ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

ADVOCATE – Jewish Orthodox specialist

Job Title: Advocate – Jewish Orthodox Specialist

Pay Rate:SC1, Sp9 + London Weighting (£16,888)

Contract Length:Fixed Term – 1 year contract from start date

Hours: Part Time (7 and a half hoursper day, 3 days a week)

Line Manager:tbc

Location: 8-10 Tudor Road, City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health and Outreach

Project:Advocacy

Job Summary:

To provide an independent Advocacy service to adult mental health and learning disability service users and the general public resident in the community in Hackney and the City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health. To promote self-advocacy andenable service users to make informed decisions and get their views heard in matters relating to their mental health. As part of the team, to promote the integration of independent advocacy within mental health and learning disability services. To ensure the provision of an advocacy service which is fully accessible to the Orthodox Jewish population in Hackney.To promote self-advocacy andenable service users to make informed decisions and get their views heard. As part of the team, to promote the integration of independent advocacy within mental health and learning disability services.

Tasks:

  1. To provide Advocacy, consistent with Action for Advocacy guidelines and line management, to Hackney residents including adult mental health and learning disability service users.
  1. To increase the Project’s ability to provide a culturally-specific service to members of the boroughs’ Jewish and Orthodox Jewish population.
  1. To meet with service users to provide information on health and community care matters, and to help service users have their voice heard, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain the services they need.
  1. To support service users at key meetings, when instructed to do so, such as CPA meetings, medication reviews, meetings with doctors or social workers, meetings with legal professionals, etc.
  1. To carry an advocacy caseload,promoting self-advocacy but advocating on behalf of clients where necessary.
  1. To provide information to service users on mental health issues such as community care, psychiatric treatments, legal rights, complaints procedures, aftercare etc.
  1. To assist service users to access appropriate statutory, voluntary and legal services (e.g. day services, education and employment support, welfare benefits advice).
  1. To promote an awareness and understanding of user participation, empowerment and the role of advocacy, and in particular the needs of service users from black and ethnic minority communities.
  1. To follow agreed case-working standards, monitoring systems or requirements, service goals, and funding requirements.
  1. To work as part of the Advocacy team to ensure that service provision works in accordance with and promotes the needs of all service user groups, taking into account racial, cultural, religious and language diversity.
  1. To work as a member of the Advocacy team, contributing to service planning and developments. Where necessary to provide cover in the team.
  1. To undertake additional duties, as may reasonably be required.
  1. To undertake training and duties specific to the single point of entry referral system.

General

  1. To attend and participate in relevant meetings and give reports or presentations when required.
  1. To comply with, promote and contribute to the development of City & Hackney Mind’s Policies and Procedures, including its equal opportunities policy and all other General Policies and Procedures.
  1. To comply with, promote and contribute to the development of the Advocacy Project Operational Policy and related documents.
  1. To engage in appropriate internal, external training courses, supervision and staff away days.
  1. To work as part of a team towards ensuring effective user participation within the organisation.
  1. Other than where central administrative support is available, to be administratively self-servicing.

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May 2012