Sessional advocate jobs

SANE is a UK-wide mental health charity working to improve the quality of life of anyone affected by mental illness. It aims to raise awareness and understanding of all mental health conditions; fight to improve frontline mental health services for individuals and carers; provide support, information and guidance through SANEline, Call Back service, email and text support; and promote and host research into causes, treatments and therapies through its Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE research.
 

About the role:

We are looking for people interested in providing compassionate support to people affected by mental health problems. This includes supporting people with severe mental illness, and carers, families and friends. You will provide support by telephone, email and text.

Call Back Officer/s will work within our team to provide support services. Hours for this role are flexible but would likely range from 12-6pm or 12-8pm for 2 days per week.

This role provides valuable practical experience in providing emotional support to vulnerable people.

Starting Salary: £15.46 per hour

About you:

- You must have experience of working in the mental health field.

- You are personable, highly compassionate, and genuinely interested in supporting people from all walks of life.

- You are a warm and confident communicator.

- You can work collaboratively with our team to ensure delivery of a high-quality service on the Call Back Service.

We are also keen to hear from people interested in different hours, or bank work, in particular those with counselling, psychology or therapy qualifications.
 

What can you expect?

- To work within SANE’s framework, including regular check-ins, debriefs, and weekly team meetings. To receive training specific to your role.

- To become part of an established and diverse team.

- To gain exposure to a wide range of mental health problems.

- To gain valuable practical experience in providing emotional support to vulnerable people.

- A culture where team members support and learn from each other.

- A warm supportive and encouraging environment.
 

Requirements: 

• Ideally 1 year mental health work experience 
• To undergo an enhanced DBS check
• Expected start date – late June 2025
• For all bank staff - availability of a minimum of 1 day every week.
   

Please note: This role may close early if a suitable candidate is found, please do not delay in submitting your application as interviews are taking place on an ongoing basis
 

Closing date: Wednesday 4th June at 12pm (midday).
 

To apply: Please complete your application before the closing date, addressing all areas on the person specification (downloadable below) and tell us why you want to work for SANE. Applications without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Hybrid working, with some travels across West Mercia as required.

Key Responsibilities

• To work directly with service users to provide support, deliver action plans, and conduct follow-ups. This could be conducting initial assessments to determine the service user’s needs, providing tailored housing advice/support to service users transitioning from prison or serving a community sentence, or working with young people on various programmes.
• To liaise with partner organisations/agencies, as required, on service delivery.
• Where necessary (for example, when working with young people), challenge inappropriate behaviour in a fair and equitable manner while motivating them to change.
• To maintain caseload efficiently, and to maintain accurate case records and documentations on relevant systems.
• To maintain accurate service user records, ensuring compliance with confidentiality and data protection regulations.
• To attend staff meetings and training events as required.
• To adhere to safeguarding processes, manage safeguarding concerns and risk factors.

Essential Person Specification

• High level of numeracy and literacy (preferably GCSE standard or above).
• Good communication, interpersonal, advocacy, and collaboration skills.
• Respectful of cultural differences; commitment to equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice.
• Competency in IT applications, databases, systems, SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage own caseload.
• Mature, reliable, resilient, energetic, patient, and consistent in approach. 

Why Work for YSS? 

• Annual leave of 27 days, excluding bank holidays
• Christmas Eve and New Years Day as Company holidays 
• Pension Scheme
• Employee Health & Wellbeing plan
• Occupational sick pay
• Flexible working / hybrid working
• Monthly supervision for support / personal development
• Robust induction and training programme with an organisational commitment to ongoing training and personal development.

Notes​

• Our organisation follows Safer Recruitment principles and guidelines for all posts where contact with children and/or adults at risk is possible – this includes a full application process, interviewing candidates, taking up and verifying two satisfactory references (one of which must be from your last employer), verifying qualifications, identity checks, an enhanced (Disclosure and Barring Service) DBS check and HMPPS prison vetting.
• You must have the right to live and work in the UK to be considered for this role.

Disability Sheffield is currently reviewing how we deliver our Community Advocacy work to ensure it is joined-up, fully user-led, representative, accessible and accountable to the community; and ultimately delivers positive change on behalf of our community. To do this effectively we are recruiting a new, senior post that oversees all of Disability Sheffield’s Community Advocacy work on a day-day basis to ensure that our work is as high-quality, consistent and impactful as possible.

This role will directly oversee both the established Sheffield Voices project and the pan-disability / non-LD community advocacy work. It will be a key role in Disability Sheffield’s newly formed senior management team (SMT) and will be the recognised deputy for the CEO in their absence. Some of this is still a work in progress, so initially the role will be about ensuring Sheffield Voices continues to deliver high quality, impactful work whilst starting to develop a more coordinated, effective and visible approach to our pan-disability / non-Learning Disabilities and Autism work.

For more information and to download the Cover Letter, Job Desctiption and Application, please click the "Redirect to Recruiter" button.

Post Title Housing First Support Worker

Salary Up to £32,000

Hours 35 hours a week

Line management           None

Location SCT’s satellite site, Tower Hamlets

DBS: Enhanced Adult Workforce DBS is required for this role

Additional Benefits  BUPA Employee Assistance Programme and Wellbeing plan 

Cycle to work scheme 

Season ticket loan

25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days) plus bank holidays

Contributory Pension Scheme with employer-matched contributions of 5% 

Training and development opportunities

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

About the Role

As a Support Worker in our Housing First team, you’ll be a key point of contact for a small caseload of residents (approx. 6). You'll offer tailored, compassionate, housing-related and other person-centered support—enabling residents to articulate and achieve their goals, navigate systems, and rebuild their lives.

You’ll work closely with SCT’s internal services teams and external agencies to remove barriers, promote wellbeing, and champion the voice of each resident.

Key Responsibilities

Support and Advocacy

• Deliver person-centred, trauma-informed support to Housing First residents.
• Conduct comprehensive needs and risk assessments.
• Develop meaningful relationships that foster trust, choice and wellbeing.
• Advocate for residents’ access to healthcare, housing, benefits and specialist services.
• Support residents with practical tasks like budgeting, appointments, and accessing community resources.
• Encourage participation in community drug and alcohol services, and other recovery pathways.

Housing and Recovery Support

• Help residents secure, move into, and sustain suitable accommodation.
• Support the use of residents’ personalised budgets (e.g., for furniture, clothing, etc.).
• Work with residents and our housing partner to resolve issues and prevent eviction.
• Facilitate access to SCT’s wider services as required.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Build strong partnerships with local services, agencies and community networks.
• Maintain clear records on In-Form and contribute to reports and evaluations.

About You

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experienced in supporting adults with complex needs (e.g., addiction, homelessness, mental health).
• Possesses strong organisational skills and is able to work independently.
• Has excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills.
• Has up-to-date safeguarding knowledge.
• Is confident in the use of IT and a range of software packages.
• Is flexible, resilient, and adaptable to a changing environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and PIE approaches.
• Understanding of the benefits system and tenancy sustainment.
• Familiarity with In-Form or comparable CRM system.

What We Offer

• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led working environment.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Opportunities to contribute to innovation within the Housing First team.
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Role and Responsibilities

Housing and Service Delivery

• Provide strong and effective support to residents in Acorn House that focuses on their strengths and goals, and is delivered in a personalised way and within a framework of active engagement and co-production

• Developing and reviewing support plans that reflect the interests and aspirations of residents

• Induct new residents in line with the service’s policies and procedures and support them to continue in their journey towards recovery from addiction

• Carry out assessments of those referred to Acorn House, and induct new residents

• Ensure the fundamental needs of residents are met including good quality accommodation and facilities, healthy food, advice and guidance around benefits, and alcohol and drug testing (to help maintain an abstinent environment)

• Deal with the immediate support needs of residents as appropriate, providing crisis intervention where necessary

• Support residents in addressing physical and mental health issues, including liaison with primary and secondary health teams

• Ensure residents are supported through court or welfare rulings (if necessary)

• Ensure effective and compliant administration of resident data using a bespoke Salesforce- based platform (In-Form)

• Ensure Housing Benefit and Services Charges are collected and managed effectively 

• Be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the service, ensuring high quality support is provided

• Ensure each resident’s support plan is written, monitored and reviewed as appropriate to reflect their changing needs and development

• Ensure residents progress and engage with other SCT programmes (when required)

• Ensure conditions and requirements relating to any contracts or management agreements are applied throughout SCT’s services

• Work effectively as part of a team, attending team/ staff meetings and making a positive contribution to the development of the team and wider SCT services

• Effectively control and manage financial records appropriate to the duties of the post (petty cash/rent) 

• Participate in a feedback culture for continuous improvement

• Promote social inclusion, supporting residents to access all benefits available to them

• Support residents with physical and mental health issues, including liaison primary and secondary health care services as required

• Ensure all repairs and maintenance needs are raised

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Maintain accurate records of residents on In-Form

Operational Support

• Comply with Health and Safety, including but not limited to any fire maintenance, risk assessments and complete room checks and raise any risks to the Supported Housing Manager

• Ensure equipment of all applicable facilities is in good working order

• To provide an on-call/out-of-hours service when required

• Carry out other duties as may reasonably be required 

Special Conditions

• This post requires the holder to work varying shifts between 08.00 am and 8.00 pm and participation in the call rota system (for which an additional allowance is paid)

• The post-holder is required to work weekends as part of a rota and Bank Holidays when required

• On occasions you may be requested to change your rota to ensure the requirements of the service are covered

• In accordance with the guidelines on Health and Safety, to accept responsibility for working within these guidelines and reporting any concerns to the Supported Housing Manager

Strategic and Operational Leadership 

• Set a positive leadership culture aligned with SCT’s ethos, values and mission. 

• Lead the development and implementation of annual operating plans across services, in line with SCT’s strategic goals and budgets. 

• Work closely with Senior Leadership colleagues to identify new service opportunities and drive continuous improvement and innovation. 

• Work closely with SCT’s Fundraising, Communications and Marketing team to develop compelling funding applications, and reports to funders.  

• Represent SCT at stakeholder events, ensuring a clear and compelling case for the impact of our work. 

• Champion and enhance SCT’s reputation by building strong relationships with partners, funders, statutory bodies and the wider community, fostering collaboration, trust and strategic influence. 

Service Development 

• Oversee and support the development of SCT’s front-line services including Addictions Counselling, Supported Housing, Housing First, and Training & Development (incorporating ‘Progressions’ and ‘Choices’). 

• Maintain high service quality, measurable outcomes, and trauma-informed, recovery-focused practice. 

• Develop referral pathways into services, and ensure that client progression is planned, consistent, and reflective of individual needs and ambitions. 

• Lead best practice approaches in Safeguarding and Health and Safety, prioritising client and staff wellbeing. 
• Take the lead in shaping and developing co-production across all services, ensuring that people with lived experience are meaningfully involved in the design, delivery, and evaluation of support.

Housing and Recovery Support 

• Ensure accommodation-based services provide secure, therapeutic environments that support clients to maintain their tenancy and build recovery capital. 

• Oversee SCT’s peer-led recovery community (‘Choices’) and user involvement in our social enterprises, creating training and work experience pathways for people in recovery. 

Staff Leadership and Management 

• Provide strategic leadership for a multi-disciplinary service delivery team. 

• Oversee recruitment, supervision, appraisal and development of staff, ensuring they are fully supported, briefed, and empowered. 

• Promote a culture of inclusion, collaboration and high performance. 

• Set clear expectations, targets, and accountability frameworks to deliver impact. 

Person Specification 

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Proven success in managing and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams in complex, person-centred services. 

• Significant experience delivering homelessness, housing, addiction recovery or therapeutic services. 

• Expertise in delivering services that work with people with lived experience of social exclusion. 

• Strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management and trauma-informed practice. 

• Skilled in managing budgets, contracts and KPIs within charitable or commissioned services. 

• Skilled in using In-Form or similar CRM system.

• Highly effective communicator with excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in a values-led organisation or charity supporting marginalised groups. 

• Knowledge of Housing First and Recovery Capital models. 

• Understanding of social enterprise and peer-led service models. 

To provide strategic and operational leadership to multidisciplinary service delivery teams, ensuring high-quality, innovative, and outcome-focused support for people in recovery or experiencing homelessness. The role is central to enhancing service standards, fostering a culture of inclusivity and compassion, and embedding lived experience in practice. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Services will help shape SCT’s strategy and build sustainable partnerships to maximise impact and long-term success.