Advocate

About us: Community ConneX is a campaigning organisation and a multi-project service provider working across West London, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. We support autistic people, people with a disability, and people and families experiencing barriers to live healthier, happier, and inclusive lives. We do this by ensuring their needs, rights and aspirations are met.

Advocacy 1st is a free, independent service provided by advocates who specialise in the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act.

Salary: £23,000

Hours: 35 hours per week (involves some evening work)

Location: Hybrid based in Oxfordshire

Key duties:

• Provide independent representation of young people's wishes and views and ensure their voices are heard when key decisions are being made
• Empower children and young people to make effective use of local authority policies or complaints procedures
• Complete advocacy plans and work according to the agreed outcomes
• Take responsibility for individual caseloads, ensuring that visits and case recording is completed
• Contribute to and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders and professionals

Our ideal candidate:

• Holds a relevant advocacy qualification or intends to work towards this
• Has experience of working with children and young people
• Can travel independently to meet client - have access to a car is a must
• Is aware of legislation such as Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014, Children Act 1989, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Is experienced in delivering direct work to children, young people and vulnerable adults in a relevant setting.
• Can communicate effectively

In return we offer a range of benefits including:

• Pension contribution up to 5%
• Death in service insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Bluelight Card
• Cycle to work scheme
• 23 days of annual leave + bank holidays (increases after 2 years of service)
• Gym membership
• Healthcash plan
• Professional development

We are committed to safeguarding and equal opportunities, and we guarantee an interview to all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the post.

We also want to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable facilities to participate in job applications or interviews to perform essential job functions. To support this, we are a Disability Confident committed employer.