Referral centre advocate jobs in Birmingham

We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and motivated individual to join our Young Carers team as a Young Carers Transition Lead.

You will lead and coordinate the Young Carers Transition Pathway so that young carers (YC) and young adult carers (YAC) experience a consistent, person-centred journey from early preparation (5–10) through post-16 and into adulthood.

You will drive awareness and access to support across schools, FE/HE and employers, maintain regular conversations and touch points, and embed the Transition Pathway within the Local Authority statutory assessment and review cycle, in partnership with our Assessment Officers.

This is a newly created position offering a unique opportunity to help shape it's direction and truly make the role your own.

Funding has been secured for a minimum of 5 years and this is therefore currently a fixed term role.

What We're Looking For

• Knowledge of young carer and young adult carer issues.
• Understanding of safeguarding (children), trauma-informed practice and inclusive delivery.
• Strong facilitation and rapport-building skills; with clear verbal, written and digital communication.
• Experience of case-management systems and outcome frameworks to evidence impact.
• Ability to coordinate multi-site programmes and provide evening delivery.
• Excellent organisation skills; being able to balance priorities across venues and deadlines.
• Solution-focused and reflective individual, committed to co-production and continuous improvement.

Please note: You must be a car driver with access to a vehicle for multi-site delivery.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Starting annual leave entitlement of 25 days, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days (and Bank Holidays), plus your 'birtholiday'
• Pension contribution scheme
• Benefits platform offering flexible high street savings and discounts on top brands

About Us

We are a local charity supporting unpaid carers of all ages and people with care and support needs across Coventry and Warwickshire. We provide services, information, advice, and advocacy — ensuring carers and their families receive the right support when they need it most.

• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing platform
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A supportive, flexible workplace where your contribution makes a real difference

For further information, please see the below key responsibilities as outlined in the job description:

• Maintain Carers Trust Heart of England (CTHoE) Young Carers Transition Pathway (tools, timelines, checklists, templates); ensure alignment with statutory guidance and commissioning requirements; champion co-production and inclusive practice.
• Run a blended model of weekly venue-based groups, the Drop-In Hub, structured one-to-one (1:1) sessions, and online options, tailored by age and stage (including early preparation for children aged 5–10 and post-16 transition content).
• Plan, deliver and cover groups across our area of operation to maintain continuity and meet agreed access and touch-point standards; provide contingency cover to avoid session gaps.
• Co-work with Assessment Officers so Transition Pathway prompts are built into statutory assessments and scheduled 6 and 12-month reviews; update prompts, templates and Customer/Client Relationship Management (CRM) fields as needed.
• Model best practice in assessment, planning, reviews and safe closure; work in a trauma-informed, strengths-based way; escalate risks promptly via safeguarding procedures.
• Develop active relationships with schools, Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) providers, employers, and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) partners; coordinate assemblies, staff briefings, campus visits, mentoring and careers inputs to increase awareness and referrals.
• To work towards all of our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as set out in our funding agreements, which will be kept under regular review.
• Produce routine updates for the Service Manager, Senior Management Team (SMT) and commissioners; use data to target continuous improvement.
• Deliver in line with safeguarding policy; promote EDI across all delivery; follow lone-working procedures and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Health & Safety and compliance: Complete and review risk assessments; report incidents, hazards and defects; ensure safe use of venues, transport and equipment; maintain professional boundaries; complete mandatory and refresher training (including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and safeguarding) and participate in supervision/appraisal.
• Attend activities and events outside core hours (evenings/weekends) where service needs require.
• Work with colleagues who support adult carers to coordinate support plans and assessments ensuring that young adult carers receive joined-up timely help that meets their needs.
• Create and maintain a clear young carer (under 18) adult carer (18+) handover process, including joint meetings, shared action plans and follow-up checks to ensure no loss of support at the point of transition.
• Co-design and, where appropriate, co-deliver sessions (e.g. information evenings, carer’s rights, benefits, condition-specific education, wellbeing) that meet the needs of both young carers and adult carers.
• Apply the No Wrong Doors approach and the Triangle of Care principles across children’s and adults’ services so families experience seamless access, shared responsibility and consistent professional boundaries.

Working Pattern and Requirements

• This post is full-time, with regular evenings (and occasional weekends) to deliver and/or cover groups across our area of operation, ensuring consistent conversations and touch points for carers who cannot attend in school hours.
• Travel across community venues, schools/colleges and partners is required; flexibility in location and hours is essential.
• Maintain an enhanced DBS check (with barred lists) and up-to-date safeguarding training.