Job Description

Main purpose of Job

The Carer Advocate role is central to CAUSE's mission of supporting carers and families facing mental health challenges in the Southern Trust, Newry and Mourne areas. In this role, you will build strong connections within the carer community, raise awareness of available services, and contribute to positive and lasting change. Key responsibilities include advocating for carers' needs, engaging with community stakeholders, and supporting initiatives that strengthen services for carers and their loved ones in the field of mental health. This position offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives while developing professionally as part of a peer-led, values-driven team.

The Person

The ideal candidate will bring a compassionate understanding of the challenges families face when supporting a loved one living with serious and enduring mental illness. Personal experience as a carer is central to this role, providing the empathy, insight, and authenticity that define CAUSE as a peer-led organisation.

You will work collaboratively with Carer Advocate colleagues across the Southern Trust area and regionally, contributing to our mission and helping shape the continued growth of CAUSE. Joining us means becoming part of a dedicated and forward-thinking charity at an exciting stage of development, where your lived experience and professional skills together will make a meaningful difference

Summary of Main Duties and Responsibilities

Personal experience caring for or supporting someone living with serious and enduring mental illness, bringing the empathy, authenticity, and insight that are central to CAUSE's peer-led approach. Provide emotional and practical support to carers and families navigating serious or complex mental health challenges within the Southern Trust area, with a particular focus on referrals from the Newry and Mourne area. While the primary focus will be on Newry and Mourne, you will also advocate for and support carers across the wider Southern Trust area. Actively engage with the local carers community to advocate and ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met. Support carers both one-on-one and in group settings, advocating for their needs and representing their interests with professionals and stakeholders. Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders within your Trust area, as well as other community and voluntary organisations. Support CAUSE's Helpline as part of a rota and promote CAUSE's services to the community. Help organise training sessions, respite activities, conferences, and other key events, delivering agreed-upon training locally. Provide reports to management and contribute to planning and strategy within your Trust area. Represent CAUSE and carers in planning and management discussions, staying current with policy and research developments in health and social care. Participate in service monitoring, evaluation, and improvement, taking an advocacy role to resolve issues with stakeholders. Ensure open and effective communication with all relevant parties, and undertake travel as required to fulfill job responsibilities. Ensure GDPR compliance and build relationships with key stakeholders. Ability to work flexible hours, accommodating the varying needs of carers and families and ensuring responsive, timely support.
The post holder will be expected to:

As a representative of CAUSE, you will play a key role in building strong relationships and networks, acting as a positive ambassador for our peer-led organisation. In everything you do, you will reflect CAUSE's values while fulfilling our legal responsibilities, including health and safety standards, equal opportunities, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion.

This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role but is not exhaustive. From time to time, the CEO may ask you to take on additional tasks, and the description will be reviewed regularly to reflect CAUSE's evolving needs.
We are looking for someone who is professional, has lived/living experience, adaptable, and committed to growing alongside the role and the organisation.

Working practices

The post holder will be expected to: Act as a credible ambassador for CAUSE, reflecting our peer-led ethos and building strong, trusting relationships and networks. Advocate for family carers, ensuring their voices are heard within mental health services and beyond. Consistently work in alignment with CAUSE's mission, values, and legal obligations, including health and safety regulations, GDPR, equal opportunities, and the active promotion of diversity and inclusion. Champion CAUSE's aims, principles, and policies, safeguarding the organisation's integrity and reputation at all times. Remain informed about relevant legislation, national and local policies, and emerging issues that affect carers and mental health services. Take personal responsibility for maintaining high professional standards by engaging in essential training, reflective practice, and ongoing development. This job description is not exhaustive and outlines the primary responsibilities of the post holder. The CEO may assign additional reasonable duties as necessary. The job description will be reviewed regularly and may be updated to reflect changes. All staff are expected to maintain professionalism, cooperation, and flexibility in accordance with the needs of the role and CAUSE.

Personnel Specification

Essential

Personal lived/living experience of supporting a family member or loved one with serious and enduring mental illness, an essential foundation of CAUSE's peer-led approach.

A relevant qualification (e.g. BTEC, HNC, HND, Degree) in Social Work, Health and Social Care, Counselling, Community Development, or a related field;

OR

Completion of recognised mental health or personal development training, such as community-based or recovery college courses, demonstrating commitment to ongoing learning.

At least 1 year's recent experience (paid or voluntary) working in the community, voluntary, or related sectors; or equivalent experience gained through lived experience, peer support, or advocacy roles.

At least 1 year's recent experience of building positive relationships with community, voluntary, or health and social care organisations, and engaging constructively with relevant stakeholders (e.g. families, carers, service providers, or professionals).

At least 1 year's experience providing practical and emotional support to individuals and/or families affected by serious mental health challenges, gained through lived/living experience, voluntary, or professional roles.

At least 1 year's experience contributing to service monitoring, evaluation, or improvement, for example, keeping records, providing feedback, or supporting the development of better ways of working.

At least 1 year's experience taking an advocacy role formally or informally, to support someone and resolve issues with services, professionals, or other stakeholders.

Desirable

The post holder will require access to a car, with Business insurance, or other means of transport to fulfill the travel requirements of the role.

The role will involve evening and weekend working and requires an individual who can be flexible and adaptive to meet supporter's needs.

An interest in developments in mental health approaches, advocacy practice, and wider themes in mental health recovery.

Essential

Proven ability to manage workload effectively, set priorities, and meet deadlines under pressure.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to represent CAUSE publicly.

Proficiency in using common IT applications, including MS Office, email, internet browsers, and databases (e.g. Excel, Salesforce or similar).

Desirable:

Experience of working with 'seldom-heard' community groups and engaging them in meaningful ways.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies and are aligned to CAUSE mission and values to be effective in this Head of Operations role. These are set out in https://cause.org.uk/about-us/

Disability Requirements: Should any candidate require reasonable adjustments, please advise the organisation accordingly to ensure consideration and accommodation where possible.

Successful applicants: Depending on business needs, successful applicants are encouraged to discuss what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up prior to commencing employment to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 13,079.00 per year

Expected hours: 17.5 per week

Benefits:

Flexitime Health & wellbeing programme Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Belfast BT4 2LS

Application deadline: 03/11/2025