This new Lead Advocate post will contribute effectively to the You First Advocacy Service, which provides independent issue-based Advocacy support to vulnerable individuals in the community and in hospitals, who require assistance to represent themselves. The Lead Advocate post holder will be required to clearly show an understanding of the concept of Advocacy and associated issues, based on experience of working within an Advocacy Service, being able to demonstrate excellent Advocacy practitioner knowledge and skills. As a Lead Advocate, the post holder will be required to provide daily support, advice and guidance for team members and to mentor new advocates, volunteers and students. The post holder will use their knowledge and skills to deliver Independent Advocacy in particularly complex cases. A key responsibility will be to become a specialist Advocate for a particular service user group, to promote and champion their needs and to provide support to the team on related issues for that group. A proportion of your time will be spent on developing You First Advocacy services, in conjunction with the Service Manager. An awareness of individual rights/Human Rights Based Practice, objectivity and empathy will be required. A mature ability to challenge individuals/organisations on behalf of the service user, without recourse to confrontation is essential. This is a new and challenging post, for a person who supports social justice and the rights of vulnerable individuals and wants to make a positive impact in people's lives. It is essential that you have knowledge and experience of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and other generic service user groups. A knowledge of Advocacy is also essential. You should have excellent interpersonal skills and be self-motivated. Key Duties: 1. To provide Independent Advocacy in accordance with nationally recognised advocacy principles, standards, codes of best practice and organisational guidance for service users in a variety of settings. 2. As a skilled and knowledgeable Advocacy practitioner you will provide daily support, advice and guidance for team members and to mentor new advocates, volunteers and students. 3. To become a specialist for a particular service user group, to promote and champion their needs and to provide support to the team on related issues for that group. 4. To enable service users to express themselves through the use of the You First Advocacy Service and empower them to build on their strengths, promoting self-advocacy as appropriate. 5. To act on behalf of service users to promote their wishes. 6. To professionally liaise with Health and Social Care services and other agencies. 7. To professionally record all relevant details relating to specific areas of work. 8. To prepare written information for presentation for and on behalf of service users. 9. To promote and enhance a positive awareness of Advocacy in the community and in hospitals. 10. To promote and enhance positive awareness of Advocacy among statutory and voluntary agencies. 11. To be aware of the need for, and to maintain, objectivity when supporting service users. 12. To enable service users to access the service with minimal difficulty and actively remove barriers to access. 13. To effectively work independently, while undertaking administration/financial and overall workload, in a manner which allows maximum time to work with service users. 14. To participate in, and contribute to, training, one to one supervision and Service team meetings. 15. To participate in and engage with the Service Manager in Service development. 16. In the Service Manager's absence, to act as a key holder. 17. To undertake other duties as directed by the Service Manager. What's on offer? Post: Full-time permanent contract Location: Renfrewshire Responsible to: Service Manager Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Pension: 6% of basic salary and 2 x Salary Life Assurance Benefit Person Specification/Job Description and Application available on request. This post is subject to a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) check.