Advocacy Officer – Care Homes

Age NI is delighted to invite applications for the following exciting new fixed-term post based in the Castlewellan. This exciting post provides an excellent opportunity for someone who possesses the passion and commitment to work in a progressive organisation and help us achieve our vision - a world where everyone can love later life.

Advocacy Officer – Care Homes

The successful candidate will promote and deliver an effective advocacy service for older people living in care homes (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area) and involve older people as volunteer peer facilitators in the delivery of the service.

The main responsibilities of this role are:

• To deliver an effective advocacy service for older people and ensure their rights are protected and their voices heard in decisions made about their lives
• To develop and implement a plan to promote the service and encourage older people, on an individual and group basis, to express their views, wishes and aspirations on their quality of life
• To involve families, carers and friends, as appropriate, to ensure the views and wishes of individuals are heard
• To work in partnership with care home managers on ensuring the effective delivery of the service to older people in the care home
• To recruit and support volunteer peer facilitators to visit care homes in the area and engage with older people, families, carers and relatives, as appropriate
• To liaise with relevant care home managers and other agencies, as appropriate, reporting on the issues or concerns raised by older people in their care home and identifying how these may be addressed
• To develop and implement the process for referring individuals requiring a more intensive level of advocacy support to the Head of Advice and Advocacy within Age NI or to specialist external organisations
• To report to the Head of Advice and Advocacy common areas of concern for older people to inform service development and Age NI’s policy and engagement priorities
• To work with the Head of Advice and Advocacy and the Impact and Evaluation Manager on developing effective tools to measure and report on the impact of the advocacy service
• To produce service reports as required by the Head of Advice and Advocacy in an accurate, efficient and timely manner.

• It is essential that applicants have the following criteria:
• Demonstrable experience of at least 3 years in the delivery of an advocacy or advice service (on behalf of vulnerable groups)
• Demonstrable experience of at least 3 years of supporting individuals or groups to resolve complex queries or issues of concern
• Demonstrable experience of working effectively and co-operating with a range of stakeholders in the voluntary, community, statutory or private sectors

• Understanding of the rights of older people and carers and the issues that matter most to them
• Understanding of legislation, policy and best practice relating to safeguarding
• Advocacy models and standards

• Excellent listening, verbal and written skills, including an ability to communicate and work effectively with a range of audiences
• Ability to take a non-judgemental approach
• An ability to work effectively on one’s own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to organise, prioritise and bring to resolution an extensive and varied caseload
• Ability to negotiate effectively to achieve a positive outcome
• Ability to use a range of Microsoft packages
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car for business purposes, or other form of transport to meet the travel requirements of the post

• A willingness to work flexibly and outside or normal working hours as required.

It is desirable that applicants have the following criteria:

• Experience of recruiting, supporting and managing volunteers
• Experience of project planning and management
• Knowledge of the legislation and structures relating to social care in Northern Ireland
• A working knowledge of the services provided for older people
• Advocacy qualification.

What Age NI can offer you:

Salary: £24,010 - £25,274 per annum pro rata [Actual salary £13,720 - £14,442]

Hours: 20 hours with flexible working policy.

12 month Fixed Term Contract

Annual Leave: 26 days (rising to 27 days after 4 years) plus 12 Bank Holidays (pro rata)

Group Personal Pension (contributions on qualifying earnings: 5% employer and 3% employee)

Health Shield Cash Plan

Age NI reserve the right to enhance the essential criteria to facilitate shortlisting.

For an applicant pack, please apply on-line at www.ageni.org or e-mail [email protected] or telephone the People & Development team on 028 9024 5729.

Closing date for completed applications is Friday 7 February 2020 at 12 noon.

Age NI is committed to recruiting fairly.  An application form enables us to compare applicants and for that reason we cannot accept CVs. 

Age NI is committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone.