Independent mental health advocate jobs in Nottingham

Overview

Do you want to work for a caring organisation that believes in people?

Do you want to make a difference?

This exciting new role provides an opportunity to work within a Whole Family Recovery Service as a Recovery Coordinator for the Family Support and Safeguarding Team (FSST).

At Change Grow Live we believe that whole family-based approaches to substance misuse support and recovery have the potential to have a greater impact on reducing harms and increasing resilience for individuals, families, and communities. Therefore, providing support to families is a real priority for us to ensure that our services are truly person centred and family focussed.

With this role you’ll be working as part of Family Support and Safegurarding team within Gedling Children's Social Care. This is a fixed term contract until 31st March 2027

Working as part of the new multi-disciplinary safeguarding teams (FSST) alongside Children’s Services, Domestic Abuse services and Mental Health, the Recovery Coordinator will coordinate a package of support and care to the adult substance user, enabling them to improve safety and resilience, in relation to substance use and the associated safeguarding risks.

Where: Gedling

Full-Time Hours: 37.5 per week 

Contract: Fixed-Term contract that ends 31st March 2027

* Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours

Responsibilities

About the role: 

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary safeguarding team to provide appropriate co-ordination and interventions that help to reduce the impact of substance use. Types of interventions to include, engagement and assessment, time focussed whole family, group and 121 psychosocial based.

• Undertaking direct work with families and parents, utilising recognised evidence-based interventions that build resilience and enable positive changes to family functioning.

• Supporting the effective safeguarding of families through contribution to multi-agency plans, timely identification of risks, vulnerabilities and responding accordingly via appropriate assessment, safety planning and onward connection and referrals to the relevant services where required.

• To work closely with local Social Care Teams and other associated family support services

• To promote family members involvement to improve outcomes for children.

• To provide effective case co-ordination for all the family in support of the children’s Child Protection or Child in Need Plan.

• Active participation in agreed supervision and development meetings.

• Review ongoing care and support liaising closely with the full range of specialist workers across the multi-disciplinary team both within CGL Nottinghamshire and the Family Safeguarding Team 

About you: 

• Experience of working with families with complex problems in one or more of the following fields: social work; youth offending; substance misuse; probation; health; family work; education; youth and community
• Ability to manage behaviors of distress in a calm and professional manner
• Knowledge of current legislation surrounding young people, families and safeguarding practice. Eg - the Adfam and Think Family reports
• Sound working knowledge of Child Protection
• Sensitivity in working with complex and diverse cultural family issues
• Experience of working with families and individuals where children have a Child Protection or Child in Need Plan in place.
• Experience of delivering training and groupwork
• Sound working knowledge of the impact of hidden harm, honor based violence, child sexual exploitation and FGM

What we will give to you: 

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service “Capped at 30 days” 
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• Several benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• A friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 

Our values are to be compassionate, open and bold. If this sounds like you we’d love to hear from you so click apply.

The postholder must demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to best safeguarding practice.

This role will cover operational sites as required, including community locations and family homes.

This includes working with adults with a history of substance misuse.

Direct applications only we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.

 Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions. 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 23 to 28 (£28,557.79 - £32,802.41)

Interview Date

30/7/2026

Closing Date

22/7/2026

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.

External Affairs and Strategy Specialist

Location:  Home Based, Expectation of travel
Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £38,960.00 - £48,960

Flexibility in terms of hours and possible part time hours to be considered.

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. 

About Waythrough 

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. 

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

About the Role

As the External Affairs and Strategy Specialist, you will help shape Waythrough’s external influence, ensuring the organisation understands and responds to an increasingly complex political, policy and social environment. Working closely with senior leaders, you will support strategic decision-making, build key partnerships and drive campaigns and policy projects that create positive change for the people we support.

This is a home-based role with some travel required, including attendance at our joint All Party Parliamentary Group (five or six times per year), and service visits, team away days and wider meetings as required. . You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, particularly the Communications team, to ensure our external voice is informed, impactful and rooted in lived experience.

Key Duties

• Monitor and interpret political, policy and sector developments, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and trends.
• Build strong relationships across Waythrough to identify subject matter experts and ensure external positions are informed by operational and lived experience.
• Lead and coordinate elements of national campaigns, maintaining momentum and working collaboratively with Communications colleagues to maximise impact.
• Brief senior leaders on external affairs issues and provide high-quality research, papers and recommendations to support organisational decision-making.
• Represent Waythrough at parliamentary groups, policy alliances, external forums and partnership meetings.
• Develop policy submissions, consultation responses, speeches, presentations and campaign materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders, including parliamentarians, sector bodies and partner organisations.
• Ensure the voices of the people we support remain central to all advocacy, policy and campaign activity.

About You

You are a confident and proactive relationship builder who thrives in a complex and fast-moving environment. Working as part of a small team, and with support and coaching from the Director, you'll be comfortable seeking out expertise across the organisation, collaborating with a wide range of colleagues and influencing senior stakeholders.

You have excellent communication skills, a strong understanding of politics and policy, and the confidence to work closely with directors and executive leaders. You can balance multiple priorities while maintaining focus on what matters most, and you are motivated by ensuring that campaigns, policy positions and external messages are genuinely informed by the experiences and voices of the people we support. Above all, you'll bring initiative, curiosity and a willingness to get stuck in and make things happen.

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)

• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%

• Life assurance (3× annual salary)

• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay

• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave

• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications

• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme

• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership

• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good

• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year.

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.