Title: Lead Advocate

Reporting to: National Advocacy Manager, OCD Action

Location: London

Hours: 22.5 hours / week (flexible working)

Salary: £12,600 -14,400 pro rata (full time equivalent £21,000 -24,000)

Holiday: 14 days pro rata (not including statutory holidays)

Duration: Covering maternity leave from December 2015

Background
OCD Action is the largest national charity focusing on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Our vision is of a society where OCD is better understood and diagnosed quickly, where appropriate treatment options are open and accessible, where support and information are readily available and where nobody feels ashamed to ask for help.
We provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD, work to raise awareness of the disorder amongst the public and frontline healthcare workers and strive to secure a better deal for people with OCD.
The Charity’s Advocacy service is the only one of its kind in the UK. Working with people who have OCD to secure their rights to access quality treatment and to be treated fairly at home, in education and at work. The service has recently secured 5 years funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

In this role you will be responsible for providing direct advocacy to a small number of people with OCD and, with the NationalAdvocacy Manager, for the recruitment, training, supervision & support of a team of volunteers.
You will be an experienced advocate with excellent communication skills and a sound understanding of relevant legislation. You will have successfully managed volunteers in previous roles and will have a proven track record in developing productive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
To apply for this role, please send a C.V along with a cover letter outlining how you meet the person specification supplied and why you wish to make this application.
Closing date for all applications is: 23rd November 2015
Interviews will take place in London in early December.

Job Description

The Lead Advocate has responsibility for the day-to-day management of their workload ensuring that the National Advocacy Manager is kept informed of activities. The following are the Key Objectives of the role:

Volunteer Training & Support

·  To work with the National Advocacy Manager to advertise for, recruit, train, supervise and support appropriate volunteers to provide independent advocacy to people affected by OCD.

·  To respond to queries to the organisation by identifying advocacy issues and allocating cases to volunteers.

·  To provide remote support & supervision to all volunteers by monitoring case work, proofing letters etc. and by complying with OCD Action’s Lone Working Policy.

Monitoring and Evaluation

·  To ensure that volunteers deliver a consistently high quality service & record and monitor activity according to existing agreed processes.

·  To work with the National Advocacy Manager to analyse and evaluate service outcomes.

Casework

·  To deliver a high quality independent advocacy service to a small number of clients, supporting people to develop and use self-advocacy skills.

·  To seek legal advice and support where appropriate.

·  To maintain clear, accurate and up-to-date case records on OCD Action’s on-line database.

Networking

·  To work with the National Advocacy Manager to develop and maintain effective working relationships with local service providers (both statutory and Third Sector) in targeted regional areas.

·  To promote awareness of OCD, OCD Action & the advocacy service with service providers in the region.

Generally

·  To play a part in the general activities of OCD Action e.g. annual conference, stakeholder events, OCD Week of Action etc.

NB: This is an evolving position within OCD Action and as such you may be required to undertake additional duties not listed here that are considered to be in accordance with the overall aim and objectives of the post.

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