Job Description: Citizen Advocacy Worker

Hours: / 18 hours per week
Salary: / £20,209 pro rata
Responsible to: / Line manager (Befriending Co-ordinator)
Prime objectives of the post:

To work with older people in Shipley and Bingley who are referred to the service who need help and support to navigate the health and social care system ensuring that their interests are promoted.
To assist the older person to understand and make choices with regard to services
To be an integral member of the Befriending team cultivating advocacy volunteering
To work with others involved in their care, including family, befrienders and professionals
To refer as appropriate to local information and advice, casework advocacy or other services

To liaise with Health watch services to ensure that feedback about services are recorded
Range of Decision Making:

Take decisions relating to day-to-day work schedule.
To work closely with the Befriending team.
Work on own initiative referring complex problems / issues and those with policy / resource implications to the line manager
Ensure adherence to all HALE’s or SBVS’s policies, procedures, guidelines and monitoring requirements, and those of partner organisations.

Duties and Tasks

To provide an excellent, informed service for older people who want to know how to access health and social care services.
To promote the citizen advocacy project within SAL, in liaison with befriending staff, volunteers and carers, and coordinate referrals.
To keep accurate and detailed records of all referrals, interventions and outcomes as required by the steering group and funders.
To receive and action referrals.
Ensure that those who need information, and advice receive information that is accessible and understandable, so that it best supports their needs and enables those with the capacity to navigate the services themselves.
To monitor clients, by liaising with befriending staff and volunteers, making follow up visits, identifying any relevant issues around changing needs, developments in care service provision and choices to be made.
Ensure that robust procedures are in place for adult protection, health and safety etc.
To provide regular reports to their line manager.
To build ongoing evaluation and quality assurance into the project.
To work closely with all other local voluntary and statutory organisations with an interest in the welfare of older people.
Attend the befriending co-ordinators’ training sessions and get togethers to increase awareness and build advocacy skills in befriending volunteers as well as ensuring that the advocacy service is promoted.
To raise awareness and understanding of the role of the service, and the difficulties that clients face when wishing to make a complaint, or when facing a problem with their health services, undertaking presentations on the project within organisational guidelines
To carry out client assessments, and sign post on as and when appropriate
To ensure strict confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Maintain effective and co-operative relationships with key stakeholders including service providers without compromising the independence of the service
To promote and publicise the project by networking, presentations, and publications. By working closely with all other voluntary and statutory organisations.
Actively participate in regular supervision sessions and annual appraisal/performance development reviews.
Attend appropriate training as identified by yourself and/or your line manager.
To work on own initiative within agreed parameters.
Proactively work as a member of the Befriending team and the wider team of either HALE or SBVS
Represent HALE/ SBVS as requested by your line manager.
Adhere at all times to HALE’s/ SBVS’ policies and procedures.
Be prepared to work flexible or extended hours in line with the development of the service.
To undertake other duties commensurate with the service and smooth running of HALE as appropriate.
To contribute to the smooth running of the office.
To actively participate in supervision with HALE Project Manager and team meetings.
To demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

To work and communicate with communities, community groups, voluntary and statutory agencies operating in the HALE Project area and outside this area as is appropriate.

5. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Travel around the HALE area and work in a variety of settings, occasional transporting of resources for events and work unsocial hours evenings and weekends.

6. REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1994

Because of the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1994 (Exceptions) Order 1995. Applicants for posts are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are “spent” under the provisions of the Act and in the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in disciplinary action or dismissal by HALE. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to an applicant of a position to which the order applies.

Charity Number 1123542 (HALE) 1070852 (SBVS)

Company Limited by guarantee registered in England No. 6443243 (HALE) 3520254 (SBVS)

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