Independent mental health advocate jobs in brighton marina village, sussex

Arch is an outstanding healthcare provider delivering primary care to homeless and vulnerably housed patients in Brighton & Hove. We are a committed and experienced team with a passion for improving the health and well-being of people who are homeless or vulnerable.

We are looking to appoint a prescribing ANP or Paramedic ACP to lead our enhanced outreach service, which delivers healthcare on the streets, in day centres, hostels and emergency/temporary accommodation. Our ideal candidate will be a highly self-motivated leader who is organised, driven, open and caring. They will be able to think on their feet, have great problem-solving abilities and be comfortable with the flexibility required for a role such as this. Most importantly they will be dedicated to the delivery of the highest possible standards of care for people who are living without homes in Brighton & Hove. 

The Advice and Representation team plays a vital role in championing student voices and ensuring they receive the support they need throughout their university experience. The team provides independent academic and welfare advice, supports democratic processes, and facilitates student representation across the institution. By working closely with elected officers, Student Voice Leaders, and key stakeholders, the team ensures students are empowered to influence policies, shape their education, and access essential guidance when facing challenges. The team also works to create inclusive representation structures that represent the diverse needs of all student communities.

Role

The role ensures students receive high-quality, independent support and have a strong voice in shaping their university experience. The role oversees both the advice service and student representation structures, managing a team that delivers casework support, representation initiatives, and democratic engagement. This includes supporting elected officers, overseeing student feedback mechanisms, running democratic processes, and ensuring effective student advocacy within the university.

Main Responsibilities

· Ensure that all the teams’ activities are aligned, preventing overlaps and ensuring a cohesive approach to the Union's goals. This includes integrating officer priorities, team-specific projects, and broader Union objectives into a single, unified plan.

· Ensure the delivery of independent, student-centered advice services on academic and welfare issues, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and confidentiality standards. This includes the post holder providing advice and advocacy services.

· Track and analyse advice and representation trends, feeding insights to inform wider SU and University strategies.

· Deliver proactive academic advice, including running proactive advice stalls and supporting student leaders to deliver peer support.

· Oversee the delivery of wellbeing initiatives across a range of issues, including mental health, food poverty, period poverty, and drugs/alcohol, in collaboration with relevant departments as appropriate.

· Maintain and develop the BSU Essentials food bank, ensuring a smooth operation, food safety monitoring, collecting data on usage, encouraging donations, and providing additional support information to students.

· Support the design and run the implementation of the Student Voice Leaders (SVL) programme, ensuring they have appropriate training, support and guidance.

· Attend School Education and Student Experience Committees to support Student Voice Leaders in their duties.

· Develop and implement representation structures for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students, ensuring their concerns and needs are appropriately represented at all levels of the Union.

· Coordinate student voice initiatives for key student groups with unique challenges, ensuring their voices are included and represented in key decision-making processes. This may include commuting students, matures students, students with disabilities.

· Support elected officers by providing relevant student feedback, training, and guidance to help them represent students effectively within the University and beyond.

· Support the Communities Officer and Representation Projects Coordinator in ensuring termly forums for student groups, ensuring representation and inclusion for those groups needing most support.

· Contribute to the development of the SU’s Big Plan, overseeing the delivery of relevant projects and ensuring the team plays an active role in its implementation.

· Ensure effective and inclusive student engagement with advice services and representation, focusing on underrepresented and diverse student communities.

Communication

· Regular detailed communication e.g. explaining complex information, handling highly confidential data

· Establish and maintain strong partnerships with relevant University departments and external partners. 

Decision Making

· Decision maker for department.

Budget Management

· Responsible for departmental income and expenditure.

Staff Management

· Responsible for the recruitment, induction and ongoing training of all team members, in close liaison with the HR Department. 

· Carry out team member’s formal and informal performance reviews. 

· Ensure any HR issues relating to staff members are dealt with promptly and reported to the HR department, seeking guidance when appropriate. 

· Be an active member of the Management team and provide constructive input into activities which fall outside of the remit of the role. 

· Be a leader and positive role model to staff and students. 

· Act as a representative for BSU within the University community.

General Duties

· Conduct yourself in a manner which adheres to the values of BSU at all times, displaying high standards of professionalism and service.

· Adhere to all BSU policies and procedures.

· Fully participate in your induction, personal and team development opportunities.

· Assist in key events and activities throughout the year e.g. open days, Freshers’ and Elections as required, some of which might fall outside of usual working hours.

· Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be expected given the qualifications and experience required for the role.

The successful candidate will be expected to endorse and promote the objectives set out as part of AvMA’s five year strategic plan.

Lawyers Service

• Providing high quality services to our lawyers including identifying and recommending appropriate medical experts to clinical negligence solicitors; maintaining and developing the medical expert database. Routinely considering the Experts’ Protocol and ensuring that it remains relevant and fit for purpose.

Inquest Service

• Assessing cases for eligibility for AvMA’s pro bono Inquest Service according to AvMA’s criteria.
• Preparing cases for the coroner’s court to include sorting medical records; liaising with bereaved families by phone and in writing; researching medical literature; taking and preparing initial statements; liaising with the Coroner’s officer; securing appropriate disclosure documents; instructing counsel; assisting with preparation of bundles of documents for the hearing. Identifying general and specific patient safety issues; considering need for Prevention of Future Death Reports and or Action Plans.
• Attendance at pre-inquest hearings and inquest hearings with counsel and the family. This may involve travel and overnight stays. Out-of-pocket expenses are paid. Although overtime is not payable, time out of the office is recoverable in accordance with AvMA Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) policy. Attendance may also be required to attend partial remote hearings via Teams/Zoom
• Capturing and recording key data from inquests, securing feedback from clients.
• Working with Medico Legal Team Leader to ensure appropriate publicity on case outcomes where appropriate to include obtaining relevant client consents and that the case is written up for potential publication in AvMA’s Lawyer Service Newsletter ​​​​​​​

Advice & Information Service

• Providing advice, support and information to the public through written casework. This involves helping people affected by medical accidents to obtain an understanding of what has happened to them, their rights and the most appropriate option(s) for resolving their concerns and meeting their needs including referrals to panel solicitors.

Helpline

• Providing advice and assistance to the public on AvMA’s specialist helpline. Training will be given and in due course assisting the Helpline Development Officer to train helpline volunteers.

Other Duties

• To endorse and promote the objectives set out as part of AvMA’s five year strategic plan: AvMA's 5 Year  Strategic Plan
• Junior Certification: Promoting the Certificate Competence Scheme (junior lawyer scheme) to include assessing applications received
• Feedback from clients: Working on the direction of ML Director and ML Team Leader to secure maximum feedback from clients on inquest and advice and information services
• Website: Helping to keep AvMA self-help leaflets up to date on the website
• Occasional representation of AvMA at meetings and events
• Conference: To help develop AvMA’s annual conference programme and other conferences as appropriate.

30 hours per week / £27,770 per annum, pro rata / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

 is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

 is a 29-bed medium-low supported accommodation for young people between the ages of 16-25 that is staffed 24/7. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Support Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. Situated in the centre of Worthing, the service has strong links with and contributes to the local community.

Each Support Worker holds a caseload of residents and meets with them weekly to build a support plan and help them achieve their goals.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Worthing Foyer team. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact

Should you require any assistance with our application process, please email us at 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 10 August 2025 at midnight. We reserve the right to close this advert early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider. 

Job Title: Policy and Influencing Manager
Organisation: Kids
Location: Remote (with travel to London up to once a week for meetings)
Salary: £33,000–£35,000
Contract: Full-time or 4 days/week (Flexible working available)

Make change happen – for every child.

At Kids, we believe every child should have the opportunity to thrive – regardless of disability or circumstance. As our Policy and Influencing Manager, you’ll play a vital role in making this a reality. You’ll help shape policies that amplify the voices and experiences of disabled children and young people, turning insight into influence and ideas into action.

This is a unique opportunity to lead bold, evidence-based policy work that reflects the lived experiences of the families we support. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation and sector, you’ll inform decision-makers, respond to developments in the SEND landscape, and ensure that young people’s voices are at the heart of the change we seek.

We’re looking for a passionate and proactive policy professional who’s ready to help build something powerful – and lasting – at a critical time for SEND reform in the UK.

What you'll do

Policy & Influencing

• Develop accessible and compelling policy briefings, consultation responses, reports, speeches, and presentations for a range of stakeholders, including MPs, government officials, and sector partners.
• Translate complex ideas into clear, persuasive communications that support positive change.
• Collaborate with our Youth Voice Manager to ensure our policy positions reflect the real experiences of the young people and families we support.
• Help deliver and monitor our policy and influencing strategy in collaboration with the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing.

Research & Evidence

• Carry out high-quality research and analysis from both internal and external sources.
•  Centre the experiences and insights of disabled children, young people, and their families in policy solutions
• Monitor policy developments across the SEND landscape and lead on timely, evidence-led responses.
• Track progress against our influencing goals and ensure our actions remain targeted and impactful.

Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build strong relationships with decision-makers across government and the public sector.
• Support the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing to plan and deliver our strategic external engagement plan in order to focus and drive our wider influencing work
• Represent Kids at meetings and events, including engaging MPs, civil servants, and other key influencers.
• Work closely with internal teams and front-line colleagues to ensure our influencing work is grounded in practice and informed by those delivering services.

Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships

• Work alongside the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing and Youth Voice Manager to deliver our external engagement strategy including deputising at meetings when required.
• Support collaboration across teams to bring in parent, carer, and young person voices.
• Contribute to external coalitions and alliances – attending meetings, aligning with others’ work, and championing Kids' policy priorities.

What you'll bring

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a policy role and demonstrable experience of using policy and evidence to influence outcomes– ideally within the disability sector.
• Strong understanding of the SEND system and related policies and legislation (through lived or professional experience).
• Excellent writing skills – able to craft persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses, and reports with clarity and purpose.
• Confident communicator, able to engage a range of audiences in person and in writing.
• Strong research and analytical skills – able to sift through evidence and develop insight-driven policy recommendations.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Highly organised, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Passionate about inclusion, equity, and social justice – with a strong motivation to elevate the voices of disabled children and young people.

Why work at Kids?

We’re a mission-driven organisation, building a fairer world where all children have the opportunity to flourish. You’ll join a growing team in a pivotal role, helping to shape the future of policy and advocacy at Kids.

We’re committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We’re especially keen to hear from people with lived experience of disability or SEND, either personally or within your family or community.

Ready to create change that counts?
Apply now and help us influence a better, more inclusive future for disabled children and young people.

Note: We may close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please apply promptly