Independent Advocate

Are You Passionate About Equality and Advocacy? Ready to Empower Others? Want to Drive Change? We are thrilled to announce a unique opportunity for a dedicated Culturally Appropriate Independent Advocate to join our vibrant team in Liverpool delivering Independent Advocacy within Secure Services across Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

As a Culturally Appropriate Independent Advocate, you will provide crucial support to vulnerable adults facing significant health and social care challenges. You will be actively supporting individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds within Secure Mersey Care Mental Health Hospital sites. This vital role involves providing advocacy, participating in drop-ins, and offering tailored support that respects cultural backgrounds. Your work will empower vulnerable adults, helping them navigate and access necessary mental health care and treatment, advocating for their needs and ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon.

You'll deliver persuasive verbal and written representations on their behalf, collaborate with a wide variety of professionals, and take directed actions to address clients' issues. This role demands a flexible attitude, excellent communication, and the ability to handle sensitive information confidently.

The successful candidates will be expected to have a good understanding and reach within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic cultures and have a passion for supporting people with minority ethnic backgrounds to access care and treatment for mental health, particularly where there is unmet need. This role will also link in with the Mersey Care Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Leads and support engagement activities.

We would like to encourage applicants who have an ethnic minority background to apply for this role.

Hours of Work: Part-Time: 15 hours, working between Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

Location: Office based at a variety of sites across Liverpool and Warrington. (Applicants must live within the area and have the ability to travel to different Mersey Care sites)

Starting Salary: Part time salary £10,491.00 per annum (Full-time Salary equivalent - £25,877.80)

Contract type: Permanent

Independent Advocate Requirements:

• Strong communication and time management skills to successfully work remotely.
• Excellent IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and the ability to learn software packages such as client management databases.
• Attention to detail to ensure accurate recording of records and reporting to meet tight deadlines.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in advocacy, information and advice, or a similar role within health, social care, or the voluntary sector.
• Previous experience of working in secure hospital settings and a thorough understanding of abiding by security protocols and managing risk.
• Demonstrable experience working with vulnerable adults.
• Working knowledge of public and voluntary organisations.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holiday (Rising to 30 days after 5 years' service) with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days leave (pro-rated for part time staff) + your birthday off as an additional holiday day after 1 years' service!
• Discretionary shutdown days at Christmas with up to 4 additional days leave.
• 1 Community Leave Day per annum.
• Cash Wellbeing Healthcare Plan which covers Optical/dental/alternative therapy and more!
• Auto enrolment Pension plan
• Death in service cover.
• Bike to work scheme.

Meet the Organisation: Who We Are and What We Do

At POhWER, we are committed to empowering individuals and enabling their voices to be heard. We provide advocacy and information services to support people in making effective decisions about their health and social care. Our team is dedicated to listening, exploring options, and taking action to meet our clients' best interests.

Think you are the perfect fit for this Independent Advocate role? Don't wait, click apply now!

Closing Date: 5PM, Friday 13th September 2026

Interview Date: 22nd / 23rd September

An Enhanced DBS check will be conducted for this position.

We're proud to support our colleagues from the armed forces signing the Armed Forces Covenant in August 2024.

Successful applicants will need to obtain business insurance for their own vehicle.

POhWER is an equal opportunities employer, holder of the Investors in People Silver award, and a member of the MINDFUL EMPLOYER scheme. We are a level 2 Disability confidence scheme employer, and disabled applicants who meet all the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

POhWER is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, and particularly welcome candidates from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. This includes, but is not limited to, people with disabilities, women, men, Black, Asian and other racially minoritised people, LGBTQ+ who are currently under-represented in our workforce.

To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support people from different backgrounds.