Job TitleCareActAdvocate(AllClient groups)

Reporting toAdvocacy Manager / Head of Campaigns and community Business Unit

Job Purpose

  • Assist peopleto understandtheassessment,careandsupportplanning andreviewprocess,andhowtheirneeds can bemetbytheLocal Authority
  • Assistingpeople tocommunicatetheir views,wishesandfeelingsduringCareActassessmentsor developing careor support plans
  • Assistingpeople tochallengedecisionsmade bythe localauthorityandwhereappropriate,challengingon their behalf.
  • Assistingpeople in understanding thesafeguardingprocess
  • Within theCareActcontract,toelicita person’s viewsaboutthe decisionproposedinsofaraspossible, usingappropriate means ofcommunication,andrepresent theirviewsortheirlikely viewstothoseresponsiblefor makingdecisions.

KeyResponsibilities

Main Task

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Description

Deliver Care Act Advocacy across impairments and to carers

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  • Respond to valid care act referrals within an appropriate time frame
  • Obtain information about person’s communication system where necessary working with families/carers and other workers
  • Where its not possible to obtain the views of the person directly explore alternative methods to establish their views and wishes
  • Ensure that peoples human rights are protected and due regard is given to ensuring that the least restrictive option is used

Data recording and reporting

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  • Keep up to date accurate records with due care and attention to confidentiality and data protection
  • Provide timely management reports that meet the needs of both the project and the commissioners

Working with others

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  • Work in partnership with key stakeholders including statutory services and service providers without compromising the independence of the advocacy role
  • Attend and participate in meetings as required and deliver presentations on the service to a wide range of audiences

Health and Safety and safeguarding

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  • Be aware of and follow Harrow Mencap’s safeguarding procedures
  • Follow Harrow mencap’s Health and Safety Procedures

Training and development

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  • Undertake formal qualifications necessary for the role
  • Participate in any training offered by harrow Mencap using acquired skills to enhance performance
  • Make use of Harrow Mencap’s supervision and appraisal process to evaluate own work performance and set goals

Corporate Responsibility

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  • Pro-active involvement in service and organisational developments within Harrow Mencap
  • Attend Harrow Mencap meetings and functions as required
  • Prompting a positive image of self and organisation at all times

Role

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The Post holder may be required to undertake duties which are keeping with this post

Care Act Adv July 2015

Job TitleCareActAdvocate

EssentialCriteria / DesirableCriteria
EDUCATIONQUALIFICATIONS
1. Certificate in Independent Advocacy or the willingness and ability to gain this within 1st year
. / 1.IMCA Qualification / A/I / 2.
KNOWLEDGE
2.A good understanding of People’s rights and entitlements under the care act
3.Knowledge andunderstandingoftheprinciples and practiceof advocacyandempowerment, includingnon-instructedadvocacy.
4.Working demonstrative knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty and Mental health Act
5.Demonstrate an understanding of risk taking and safeguarding
6.andcognitiveimpairments
7.Thoroughunderstandingofdiscriminationanddisabilityissues,equal opportunitiesandanti-discriminatory practice / A/I
I
A/I
I
KEYSKILLSABILITIES
6.A high level communicationskillsand theabilityto communicateeffectivelywith awiderangeofpeopleat alllevels
7.Strongadvocacy, representation,listeningandnegotiationskills
8.Abilityto liaisewithserviceproviders,carersand familieswithoutcompromisingtheadvocacyrole Abilityto organiseyourownworkload,to workunderpressureand todeadlines
9.Ability to organise you own workload to work under pressure and to deadlines
10.Abilitytomaintainandinterrogateinformationsystemsandkeepaccurate,upto daterecordsusing arangeof ICTsoftware.
11..Ability to collate information and write clear reports within tight timeframes
12.Abilityto promotetheservice and togivepresentationstoa variety ofaudiences
13.Ability to work in a wide range of settings including prisons and secure units / 1. Specialistcommunicationskillse.g.Makaton,BSL,Symbolsystems(Bliss,Wigit,PEX). Community Languages / A/I
I
A/I
A/T
A/T
A/T
I/T
A/I

Care Act Adv July 2015

Experience
EXPERIENCE
14.Experience ofprovidingadvocacy. To a range of impairment groups and carers
15.Experience ofusingdatabases andgeneral ICTsoftwaree.g.MSOffice. / A
A
PERSONAL /BEHAVIOURALATTRIBUTES
16.Commitmentto working in partnershipwithclients, equalopportunitiespractice/anti-discriminatorypracticeand tothepromotion ofcivilandhumanrights
17.Commitmentto attendandparticipateinsupervisionandundertaketraining
18.Able to work at a fast and effective pace adapting to different client situations as they arise
19.Commitmentto ownprofessionaldevelopment
20.Flexible and creativeapproach
21.Highself-motivation andcommitment / A/I
A
A/I
I
I
I
OTHER
22..Flexibilityincludingthe ability to workunsocial hours
23.Responsive to the needs of the individuals and service / A/I
A/I

Care Act Adv July 2015