Trainee Advocate

Trainee Advocate Location: Field-based (Islington)Contract: Permanent, Part-Time (17.5 Hours)Salary: £12,007.84 pro rata (plus £1500 London Allowance) Make a difference as a Trainee Advocate At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves to be heard. As a Trainee Advocate, you’ll play a vital role in empowering people to understand their rights, express their views, and influence decisions that affect their lives. This is an exciting opportunity to start your career in advocacy. You’ll receive full support to complete the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification, gaining the skills, knowledge and confidence to become a qualified Advocate. About the role You’ll work directly with people accessing health and social care services—supporting them to have their voice heard and ensuring their rights are upheld. From day one, you’ll: Shadow experienced advocates and build hands-on experience Learn how to deliver instructed and non-instructed advocacy Support people across a range of settings, including hospitals, care homes, supported living and the community Develop your own caseload as your confidence grows This is a field-based role, so you’ll manage your own diary, travel across Islington, and plan visits effectively. You’ll gain exposure to different types of advocacy, which may include: IMHA (Independent Mental Health Advocacy) IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy) Community and Care Act advocacy Children and Young People advocacy Paid Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) work What you’ll be doing As a Trainee Advocate, you’ll: Empower people to understand their rights and make informed decisions Support individuals to express their views and wishes Promote independence and self-advocacy Ensure people’s voices are heard in care planning and decision-making Maintain accurate, high-quality case records and reports Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns Work within key legislation including the Mental Capacity Act and related frameworks Build strong relationships with professionals, carers and services Help raise awareness of advocacy through outreach and engagement sessions What we’re looking for You don’t need prior advocacy experience—we’re looking for people with the right values, motivation and potential. We’d love to hear from you if you: Are passionate about supporting people to have their voice heard Are willing to complete the Level 4 Advocacy qualification Have strong communication skills and can adapt your approach to different needs Can build positive, professional relationships with a wide range of people Are organised and able to manage your own time and workload Work in a person-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive way Have transferable skills, lived experience or experience in health, social care or related settings You’ll also need to: Be able to travel across Islington and occasionally further afield Be comfortable using IT systems to manage casework and records What you’ll get in return Structured training and support to achieve your Level 4 qualification Regular supervision, coaching and reflective practice The opportunity to progress into a qualified Advocate role A flexible, field-based role with autonomy over your schedule The chance to be part of a passionate, supportive team Ready to apply? If you’re looking for a meaningful career where you can grow, learn and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.