JOB DESCRIPTION

Title:Advocate

Responsible to:Service Manager or Managing Advocate

Location:Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Role Summary:

This level is concerned with the direct provision of technical expertise to strengthen voice, champion rights and change lives of people who may be marginalised or vulnerable. Jobholders would normally report to the Service Manager or Managing Advocate and would be responsible for providing a direct service to gain positive outcomes for people along with wider impacts. Jobholders would normally have gained a recognised qualification for their technical discipline.

This is provided through working with people who use the service and other key stakeholders.

Jobs at this level will:

  • Work flexibly and creatively to deliver a strong outcomes focused service that achieves a high level of positive impact for those who use the service
  • Positively influence and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders to ensure that impact is achieved for individuals/groups of people we work with both locally and nationally
  • Require expert knowledge and understanding of their subject area
  • Introduce innovative solutions to problems both internal and external to VoiceAbility
  • Provide technical and professional information to a range of stakeholders
  • Be responsible for a range of issues/activities requiring investigation to resolve
  • Contribute to technical planning and have an understanding of the implications of predicted developments within the business discipline
  • Provide feedback to the Service Manager/Managing Advocate (including sharing success stories and suggestions for improvement) to help shape future business strategy and give credibility/strength to VoiceAbility’s capability to influence

Key Role Competencies (as defined by VoiceAbility’s competency matrix):

Communication / Client Focus / Teamwork
Making Things Happen / Managing Change / Personal Development
Business Awareness / Relationship Management / Influencing
Managing Information

(Competencies listed are core to the role requirements however are not limited to)

ACCOUNTABILITIES - The following accountabilities will apply to this role:

  1. Responsible for delivering an efficient and effective direct advocacy service, ensuring a consistently high standard in maintained and delivered in an empowering framework.
  1. Champion the use of advocacy services and the user’s voice in all activities.
  1. Maintain appropriate records/paperwork in support of an effective and efficient advocacy service.
  1. Be mindful of the budget set for the provision of the service and operate within the culture of cost awareness/savings/cost control, introducing efficiencies where appropriate.
  1. Ensure strongRelationship Managementofexisting stakeholders.
  1. Assist the Service Manager/Managing Advocate in developing new relationships and targeting specific work in support of our strategic plan.
  1. Participate in various activities to support the winning of new work/maintaining current income streams.
  1. Implement opportunities for innovation, which leads to improved service and performance of VoiceAbility’s objectives. Share learning with colleagues so efficiencies can be introduced across the organisation (be an internal champion).
  1. Live and breathe VoiceAbility’s valuesthrough own behaviourand by inspiring/guiding others in the way we work.
  1. To be proactive with own personal development.

All Job Descriptions and Accountabilities shall be subject to periodic review.

person specification – advocate

FACTOR / ESSENTIAL (E)
or DESIRABLE (D)
QUALIFICATIONS
  • IAQ
  • IAQ with specialisms of IMCA/IMHA
/ D
D
EXPERIENCE
  • 1+ years experience of working with people to ensure their rights and their voices heard
  • Working with vulnerable adults and/or children
  • 1+ years experience of Advocacy
  • 3+ years experience in a role that requires outstanding communication skills to achieve excellent results
  • Working in the Charity sector
  • Managing relationships
  • Representing an organisation externally
/ E
E
D
D
D
E
E
KNOWLEDGE
  • Charity and Third Sector
  • Advocacy and National Best Practice Standards
  • Health and Social Care law, policy etc
  • The Action for Advocacy Code of Practice
/ D
E
E
D
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
  • Working within the Advocacy Code of Practice (i.e. you are clear what is and is not expected of an Advocate in your day to day work with service users)
  • Ability to manage change and guide people through change
  • Excellent communicator – assertive, diplomatic, self-aware, non-judgemental, empathetic, report writing, range of different stakeholders
  • Strong relationship builder
  • Strong Time Management skills to maximise output
  • Ability to “sell” the benefits of the organisation to prospective users
  • Implement opportunities for innovation
  • IT skills – a working knowledge of Word, Excel and Powerpoint
  • Be a champion for the work we do – inspiring and educating people
/ D
D
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
PERSONAL QUALITIES/STYLE
  • Professional
  • Enthusiastic and engaging
  • Good listener
  • Empathetic
  • Self-motivated
  • Strong personal impact
  • Positive “can do” attitude
/ E
E
E
E
E
E
E
MOTIVATION
  • To strengthen voice, champion rights and change lives
  • A passion for the third sector
  • Strong commitment to service excellence
/ E
D
E
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  • A commitment to undertaking IAQ if not alreadyheld, and completewithin 1 year of beingappointedinto the post
  • Full and clean Driving Licence, also use of ownvehicleinsured for business use.
/ E
D/E
(this will vary by location and for some locations this will be essential)

Last updated: [30 June 2011]