Disability Sheffield Sessional Advocacy WorkerSept2015

JOB DETAILS
Job title: / Sessional Advocacy Worker
Location: / The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield, S1 4FW
Salary Grade: / NJC – SP 29
Actual Salary: / £24,892 Pro-rata
Hours: / Zero hour contract
Contract Type: / Zero hour contract
Reports: / Advocacy Manager

Disability Sheffield

Disability Sheffield Centre for Independent Living is a ‘not for profit’ pan-impairment organisation driven by disabled people. We deliver responsive, high quality and professional services supporting adults who self-define as disabled people (whether they have a physical disability, a sensory impairment, a mental health condition or learning difficulties).

Main Purpose of job

To work as part of our advocacy team to provide an accessible high quality advocacy service to disabled people, supporting them to access health and social care services in Sheffield, removing barriers which prevent them using these services. In relation to Care Act Advocacy, the post holder will provide time limited advocacy in response to referrals made by social services in line with their statutory duties.

Location

The role will be office or home based but will also include regular home visits to clients and some lone working.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

  • To work as part of team to deliver a high quality advocacy service to disabled people and support them to self-advocate when appropriate.
  • To meet with people using the service, establish their views and wishes and preferences, and identify possible courses of action and options available.
  • To represent people’s views and wishes with relevant services, agencies and individuals.
  • Where people are unable to express their views the advocate will use non-instructed advocacy approaches to secure the rights of individuals, and ensure their best interests are observed.
  • To work one to one with individuals accessing the service, and carry an advocacy caseload which is reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis.
  • Work co-operatively and effectively with other staff in Disability Sheffield to ensure that individuals accessing the advocacy service are also linked in to other activities and opportunities within the organisation
  • To promote the service to disabled individuals, theircarers, organisations, service providers and others – presenting information to stakeholders when required.
  • Where appropriate, store information about advocacy activities which can be used for funding bids and other reports which require evidence based on need, activities, value and impact
  • Record and monitor casework, using the electronic case management system.
  • To work with other members of the team in order to support and mentor volunteer advocates and students on placement in the service.
  • Signpost advocacy partners to other relevant specialist/generic services as required and track as appropriate
  • To actively participate in supervision sessions
  • To undertake necessary training and development as identified through the supervision process
  • Ensure that all duties and functions are carried out in accordance

With the organisation’s policies and procedures

  • To undertake any other duties which fall within the scope of the post

Job Application Guidelines

Disability Sheffield Centre for Independent Living is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to treat every applicant fairly. The information you provide in your application form is the only information we will use in deciding whether or not you will be invited for interview, so it is important that you complete it with care. To help you, please follow these guidelines.

Disability Sheffield has a policy of shortlisting and interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for their jobs. The law will allow this. It would not be unlawful discrimination against a non-disabled applicant who also meets the minimum requirements but is not shortlisted.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the post please contact or

Please submit an application form to apply for the post by 30th Oct 2015 – 5pm by email to

After reading the person specification and job description, think carefully

about your application and consider to what extent you have the skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of the post.

Any attachments, such as CVs, references or photocopies of your qualifications will be disregarded and will not be seen by the selection panel.

Interviews will be held early November 2015

Person specification

All of the following requirements will be assessed from a combination of information provided from the application form, interview and references:

Essential
  1. An excellent understanding of the principles of Advocacy.

  1. Experience of one to one casework and managing a caseload.

  1. Experience of working with adults in an informing or supporting role.

  1. Independent Advocacy Qualification Level 3 (or working towards)

  1. An understanding and knowledge of the Social Model of disability, the Independent Living Movement and a commitment to the disability rights movement.

  1. Ability to prioritise work tasks and balance competing demands in a busy, face to face service.

  1. Excellent inter-personal skills.

  1. Ability to work on own initiative.

  1. Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to adapt communication style as appropriate in different situations.

  1. Ability to use an electronic case management system.

  1. Ability to use Microsoft Office software.

  1. A willingness to take on undertake training identified as relevant to the post.

  1. The ability to ensure that health and safety requirements are met within the organisation

  1. Eligibility to work in the UK

Desirable requirements
  1. Personal experience of disability through self or family.

  1. Experience of working as an advocate

  1. Experience of a user controlled and led organisation.

Information for Candidates

Equal Opportunities

Disability Sheffield affords its employees equal opportunities in employment, training and development irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, marital/parental status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, hours of work, political beliefs, TU membership or age.

Disability Sheffield has an Equal Opportunities Policy and all employees are expected to be aware of, and adhere to, the provisions of this policy and carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with this policy.

DBS (previously known as CRB)

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). For further information on the organisation’s DBS policy, email .

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information

In the course of your normal employment you may come into the possession of confidential information relating to people who use Disability Sheffield’s services, staff and Disability Sheffield’s business and commercial information. All employees have a responsibility to ensure the security of information and to comply with the Data Protection Acts, Access to Health Records and Computer Misuse Act. Disclosure of medical, commercial or personal information, systems passwords or other confidential information to any unauthorised person/s will be considered as gross misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal.

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