Trainee Independent Advocate
Advocacy Service
Closing Date for Applications: 24th October 2025
This is an excellent opportunity to develop a career in the health and social care field. As an advocate, you can make a real difference in people’s lives by helping them to have their voice heard and their rights upheld. You will also gain a lot of experience of working with other professionals in the fields of mental health, physical health, social care, law, and social work.
We have a great development programme which means you can progress from a trainee to qualified advocate. You will gain a Level 4 qualification in Independent Advocacy Practice. This job is varied and challenging, you will be working in the field with service users and professionals in settings such as care homes, secure mental health units, hospitals, and private homes.
Overview
The purpose of the role is:
- To provide Independent Advocacy to qualifying people across Teesside within inpatient and community settings.
- Provide statutory and non-statutory advocacy across Teesside as required.
Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and access to transport for site visits.
Qualifications & Experience Required
- Educated to Level 3 equivalent
- Working with people with mental health, learning difficulties, neurodivergent and/or physical health issues
- Supporting people to have their views heard, rights upheld and understand information given to them
- Effective partnership working at all levels –commissioners, staff, partnerships, professionals and other stakeholders (desirable)
- Working within agreed protocols, policies and reporting requirements
- Undertaking casework and managing a caseload (desirable)
- Direct personal experience of physical and/or mental health issues as a service user or carer (desirable)
Main Responsibilties
- To provide Independent Advocacy (instructed and non-instructed) to qualifying service users across Teesside as required.
- To meet with individual service users to determine their needs for support, information and representation.
- To promote self-advocacy and assist service users to self-advocate as appropriate.
- To provide information to service users about their care, treatment and legal rights under the Mental Health Act, Mental capacity Act, Care act and a range of other legislation.
- To provide general information on mental health issues, including consent, complaints, discharge and care planning.
- To assist service users to access appropriate support services as required.
- To advocate for service users at key meetings including discharge meetings, children’s services reviews, care reviews and ward meetings.
- To carry an advocacy caseload and ensure service users are kept informed and up to date on any work being carried out on their behalf.
- To undertake all necessary case and time recording to ensure good practice and in line with Mind policies.
- To maintain strict confidentiality with regard to information given by, and information about, service users.
- To work as part of a team contributing to service developments and planning processes.
- To maintain up to date knowledge of mental health and community care policy, structure and legislation.
- To record all activity undertaken using agreed methods including numbers and types of referrals, demographics, caseload information, issues raised, outcomes of the service and unmet needs.
- To work within Mind’s policies and procedures at all times including risk assessment and risk management processes, Lone Working, Data Protection, Confidentiality and Safeguarding.
- To attend and actively participate in monthly support and supervision meetings and Peer Group Supervision.
- To take part in training and development activities as required.
- To undertake other tasks commensurate with the position as required.
Working Hours
Full time 36.5hrs, part-time will be considered on request
Salary Range
Trainee role £26,478.64 increasing to £27,661.67 when qualified