Trainee Advocate

Location: Camden (Field Based)
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
DBS: Enhanced with Adults
Salary: £24,015.68 + £3000 London Allowance
Make a Difference. Amplify Voices. Build a Career in Advocacy.
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves to be heard, respected and empowered to make decisions about their own life. As a Trainee Advocate, you'll help people understand their rights, make informed choices, and ensure their voice is at the centre of decisions that affect them.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to begin a rewarding career in advocacy. You don't need previous advocacy qualifications as we'll support you to complete the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification, providing dedicated study time, practical experience and ongoing professional development.
You'll work alongside experienced advocates, gaining hands-on experience across a range of advocacy services while developing the skills and confidence to manage your own caseload. Upon successful completion of the qualification, you'll progress into an Advocate role.
What You'll Be Doing
As a Trainee Advocate, you'll:
• Support people to understand their rights and have their views heard in decisions about their care, treatment and support.
• Learn to deliver both instructed and non-instructed advocacy across a range of advocacy remits.
• Visit people in a variety of settings including hospitals, psychiatric units, care homes, supported living services and their own homes.
• Build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, supporting them through challenging and sometimes crisis situations.
• Work independently across Camden, managing your diary and balancing client visits with record keeping and administration.
• Develop knowledge of key legislation and advocacy frameworks to ensure people receive the support they are entitled to.
• Take part in team meetings, reflective practice, supervision and ongoing training.
• Help raise awareness of advocacy services through community engagement and promotional activities.
About You
We're looking for someone who is passionate about empowering others and making a positive difference.
You might be a great fit if you:
• Are committed to completing the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• Have transferable skills, lived experience or professional experience that demonstrates your ability to support and communicate with people effectively.
• Respect people's rights, choices and independence, and work in a non-judgemental way.
• Have excellent communication skills and can adapt your approach to meet different needs.
• Are organised, proactive and comfortable managing your own workload.
• Are confident using Microsoft Office and digital systems.
• Can travel throughout Camden and attend meetings and training when required.
• Are emotionally resilient and able to support people during difficult periods in their lives.
What We Offer
When you join Rethink Mental Illness, you'll be part of a supportive organisation committed to helping people affected by mental illness live better lives. You'll benefit from:
• Fully supported Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• Protected study time and structured development support.
• Regular supervision, reflective practice and mentoring.
• Meaningful work that creates positive change in people's lives.
• Opportunities to progress into a qualified Advocate role.

Ready to Apply?
If you're passionate about helping people have their voices heard and want to start a career that changes lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Join us and help ensure that everyone's voice matters.

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.