Trainee Advocate

Location: Islington (Field based role)
Hours: Full Time, Permanent 35 Hours per Week
DBS: Enhanced with Adults
Salary: £24,015.68 plus £3000 London Allowance
Make a difference where it matters most.
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that everyone deserves to have their voice heard. As a Trainee Advocate, you'll support people to understand their rights, make informed choices, and have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about empowering others and wants to build a rewarding career in advocacy. No formal advocacy qualification is required. We will support you to complete the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification alongside developing your practical experience.
You'll work with people across Islington in a variety of settings including hospitals, care homes, supported living services and within the community, helping them navigate complex situations and ensuring their views, wishes and rights are represented.
What you'll be doing
As a Trainee Advocate, you'll be supported every step of the way as you learn to:
• Deliver high-quality independent advocacy to people who are eligible for our services.
• Empower people to understand their rights and make informed decisions.
• Support individuals to express their views and participate in decisions about their care, treatment and support.
• Develop advocacy skills across a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy services.
• Build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Manage and develop your own caseload with ongoing support and supervision.
• Maintain accurate case records and reports.
• Identify and appropriately respond to safeguarding concerns.
• Promote advocacy services to professionals, partner organisations and community groups.
You will receive structured training, regular supervision, reflective practice opportunities and protected study time to support your qualification and professional development.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who shares our values and is committed to helping people have their voices heard.
You may be a great fit if you:
• Are passionate about supporting and empowering others.
• Have transferable skills, lived experience, voluntary experience or work experience that demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively with people.
• Can build professional relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Respect people's rights to make their own choices and decisions.
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Are organised and able to manage your time effectively.
• Are comfortable using Microsoft Office and digital systems.
• Are willing to complete the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• Can travel across Islington and attend training or meetings when required.
Previous advocacy experience is not essential. We're interested in your values, potential and commitment to learning.
What you'll gain
At Rethink Mental Illness, we're committed to helping our colleagues thrive.
In return, you'll benefit from:
• Full support to achieve the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• Protected study time.
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training.
• Regular supervision and reflective practice.
• Career development opportunities within advocacy services.
• Enhanced wellbeing support.
• A friendly and supportive team environment.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to people's lives every day.
Who we are
Rethink Mental Illness is one of the UK's leading mental health charities. We work to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through services, support, advice and advocacy.
Wellbeing Considerations
Working in psychiatric hospitals where you may be working with people who are at a point of crisis in their lives
This type of environment can often have lots of noise and stimuli
A lot of lone working which can impact
Going from one task to the next task and being able to manage this, often managing your emotional responses and being able to hold this until group supervision or the daily support group
Our values guide everything we do:
Passion. Commitment. Openness. Hope. Expertise. Understanding. Equity.
And through our CARES behaviours, we work together to Connect, be Accountable, show Respect, Evolve and achieve Success.
Ready to apply?
If you're looking for a meaningful career where you can support people to have their rights upheld and their voices heard, we'd love to hear from you.
Join us and help create a society where everyone affected by mental illness can live the life they want.

Why join Rethink Mental Illness?

We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:
• An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
• Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
• Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
• Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.

Our commitment to inclusion
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.