Trainee Advocate

Location: Field Based – Barnsley
Contract: Permanent, Full Time – 35 Hours
Salary: £24,544.91
DBS Check: Enhanced with Adults & Children

Have you ever wanted a career where you can make a genuine difference to people's lives every day?

At Rethink Advocacy, we're looking for compassionate, motivated individuals who believe everyone deserves to be heard. As a Trainee Advocate, you'll learn how to empower people to understand their rights, make informed choices, and ensure their views are considered in decisions that affect their lives. 

You don't need to be a qualified advocate already. We'll support you to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to succeed while completing the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification. 

What you'll be doing

As a Trainee Advocate, you'll begin your journey by shadowing experienced colleagues, learning the principles of advocacy, safeguarding, and person-centred support. As your confidence grows, you'll gradually take ownership of your own caseload and support people accessing mental health services across Barnsley.

You'll work with people in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals and secure facilities
• Care homes
• Supported living services
• Community settings
• People's own homes 

You'll learn how to:

• Support people to express their views, wishes and feelings.
• Help individuals understand their rights and available options.
• Deliver both instructed and non-instructed advocacy.
• Navigate mental health, social care and legal frameworks.
• Maintain accurate records and case notes.
• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Build positive relationships with a wide range of people and professionals.
• Promote advocacy services within local communities and services. 

This is a field-based role, so no two days will be the same. You'll travel across Barnsley, manage your own diary and enjoy a varied workload while being fully supported by an experienced team. 

Who we're looking for

You may be looking for a career change, have experience supporting vulnerable people, or bring valuable lived experience and transferable skills.

We're interested in people who:

• Are passionate about helping others have their voice heard.
• Respect people's right to make their own choices and decisions.
• Have excellent communication and listening skills.
• Can build trusting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Are organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Are comfortable using IT systems and Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrate empathy, resilience and professionalism.
• Can travel throughout the Barnsley area and occasionally further afield when required.

Most importantly, you'll bring a genuine commitment to learning and developing as an advocate. We'll teach you the rest. 

What you'll get in return

When you join Rethink Mental Illness, you're not just starting a job. You're building a career with purpose.

We offer:

• Fully supported completion of the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• Protected study time to support your learning and development.
• Regular supervision, mentoring and reflective practice sessions.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A supportive and welcoming team environment.
• Meaningful work that has a direct impact on people's lives.
• A clear progression route into a qualified Advocate role upon successful completion of your qualification.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're looking for a rewarding career where you'll learn, grow and help people find their voice, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and take your first step towards becoming a qualified Advocate with Rethink Mental Illness.