Registered Charity No: 1125679

Company Registration No: 6599429

Lead Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

Job Description

Based at:Taunton/Bath Office (with possibility of home working and a requirement to travel throughout Somerset and particularly Mendip and Sedgemoor Districts

Responsible to:IMCA Manager

Salary: £21,638pa Pro rata

Hours:18 hours per week, hours negotiable

The post holder will be required to undertake the Diploma in Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy DoLS Qualification (City & Guilds level 4) if not already held and complete specific units within 6 months.The post holder would also be required to undertake the Care Act unit.

Main Purpose

To support and deputise for the IMCA Manager in the continued delivery, development and promotion of high quality Independent Advocacyfor eligible service users across Somerset.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

  1. Delivery
  1. Provide direct IMCA support to individual clients.
  2. Ensure the delivery of a high quality, responsive IMCA service which meets the specific requirements set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Care Act 2014.
  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. Work alongside service users, to ensure their individual issues and needs are clearly represented.
  5. 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.
  6. Network with other agencies in order to maintain effective communication and joint working for the benefit of service users.
  7. Ensure all referrals and instructions meet the national criteria for the IMCA service and any locally agreed discretionary powers.
  8. Promote self-advocacy as a strategy to build confidence and independence for service users, encouraging them to play a fuller role in the community.
  9. Ensure collection of relevant information which can be used to alert health and social care services about what is, and what is not working well, thus contributing directly to the planning and development of future service provision
  10. Ensure the delivery of services and projects in line with contract and funding requirements.
  11. Promote the rights, equality, diversity and needs of service users by ensuring they are respected and valued as individuals.
  12. Provide supervision and ongoing support to team members.
  13. Deputise for IMCA manager as appropriate.
  1. Organisational/personal responsibilities
  1. To effectively manage a complex case load.
  2. To take responsibility for line management of IMCA advocates.
  3. To adhere to and work within the guidelines set out in all the company policies and procedures.
  4. To contribute to the ongoing planning & development of the organisation.
  5. To obtain the Independent Advocacy Qualification and participate in ongoing training to keep up to date with services, procedures, guidelines and legislation.
  6. To take individual responsibility within the organisation for all health and safety matters, and general organisational needs and issues.
  7. To participate in regular team meetings and supervision.
  8. To complete and submit expenses forms in a timely manner.

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 adults subject to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  • Minimum 2 years’ experience of supporting or working with people with dementia, mental illness, learning disability or significant physical impairment
/
  • Experience of working with people subject to the regulations of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  • Experience of staff/volunteer/student supervision

Skills & Abilities /
  • Ability to adapt communication methods to meet the needs of clients
  • Effective communicator, both verbal and written
  • Organisational & Planning Skills
  • Effective interpersonal skills including ability to negotiate
  • Ability to manage time and resources cost-effectively
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team
  • 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
  • Report writing skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines

Qualifications /
  • Educated to level 2 (GCSE or equivalent)
/
  • Certificate in Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA)
  • Diploma in IMCA DoLS

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
  • Influencing and negotiating skills
  • A flexible approach to work
  • Professional but friendly approach
  • Self-motivated

Knowledge /
  • An understanding of Care Management procedures and Health and Social Services Structures
  • Knowledge of the principles of Independent Advocacy
  • An understanding and knowledge of statutory and voluntary organisations
  • Knowledge of legislation relevant to our clients
/
  • A knowledge of the geography and communities of which we work

General /
  • Willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of the charity
  • Willingness to undertake the Independent Advocacy Qualification
  • Willingness to travel extensively throughout service areas
  • A full drivers licence and use of a car
  • Willingness to occasionally work outside normal working hours

Please email: with any questions about the post or the recruitment process.

Sept 2016