Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)
Generic Mental Health Advocate
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post: Independent Mental Health Advocatewho will also provide Generic Mental Health Advocacy support across Rotherham MBC to informal patients.
Hours: 30 hours per week
Location: Rotherham MBC and DoncasterMBC localities, Office or Home Based, although all roles will require individuals to work flexibly throughout the Region.
Accountable to:Service Manager
Initial Pay: £21,715 p.a. pro rata pre-qualification.
£22,220 p.a. pro rata fully qualified.
This postand annual salary review are subject to annual performance appraisal.
Other: Permanent Contract subject to a six month probationary period and an annual performance review. Applications for sessional work will also be considered.
Training will be provided for this role. If you do not currently hold the National Advocacy Qualification you will be required to complete this within 12 months of commencing employment and personal development support will be provided.
Appointment subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS) enhanced with barred list check. Two satisfactory references and evidence must be providedof a right to work in the United Kingdom.
Closing Date will be:7th March 2018
Interviews will be held in:On or around 16th March 2018
Overall Purpose:
This Independent Mental Health Health Advocacyrole is to required to fully meet the needs of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) as amended in 2007 to provide an effective Mental Health Advocacy to all qualifying patients under the MHA and to meet the specific Generic Mental Health Advocate agreed with Rotherham MBC. Individuals will be required to support flexible service delivery across this service to meet client needs. A flexible, professional, customer focused attitude is essential. This post provides statutory advocacy services to the public for people who lack capacityas described in the Mental Health Act 1983/2007, its Regulations and Codes of Practice.
Cloverleaf Advocacy expects everyone to demonstrate positive social care values - these include: compassion, dignity, integrity, respect, and responsibility.
The key functions of the IMHA (generic) role will include:
- To provide advocacy to qualifying patients as defined in the 2007 Mental Health Act Code of Practiceacross DMBC, RMBCand RDaSH (also provide generic mental health related advocacy ) and across the Region as required.
- To offer one to one advocacy and to promote, develop and support other forms of generic mental health advocacyacross RMBC as required.
- To support individuals to speak for themselves, or to represent them where they are unable to speak for themselves.
- To complete all relevant case recording, monitoring and evaluation information.
- To assist in providing a response to enquiries and referrals for the IMHA service and contribute to the general running and development of Cloverleaf Advocacy and the DMBC and RMBC Services.
This activity will include working with people of all ages, including those with learning disabilities, people with mental health needs, people with physical and sensory impairment and older people.
The role will involve supporting individuals to speak for themselves, or to provide representation where this is not possible. The role will also involve delivery and facilitation of workshops and training sessions for service users around self advocacy and negotiation skills.
The post holder will assist in providing a response to enquiries and referrals and contribute to the general running and development of Cloverleaf Advocacy.
The postholder will work in conjunction with other staff of the agency, and will assist in the coordination and development of the service where appropriate.
Key Tasks:
Advocacy
- To provide a telephone response to enquiries and requests for advocacy support.
- To provide a response to requests for advocacy within service standards.
- To carry out and complete an assessment of advocacy need.
- To complete an advocacy action plan in partnership with the client
- To signpost to legal advice and other appropriate services where necessary.
- To provide confidential one to one IMHA advocacy.
- To attend MHRT’s, Managers Hearings, ward rounds etc.
- To ensure that people using the service are able to assert their rights and are supported to self advocate whenever possible.
- Encourage individuals to explore their potential to the fullest, push boundaries and take risks to maintain or regain increased control over their daily lives.
- Facilitate self advocacy groups and skills training with and for service users.
- To work within and comply with the contractual remit of the service, IMHA code of conduct, company rules and all Cloverleaf policies.
Administration, Monitoring & Evaluation
- To complete case recording in accordance with agency practice, using the Lamplight system. To update and complete case records within agency time limits.
- To maintain satisfactory records and administration systems and contribute to the efficient running of the service.
- To record inputs, outputs and outcomes in accordance with agency procedures.
- To identify issues of importance raised by individuals using the service from their views and experiences and promote these through relevant means e.g. service user groups, planning meetings etc.
- To actively participate in and contribute to team meetings, supervision sessions and staff appraisals as arranged.
- To assist in establishing criteria for good practice in advocacy and in monitoring and evaluating the service against these criteria.
Accountability
- To seek guidance and support from management staff.
- To record movements in office diary and provide relevant information to Service Managers as requested.
- To work closely with the client in accordance with the code of practice and other agency procedures.
Working with others
Internal
- To attend team meetings & planning meetings with colleagues.
- To induct and support students, volunteers and new staff including providing shadowing opportunities.
External
- To liaise with service providers, relatives and others engaged with/working with service users as part of the advocacy role.
- To develop good working relationships with other agencies and with referrers.
Project Development
- To contribute to the development of operational and administrative policies, practices and procedures of Cloverleaf Advocacy.
- To publicise and promote the work of the organisation and the development of advocacy, including innovative models of advocacy.
- To take part in and contribute to training and development (including completion of the national advocacy qualification & IMHA qualification)
All staff have a collective responsibility towards the effective running of Cloverleaf Advocacy. As such, new tasks and duties may develop in the light of experience, which may be allocated where reasonable, after discussion with the post holder.
Independent Mental Health Advocate(+Genric)Person Specification
Requirements / Essential / How evidencedEducation and Qualifications /
- General secondary/higher education. 5 GSCE’s or equivalent, including Maths and English. Ability to write clear and concise English and competent in numeracy
Qualification Certificates
Experience and Knowledge /
- Knowledge of the legislation, policies and procedures that influence advocacy and mental health provision.Understanding of health and social care needs assessments, care management, and of community care policy and practice
- Recent experience in a paid or voluntary capacity involving face to face advocacy or mental health services.
- Experience of working effectively in an inter-agency context, and with a range of stakeholders, including health and social care professionals and family carers
- Understanding of the IMHA/Genericadvocacy roles
Skills and abilities /
- Ability to listen to and engage with people from diverse backgrounds both in a face to face role and over the telephone
- Ability to display empathy in a range of situations
- An understanding of the needs and issues faced by people using mental health services
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Ability to deliver excellent ‘customer care’ skills, display empathy and deal effectively with conflict situations
- Self motivated and able to work under own initiative
- Ability to use supervision and peer support effectively
- Ability to manage a complex workload and to prioritise effectively
- Commitment to equal opportunities
- Ability to build positive working relationships and networks with other professionals
- Ability to keep up to date, accurate and accessible electronic and paper case records
- Ability to reflect on and learn from experience and maintain an awareness of oneself
- Possession of general office skills and IT literate
Other: /
- Ability to travel across the RMBC and DMBC RDaSH Service and other areas by agreement
- Willingness to undertake the IMHA & National Advocacy Qualification and other training as identified
Other: / Desirable
- Qualification (degree, NVQ etc) in Mental Health or Health and Social Care
- Knowledge of local service provision
- Knowledge of the local area
- Experience of advocating for others
- Ability to speak community languages (other than English)
- Ability to research information
Interview only
27.Flexible approach to working / Interview
28.Positive approach to change / Interview
29.A professional, customer focused attitude is essential / Interview
When completing your application form, please address all of the ‘essential’ points in numerical order of the person specification and any of the ‘desirable’ points you are able to fulfil. If you do not address them, the assumption will be made that you do not meet that particular requirement for the role, and this will reduce your chances of invitation for interview.