Job Title: Independent Mental Health Advocate
Service: Coram Voice
Contract Type: Permanent – Part Time
Hours: 18 hours per week
Salary: £11,755.54 - £13,351.88 per annum (FTE £22,858 - £25,962) Subject to (IAQ or IAP IMHA qualification)
Location: North East (Homebased with travel to Morpeth and Prudhoe in Northumberland)
Our work
About Coram:
Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.
Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
About Coram Voice:
Coram Voice is a national independent children’s charity established in 1975 and has grown to become one of the leading organisations for children and young people in the UK.
Coram Voice exists to enable and equip children and young people to hold systems to account, to challenge and support them to do their jobs properly and to uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
Coram Voice strives for a society which recognises, and willingly accepts, its responsibilities to children and young people, where the inequalities and discrimination they currently face have been eradicated. Where those children and young people are fully engaged in all decisions that are made about their lives. Where the views, needs and feelings that they express are at the core of those decisions.
Our Advocacy services we provide advocacy direct to children and young people in a variety of situations. Advocates around the country support children and young people to get their voice heard in decisions about their lives. This may be through the telephone helpline or through an advocate working directly with a child, for instance, to support them at a review meeting or to help them make a complaint about their care. Coram Voice provides visiting advocacy services to most of the secure units nationally, to Secure Training Centres, Juvenile Young Offender Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, residential special schools and children’s homes.
About the Role
We are looking for an Advocate to join our team in the North East. We are seeking applicants who have transferable skills, a willingness to learn, a desire to promote the rights of children and young people and
- already have an IAP City and Guilds Level 3 or IAQ City or Guilds Level 4 in Advocacy, who have completed the specialist unit in Independent Mental Health Advocacy, or
- a wiliness to undertake the IAQ City or Guilds Level 4 in Advocacy.
You will work to empower and support children and young people to ensure their voices are heard within decision–making processes that effect their lives.
You will be a capable ambassador for Coram Voice with the ability to engage effectively with professionals, carers, other stakeholders and most importantly children and young people with a mental health needs.
If you have the necessary experience and skills and a commitment to promoting the rights of young people, we would like to hear from you.
What you will receive
We wish to reward and recognise the valuable contributions our staff make to the organisation and offer an attractive benefits package to do so. Coram Voice benefits package includes a competitive salary, a matched pension scheme up to 5% of salary, generous leave entitlements of up to 25 days’ annual leave and an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and New Year. A supportive work environment fostering a good work/home life balance and a suite of family friendly policies, which promote employee wellbeing.
You will get a genuine opportunity to make a difference every day.
Recruitment process
Our Children’s Rights Managers will undertake Shortlisting. Successful candidates will be invited for interview.The interview process comprises of a written exercise and a panel interview.Successful candidates will have a further one to one interview in accordance within Warner recommendations. Internal candidates will need to notify HR of their interest in the post and they will provide further information on the internal application process.
Returning your application:
- We cannot accept general CVs.
- When completing your application form, you need to address each point of the person specification and demonstrate how you meet it.
- Applications must be fully completed.
- If you are a current Coram Voice employee you may submit a supporting statement only addressing the person specification requirements for the post.
Closing date: Friday 17th May 2024 at 12pm
Interview date: Friday 24th May 2024
General consideration for applications:
- DBS checks: all posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.
- Training: All successful candidates are required to complete our compulsory training programme which includes training in Advocacy (Being a Voice) Safeguarding and Diversity
- Conflict of interest: the independence of the service is important to Coram Voice. Prospective applicants need to raise any other potential conflicts of interest when initially contacting Coram Voice about this post.
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week (8 hours within the hours of 9 am to 6 pm with 1 hour’s lunch break) + one day of weekend support hub per month
Working days: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (and one weekend day a month)
Reporting to: CEO & Team Manager
Location: Mostly office-based with once-a-month offsite location (office, occasional home and offsite) Office is based in the City of London near Bank station
Salary: £18,000 per annum for 3 days a week (Pro-rata of £30k)
*Overtime is compensated either by pay or time off in lieu
Holiday: Pro-rata of 30 days a year excluding bank holidays plus holiday office closure (before New Year’s holidays) and 1 day of annual mental health leave
Contract: 18 months temporary contract, 6 months probationary period
Start date: 1st July 2024 (Notice period will be considered with those who have notice periods) The first round of interviews will be scheduled for the week of 5th June 2024.
Occupational Requirement: The Vavengers is an equal opportunities employer. In line with legal requirements and the nature of the work required for this role, we are seeking women-only applications as an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
The Vavengers is a proud Living Wage Employer, Certified Halo Workplace and member of the Sunflower Network for Hidden Disabilities, also member of Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse.
We are The Vavengers. We listen, we support and we take action. We educate, collaborate, aid and empower. We are a survivor, migrant and female-led organisation, standing with and for every woman affected by Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and all other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) - let’s help end it together.
Key Responsibilities
Community mobilisation, organisation, fundraising, case management, survivor support
Overall Responsibilities
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Facilitate educational and direct support programs, through data-driven research and community engagement
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Create a stable foundation for projects, events, and development
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Organise, run and develop The Vavengers award-winning support & wellness hubs for women and girls
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Manage referral process connecting women and girls with other organisations and local authorities
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Develop bids and secure grants to cover core and project costs
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Manage the nationwide expansion of the support hub model
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Build and maintain partnerships with aligned stakeholders
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Lead and improve community projects through concept development, fundraising and relationship management
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Support the C-suite with business development in line with the business plan
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Support the wider team on events & campaign management
Day-to-day tasks
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Organise, run and report on support & wellness hubs for women and girls, and be the face of the support hub programme
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Support the community through referrals to local authorities and partner organisations on housing, immigration, food security and access to other essential services. Following up and communicating with beneficiaries throughout the process
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Identify and eliminate safeguarding risks
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Identify need gaps within communities and fulfil crisis and emergency management plans, help prepare the organisation for unexpected urgent response work
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Amplify the voice of the communities we support
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Identify and highlight the ongoing issues faced by the women and girls we support with the team and external stakeholders
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Organise and manage programme facilitators and role-related volunteers
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Map out fundraising opportunities and secure funding through written grant applications and manage funding processes from start to end including mid and end-journey reports
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Develop and maintain the existing community ambassadorship programme by listening to community needs and helping to implement solutions
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Maintain strong relationships. Including with Community Ambassadors, Wellness Ambassadors, programme facilitators, existing or potential partners and funders, and be a reliable point of contact for seamless communication
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Expand community engagement through offsite outreach and partnerships with local councils, grassroots organisations, healthcare professionals, community leaders and sector partners (*The Vavengers works with over 150 partnerships across the UK)
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Work collaboratively to ensure that new programs align with the charity’s mission, vision and purpose
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Be an active advocate for The Vavengers mission and community
Additional Responsibilities
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Oversee governance activities of volunteers (volunteer contracts, reports and management)
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Managing DBS clearances and background checks for the required board, staff and volunteers and acting as one of the safeguarding officers of the organisation
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Assist with and contribute to offsite educational workshops where appropriate
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Organising the sourcing and delivery of essential items from partners
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Managing project budgets and an expense account
Desirable skills and attributes:
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Strong emotional intelligence
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Innovative thinking
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Fundraising and grant management
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Clear communication
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Process management & improvement
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Digital literacy
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Referral & case management
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Business development
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Solution-focused approach
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Data-driven
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Proactive
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Start-up development
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Project management
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Community leadership
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NGO financial literacy
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Trauma-informed
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Public speaking
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Workshop facilitation
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Understanding of NGO structures & processes
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Growth mindset
Essential software use: Salesforce, Google Workspace, Eventbrite, Adobe, Squarespace, Brevo, Survey Monkey
*The Vavengers promotes the use of technology to reduce the pressure of administrative tasks and to make our work more efficient, there might be more digital developments as the organisation grows.
Checks and training: Please note, that this role will be subject to a clear DBS check. The Vavengers will also provide mandatory training required by the role including Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults Level 3, Gender-Based Violence training, language and terminology and necessary software training.
In return for your dedication, The Vavengers will offer you
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In-house and external mentoring & meaningful career development opportunities
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The opportunity to work on ending Gender-Based Violence and creating a just society
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Inclusive, bold and creative culture
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The opportunity to be part of a start-up development
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Flexible working opportunities
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Pro-rata 30 days of annual leave (excluding bank holidays), plus holiday closures and mental health day
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A prestigious headquarters near the Bank station
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Employee counselling programme and other well-being perks
By submitting an application to The Vavengers, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy and for The Vavengers to use your personal data for the purposes of processing your job application.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this role please get in touch with us,
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
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Who we’re looking for
You will be an excellent communicator, as well as a practical, well organised and hardworking individual, preferably with experience in the voluntary sector or equivalent transferable experience.
Reporting to the Regional Service Manager, you will support the Service Manager with managing the Cardiff Support Through Court service. You will provide support to volunteers and oversee the daily running of the service when on duty to ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly.
Due to funding requirements, the successful applicant must be fluent in Welsh.
About Support Through Court
Support Through Court is an independent charity providing practical and emotional support to people facing the court process without the benefit of legal representation. Most people are unfamiliar with - and may be frightened of - the courts, and may be facing serious issues that could affect their children and relationships, finances, or the security of their homes. Our staff and volunteers empower people facing court alone, helping them to go through the court process with dignity and confidence. Together, we can ensure that no one faces court alone.
Applicants should apply with a CV and a covering letter explaining persuasively why we should offer you the post. It is important that your letter should provide evidence of the criteria detailed in the job description and person specification document.
We will be interviewing as and when suitable candidates apply, so if you are interested in the position please do not delay your application.