Registered Charity No: 1125679

Company Registration No: 6599429

Dementia Advocacy Service (DAS)Advocate

Job Description

Based at:Home based/Taunton Office based –travelling throughout Somerset as required

Responsible to:DAS Manager

Hours:20 hours per week, hours negotiable

Salary:£20,202 pa pro rata

Annual Leave:Starting at 25 days per year, plus Bank Holidays pro rata

Benefits:6% pension

Main Purpose

The DAS Advocate will carry a caseload of clients and work with individuals to develop their Living Well Plans.

The DAS Advocate will be responsible for working with Care Homes, to introduce the LWP and to deliver training to staff where required.

The DAS Advocate will coordinate the delivery of groups, developing volunteers’ to become group facilitators.

The DAS Advocate will, in conjunction with the Volunteer Co-ordinator,provide training and support to volunteer advocates working within the specialist DAS team.

The post is subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

The post holder will be required to undertake the Certificate in Independent Advocacy (City & Guilds) if not already held.

  1. Service Delivery
  1. Delivera high quality, responsive DAS which achieves the specific targets and outcomes set out in the project plan.
  2. Provide direct DAS support to individual clients, working with individuals to develop their Living Well Plans.
  3. Ensure people requiring advocacy have access to information which is presented in an appropriate manner for their individual needs about their rights and appropriate support services.
  4. Introduce the Living Well Plan to Care Homes, through meetings and presentations, and provide ongoing support and monitoring as required.
  5. Train external staff in the delivery of Living Well Plans where required.
  6. Deliver memory groups with the support of volunteers, to promote and encourage the participation in the Living Well Plan.
  7. Promote self-advocacy as a strategy to build confidence and independence for service users, encouraging them to play a fuller role in the community.
  8. Work alongside service users, to ensure their individual issues and needs are clearly represented.
  9. Promote and attend regular meetings of service users to share information about services, air and discuss ideas and concerns about them, seeking where appropriate a collective view.
  10. Network with other agencies in order to maintain effective communication and joint working for the benefit of service users.
  11. Ensure the delivery of services and projects in line with Big Lottery Fund requirements.
  12. Promote the rights, equality, diversity and needs of service users by ensuring they are respected and valued as individuals.
  1. Development
  1. Work as part of the DAS team to develop networks and relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the active promotion and effective delivery of the DAS.
  2. Encourage and enable clients to become involved in all aspects of the planning and development of the DAS as far as they are able to.
  3. Gather and share information that will provide for the effective scoping and mapping of future advocacy provision.
  4. Support the development of Swan Advocacy as a Dementia Friendly organisation.
  1. Organisational/Personal Responsibilities
  1. To adhere to and work within the guidelines set out in all the company policies and procedures.
  2. To contribute to the ongoing planning & development of the organisation.
  3. To obtain the Independent Advocacy Qualification and participate in ongoing training to keep up to date with services, procedures, guidelines and legislation.
  4. To take individual responsibility within the organisation for all relevant health and safety matters, and general organisational needs and issues.
  5. To participate in regular team meetings and supervision.

The above describes the normal duties envisaged from the role of advocate. It is necessary however for all employees to be flexible in this respect, and all employees may, from time to time, be required by the employer to cover other reasonable duties within the day to day running of the organisation. Employees may also request to undertake other duties and responsibilities as part of their personal development within Swan.

Person Specification

QUALITIES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Experience /
  • Experience of providing support to or working with people experiencing memory loss or with a diagnosis of dementia
  • Experience of providing Independent advocacy support
/
  • Experience of working in the voluntary sector
  • Experience of networking

Skills & Abilities /
  • Effective communicator, both verbal and written
  • Ability to adapt communication methods to meet the needs of clients
  • Organisational & Planning Skills
  • Effective interpersonal skills including ability to negotiate
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels internally and externally
  • Ability to cope with the demands of a varying and diverse workload
  • Computer literate and experience in using Microsoft Office applications – in particular Outlook and Word

Qualifications /
  • Educated to level 3 i.e. A level
/
  • Certificate in Independent Advocacy

Personal qualities /
  • A commitment to our belief that everyone has the right to be heard, have choice and control and to be safe from violence and abuse
  • Good organisational ability
  • Have a flexible approach to work
  • The ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
  • Professional but friendly approach
  • Self Motivated

Knowledge /
  • Knowledge of the principles of independent Advocacy
  • An understanding and knowledge of statutory and voluntary organisations
  • Knowledge of issues relating to memory loss or dementia
/
  • Knowledge of the geography and communities in which we work

General /
  • Willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of the charity
  • Willingness to undertake the Independent Advocacy Qualification
  • Willing to travel extensively throughout service areas
  • A full drivers licence and use of a car
  • Willingness occasionally to work outside of normal working hours (time off in lieu is given)

May 17