and inclusion.
- Organised, reliable, and able to manage competing priorities.
- Comfortable working in a lively, member‑led environment where lived experience is central.
Closing Date Friday 19th June. Interviews scheduled for week commencing 29th June.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Rainbow Migration, the longest-running charity in Europe dedicated to supporting LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system, is recruiting a Legal Officer to advise and help improve the representation of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum.
We are looking for a qualified solicitor or barrister with valid practising certificate, or already accredited to Level 3 IAA, with two years’ experience in providing advice and representation in asylum including working in legal aid.
You will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the legal advice service. Under the guidance of our Legal Service Manager, you will also build capacity amongst legal representatives by designing and delivering training and giving second tier advice
This is a unique opportunity to build on your experience as a lawyer/IAA advisor to improve representation across the sector. You will be supported to develop as a specialist in LGBTQI+ asylum.
Responsibilities will include:
- Delivering one-off advice to LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum
- Working with colleagues to refer service users to quality legal aid and pro bono lawyers
- Providing casework assistance in some individual cases
- Providing advice (within competence) on other issues affecting asylum and partnership service users
- Delivering second tier advice to the legal representatives of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum
You will not be providing direct legal representation of service users. However, the role includes substantive advice and casework within the scope of legal support and referrals for our service users, as well as merits testing and second tier advice.
Rainbow Migration’s vision is that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives. Our values are:
- Safety: We believe everyone should be safe from persecution and safe to be themselves. We strive to create a safe workplace culture, and we place importance on the wellbeing of everyone involved with Rainbow Migration.
- Integrity: We are thorough and honest in everything we do, and we take responsibility for our actions. We want to be accountable to our communities and those who support us.
- Belonging: We welcome and include all LGBTQI+ people, and we celebrate and value their range of experience in terms of gender, religion, race, age, disability status and class. We try to remove obstacles to participation, champion equality and promote a sense of family or home through our services.
- Respect: We believe that every person is equal and deserves the same level of courtesy, care, and attention. We respect the rights, wishes and feelings of our service users, and campaign for their rights to be respected as they go through the asylum and immigration system.
Diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression
At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We consider all qualified applicants, consistent with any legal requirements.
We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in. We are also reviewing what we do and how we do it through an anti-oppression and anti-racism lens and investing in being more informed and led by LGBTQI+ people who have sought asylum.
We welcome applications from candidates who have been through the UK asylum system and people of colour, who are currently underrepresented among our staff in relation to our service users.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if they meet the necessary criteria in the person specification.
To support candidates during the interview process, we send a selection of questions in advance. You are welcome to bring notes with you and also take notes in interviews to help process information. If your interview is online, we can also put questions in the meeting chat. If your interview is in person, we will send details of how to get to the building from both local tube stations and a video showing the interview space. Please let us know if we can make other adjustments to support your interview process.
Role overview
Contract Type: Permanent.
Hours: Part-time (21 hours per week). Occasional work in the evenings and at weekends may be required but with plenty of notice. Rainbow Migration encourages staff to maintain a good work life balance and has a TOIL system in place.
Salary: Starting at £43,078, with a potential step increase each year up to £48,110 (pro-rata), plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. We also try to give a separate inflationary increase every April.
Location: Remote or from Rainbow Migration’s step-free offices which are based in London between Vauxhall and the Oval. Hybrid working will also be considered and can be agreed with the line manager as per our hybrid working policy. The successful candidate could work from anywhere in the UK but would be expected to occasionally travel to London and other parts of the country for meetings and events. At the time of posting this advert, none of our staff are going into the office every day. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Annual Leave: 25 days per year rising after 24 months by 1 day after each year of service to maximum of 28 days per year (pro rata).
Benefits:
- Two days of wellbeing leave to be taken at short notice in each calendar year (pro rata for part-time staff)
- Enhanced parental leave and pay
- Full pay for jury service (up to four weeks), compassionate leave (up to two weeks) and dependents leave (up to four days, pro rata for part-time staff)
- Potential for two salary increases a year: a step increase and an inflationary increase
- TOIL system
- Hybrid working policy, including possibility of working abroad for 10 working days (pro rata for part-time staff) each year
- Policy on staff loans or salary advances for difficult times
- Training and learning opportunities
- Occupational health assessments for disabled employees to understand how we can support and make reasonable adjustments
- Employee assistance programme which includes counselling service, wellness advice, legal and money advice, and other matters
- Clinical supervision for staff delivering services (a safe space with an independent therapist to offload and discuss feelings and challenges)
How to apply
Closing date: 9am on Monday 29 June.
Interview date: We plan to hold 1-hour in-person interviews during the week beginning 6 July. Online interviews will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please read the job description and person specification. If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, then you can contact the line manager via the email address in the application pack.
Please send to the email address in the application pack:
- Your CV
- A written statement (max 1,000 words). Instead of a written statement you may submit your statement by video or audio recording (max 8 minutes)
We would also be grateful if you could complete an optional monitoring form, the link is available in the application pack.
In your statement, please:
- Explain why you are interested in this role and give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate you meet the necessary (and, where applicable, advantageous) criteria for the role. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience.
- Confirm if you wish to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on your ability to do normal daily activities).
- State if you have a preferred pattern of working hours.
- State if you have or have not used AI to help with your application in any way. If you have used AI, please explain why. While AI can be a helpful tool, we expect all applications to reflect your own experiences, qualifications and style of writing. Transparency is valued, so applications that are obviously written with AI without explanation will not be considered.
By submitting an application, you:
- Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post.
- Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided with your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify the dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed.
- Accept that, if successful, you will be required to disclose all spent and unspent criminal records at the point of conditional job and subsequently to undergo an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. See our website for more information.
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources on their website which may help in preparing your job application.
Privacy notice
If you apply for this role, the information you provide will be processed according to Rainbow Migration's privacy policy. Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties unless part of the recruitment process or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Rainbow Migration will store your data for 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants. It is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is then deleted after six months.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our vision is a world where LGBTQI+ people can settle safely in the UK and lead fulfilling lives
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.