Learning Disability Groups Advocate

Reporting to: Groups Manager

Hours: 14 hours per week

Office-Base: Sutton / Homeworking

Salary: £10,825 per annum

Summary

This is a pilot project supporting adults with learning disabilities who have mental health difficulties. The aim is to offer support through 1-1 advocacy and small group work, enabling people to address mental health issues at an early stage before they get into crisis.

This role will be based within the self-advocacy team, enabling small groups to learn coping strategies and wellbeing exercises and gain a stronger support system. The groups Advocate will work alongside the 1-1 Advocate, so people can progress from 1-1 advocacy into group support.

About Our Client

Our client is a locally rooted advocacy organisation with a strong history, which exists to give people a voice through one-to-one advocacy and self-advocacy groups. They believe that Bigger Voices Better Lives.

Their approach is person-centred, empowering and rights focussed. They place a strong value on supporting people to be as independent as possible. They believe that being fair, valuing diversity and involving people are extremely important.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To facilitate in-person and online groups in the Sutton borough.
• To facilitate a fortnightly wellbeing drop in.
• To work alongside the 1-1 Advocate and wider self-advocacy team.
• To use own initiative to make links with local and regional organisations, in order to promote the project and membership of our client’s self-advocacy groups.
• To ensure that all discussions and meetings concerning the client are focussed on their needs and aspirations. To involve members in discussions about their support in meaningful and appropriate ways.
• To communicate in such a way that the individual has a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities and are aware of what support is right for them.
• To work with each person / group identified who requires support to meet his or her individual needs. Support all individuals in a way that promotes dignity and respect.
• To empower individuals to challenge situations where they are not being offered adequate support, in order to foster independence and self-management in their ongoing mental health journey.
• To support the ongoing development of the projects, as an experienced member of the team.
• To have an overview of the self-advocacy projects in the borough.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential:

• A good standard of education to at least NVQ Level 3/A-level, or equivalent.
• A willingness to undertake training and continuing development.

Desirable:

• Formal advocacy-related qualification or training.
• Learning disability-related qualification or training.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• At least 1 years’ experience of working with learning disabled adults in a professional context.
• Experience of supporting people with mental health difficulties.
• An awareness of the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism, including what reasonable adjustments might need to be made in the workplace.
• An awareness of adult safeguarding.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment.
• Experience of home/lone working.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective administrative systems.

Desirable:

• Experience of advocacy in a professional context.
• Experience of using outcomes frameworks to measure progress.
• Experience of creating promotional material.

Ability

Essential:

• To independently manage a caseload – working with learning disabled adults using self-advocacy in order to identify and to make changes, which will support their overall mental health and wellbeing.
• To recognise the importance of professional boundaries and clear guidance.
• To multi-task, manage own workload and meet deadlines in a busy environment where lone working might be required.
• To use Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint.
• To network and liaise with professionals, external organisations, and members of the public.
• To work productively as part of a team and under own initiative in a lone-working role.
• To work flexibly and outside of office hours, as required.
• To travel freely across the Sutton borough, preferably with a full, clean UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.

Desirable:

• To maintain and manage social media sites of various natures.
• To produce newsletters, e-bulletins and other publicity materials to a high standard.

Communication:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• An ability to respond to enquiries in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Able to keep calm under pressure and prioritise accordingly.
• Familiarity with Zoom and online facilitation.
• An awareness of person-centred working.