Job Description

We are looking for a passionate Trainee Single Discipline RPR Advocate to work as part of our Camden & Islington Advocacy Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity - and that's why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people - regardless of who they are or their background - to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

As an unqualified, inexperienced Trainee Single Discipline Advocate (paid RPR), you will be required to enrol on the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification and complete the course within a set timescale, using protected study time to focus on this. You will shadow experienced team members and then be observed providing support to those who are eligible for our services until you are able to pick up a caseload of your own. Although your focus will be providing paid RPR support, you will receive training across the different remits of advocacy, instructed and non-instructed advocacy and safeguarding and be supported to develop a thorough understanding of the role and boundaries of advocacy. The role involves representing people who have been deprived of their liberty, empowering them to have a say in their situation, to understand their rights and any options open to them and challenging capacity assessments where you feel they are incorrect. When the person cannot communicate their views to you, you will ensure that their unique preferences and views are taken into consideration in any decisions made by care providers.

How you will make a difference

Advocacy is having someone by your side, and on your side, when you want to be more involved in decisions about your care, treatment and living arrangements. An advocate can talk through the situation you're currently in and the options open to you. They can help you decide what you want and then communicate it to people. This is particularly useful if it's difficult to understand things or to speak up and be heard.

Integrated service provides a range of specialist advocacy services to Adults as appropriate across a range of disciplines. We provide a range of statutory (instructed or non-instructed) and non-statutory advocacy support in secure units, hospitals, care settings or in the community, working with a range of health and social care partners.



Why Work With Rethink Mental Illness?

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that when you feel supported, you can make the biggest difference. That's why we offer a range of benefits to help you thrive:

Inclusive Culture: Join staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion. Wellbeing Support: Access our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and the Unmind mental health app. Recognition & Rewards: Enjoy discounts, cashback offers, and celebrate achievements through our PULSE platform. Flexible Working & Generous Leave: Starting at 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with options to buy or sell extra days. Learning & Development: Grow your career with structured onboarding and training opportunities. Financial & Family Support: Contributory pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits like season ticket loans and cycle-to-work schemes. Referral Bonus: Earn up to 300 for introducing someone to our team.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity is important to us, and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we're working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer. We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status?and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.



Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider -?and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our?anti-racist statement?.?We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our?Race Equality Action Plan?which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.