THE JOB ROLE DESCRIPTION

THE JOB ROLE TITLE:AdvocacyAssistant

REPORTS TO:Advocacy Manager

SALARY:£18,746 per annum(35 hours per week)

OFFICE BASE: The Disability Can Do Centre

Due to the nature of this position, appointment will be subject to an enhanced check via theDisclosure and Barring Service.

JOB CONTEXT

  • To assist in the implementation and delivery of the Disability Can Dostrategic plan by providing support in the development, delivery, administration and promotion of the Advocacy Service.
  • To support the public awareness of the work of Disability Can Do in Caerphilly Borough and surrounding areas.
  • Support the volunteer team to provide a holistic and personalised approach to meeting the needs of beneficiaries.
  • To support the Advocacy ServiceManager to build good working relationships with the local authority, statutory and voluntary agencies and other key partners.
  • To build good working relationships between the Advocacy Team and the other support services at Disability Can Do.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

Maintaining Operational Standards (Quality):

  • To support the aims and objectives of Disability Can Do.
  • To comply with the culture and policies governing the organisation.
  • To ensure operational standards are adhered to at all times.

Key Internal responsibilities:

  • To provide a professional administrative support to the organisation’s Advocacy Service including comprehensive management of rotas and diaries as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for ensuring adequate security, operational data protection & safety systems are in place for the Advocacy Service, including ensuring in-house system back-ups are regularly and routinely performed.
  • Represent the Advocacy Service as a first point of contact in the office hub, both in person and on the telephone, including taking messages for other staff.
  • Develop and maintain accurate, meaningful service user records for the purposes of service delivery and statistical analysis.
  • To assist in the organisation of conferences, and other events relevant to the Advocacy Service, including arranging refreshments, booking venues etc.
  • To be responsible for organising meetings for the Advocacy Service and other meetings as required.
  • To provide regular quantitative and qualitative information to the senior management team on the outputs and outcomes of the Advocacy Service.

Volunteers

  • Ensure all project volunteers are appropriately supported in order to carry out their duties.
  • To support the Advocacy Manager in identifying volunteer training needs and maintain a training matrix to record the completion of training activities as appropriate to the service.
  • Help manage a system of reimbursing volunteers for all expenses they incur throughout their volunteering activities.
  • Provide the Advocacy Manager with administration support in respect of Volunteer reviews and Supervision.

Key External responsibilities:

  • Develop an understanding of the client group and their needs within the local area.
  • Establish a rapport with the disabled adults and carers who use the service.
  • Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of other organisations services and activities within the area and work in a close co-operation with them to maximise the services and support available to the disabled community.
  • Working with the support of the Services’ Volunteers, deliver regular Information Sessions in the Community in order to enhance Service Users ability to access the service.(including taking client details and initial referrals)
  • Ensure that knowledge gained and relationships established within the area are integrated into the wider knowledge base for sharing the overall benefit of disabled adults and their carers.
  • Participate in the empowerment of disabled adults and carers through the provision of Independent Advocacy; identify/establish support needs, gather and present information that enables informed choices to be made.
  • Ensure disabled adults and carers views are heard and assist them by providing them with a “voice”.
  • Establish a rapport with the disabled adults and carers who use the service and help them to understand their rights.

Contributing to Marketing/PR

  • To take an active role in the marketing sub-committee to ensure effective promotion of the Advocacy Service.
  • Actively contribute to the development of material promoting the Advocacy Service.

Contributing to the Team:

  • To be a proactive member of the Disability Can Do Organisation AdvocacyTeam.
  • To advise and assist all Disability Can Do Organisation Staff/Trustees as and when required (this task applies to all members of staff).

Contributing to Fundraising:

  • Work closely with the fundraising team to ensure shared knowledge of plans and relationships and a co-ordinated approach.
  • Identify opportunities for the promotion of Advocacy activity in the fundraising arena.
  • Be proactive in assisting with the sourcingand securing of funding that will sustain the AdvocacyService activity at the end of the current funding term.

The post holder will be working in a developing environment and will therefore be expected to undertake other appropriate duties as required for the effective operation of the Organisation and its services.

Post-holders are expected to be aware of work pressures on other administrative colleagues and proactively offer to assist where their workload allows.

Person Specification: Advocacy Assistant

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Direct involvement in service delivery within a voluntary sector or health or social care organisation.
  • Proven experience (1 year minimum) of working alongside and supporting volunteers, including personal development and objective setting.
  • Experience of marketing and promoting a service to increase awareness and support.
  • Experience of multi-agency working – liaising with statutory and voluntary organisations.
  • Experience of working directly with disabled adults.
  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the Advocate’s role.
  • Wide ranging knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting disabled adults and their carers in the local community.

Desirable

  • Experience in working with, and providing the administration for, systems to ensure high quality services are delivered.
  • Demonstrable experience of a person centred approach in the delivery of advocacy support services.
  • Independent Advocacy Certificate/Diploma

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Essential

  • The ability to work in a self-directed manner, and as part of a team.
  • Excellent organisational, written and verbal communication skills.
  • The ability to network and communicate with a wide range of personnel including staff, healthcare professionals, commissioners, disabled people, carers, families and the general public.
  • Ability to work under pressure, managing competing priorities, and ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Computer literacy in dealing with MS Office packages, including spreadsheets.
  • The job role may require occasional evening and weekend work. Some flexibility of working may be required
  • The ability to visit multiple locations within the service delivery area during the working day. This includes having a full driving license and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

  • Educated to A level or equivalent.
  • Ability to speak Welsh