Independent Advocate

These services include: employment support services, human rights and
independent advocacy, campaigns, community integration and digital
connectivity, transport, information and advice, mental health and
wellbeing and disability specialist support.

Main Purpose of the Job: The Independent Advocate will provide
independent and confidential advocacy to disabled people. The post
holder will utilise their skills and experiences to provide advocacy for
disabled people to deal with specific questions or issues relating to
health and social care. The Independent Advocate will undertake one to
one work with disabled people.

Reporting Arrangements & Management Responsibility: The
Independent Advocate is responsible to and reports to the Advocacy
Manager and will have the option of home working, working in the field
and the Newry or Derry Office. The post holder does not directly line
manager any other posts., 1 To act as an advocate with Trust service users and arrange and
attend meetings as appropriate. Building the independence of
service users, including supporting service users in speaking up or
acting for themselves or, at times when they are unable to do so,
speaking or acting on their behalf if they wish this to happen.

2 To work with people with learning disabilities in a range of settings
including the community, supported living and in hospital or
assessment centres.

3 To work within the Advocacy Network Northern Ireland Code of
Practice for Independent Advocates.

4 To take on advocacy cases as allocated by the Advocacy Manager
and prioritise workload based on contract criteria.

5 To ensure, where appropriate, that there is ongoing consent with
the service user and maintain written and accurate records that
reflect their will and preferences and explanation of how and when
this was obtained.

6 To work with people with learning disabilities to enable people to
make informed choices. To make referrals to specialist agencies
and individuals when appropriate.

7 To work in partnership with other agencies and individuals across
pathways of care to ensure correct levels of support are in place.

8 To maintain accurate records on all cases and ensure they are
held securely to maintain confidentiality and that information is
submitted to the Manager within appropriate timescales.

9 To adhere to Disability Action's Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection
policies, lone working policies, data protection policies and health
and safety policies.

10 To undertake any other duties as may be required from time to
time by Disability Action in line with the status of the post.

NB: - The organisation reserves the right to vary these terms and
conditions of employment at its discretion in circumstances where such
variation is in the interests of improving the efficiency of the
organisation's business. The organisation also reserves the right to, Within its value base Disability Action recognises that certain
disabled people may not have had the opportunity to achieve
certain qualifications, or may be unable to meet other criteria such
as possession of a driving licence. If you feel that you, as a person
with a disability, have experienced these barriers we would
encourage you to tell us about it and to tell how your other skills
and attributes prepare you for this post. This will help us to make
any necessary reasonable adjustments and / or positive action
measures to the recruitment process., NB: - Criteria based selection is used as a means of ensuring that the
best candidate is selected on the basis of their ability to do the job
required. This method of selection requires individuals to demonstrate
their knowledge, skills or competence through completion of an
application form and, if shortlisted, by attendance at a structured
interview.

Criteria based selection tests applicants against a set of criteria, which
have been drawn up and agreed as being necessary for a specific post.
The criterion details the knowledge, skills and competences that an
individual will need to possess to be effective.

The ' Personnel Specification' details the criteria for the post. The
essential criteria reflect what an applicant must possess in order to
apply. Essential Criteria may thus be regarded as 'eligibility' criteria.
Individuals must demonstrate on their application that they satisfy all of
these criteria fully in order to be shortlisted.

1 Experience of delivering advocacy in a paid of unpaid capacity.

2 Accredited Level 2 Award in Independent Advocacy (City and
Guilds), Third Level qualification or equivalent. 2 years advocacy
experience paid or unpaid will be considered as an equivalent.

3 Evidence an understanding of managing a caseload.

4 An understanding of the challenges faced by people who are
facing disadvantage.

5 The ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

6 Excellent (a) interpersonal skills, (b) oral communication skills and
(c) written communication skills.

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7 Understanding of the complexities of attaining the perspective of
people who lack mental capacity in decision making.

8 Understanding of equal opportunities policy.

9 Ability to keep up to date accurate and accessible electronic and
paper case records.

10 Possession of a full driving licence and access to a car for
business travel.

(If the effects of a disability preclude an individual from holding a
driving licence then they should indicate how they can meet the
mobility requirements of the post - i.e. the ability to travel
throughout Northern Ireland, during normal working hours and on
some occasions at evenings and weekends.)


(b) Desirable Requirements

1 Lived experience of disability

2 A social work qualification.

3 An understanding of the complexity of the Northern Ireland Social
Care System.

Disability Action is the largest pan-disability organisation and charity in the
UK and Ireland. We are a Disabled person's led organisation (DPO)
advocating for the rights of d/Deaf and Disabled people. We provide
services which are developed for and by d/Deaf and Disabled people.