Community Advocate

**Job Title**:Community Disability Advocate

**Introduction**:
The Catholic Fellowship Disability Network (CFDN) is seeking a dedicated individual to join our team as a Community Disability Advocate. This role is pivotal in ensuring that individuals with disabilities and their families receive the necessary support and advocacy within East London and Essex.

**Summary of Role**

**Hours**:21 hours per week over 3 days

**Location**:Hybrid (80% visiting members or undertaking activities and 20% clerical and working from home) (Redbridge, Waltham Forrest & Havering)

**Salary**:Annual salary pro-rata: £14,359.80 | 6 months pro-rata: £7,179.90 | £13.15 per hour

**Employment Period**:6-month project to extend and continue if the project/employee is successful

**Probation Period**:3 months

**Entitlement**:Holiday entitlement of 16 days pro-rata (annually) + Bank Holidays. Pension (Auto-enrollment), Allowable reasonable expenses ie travel. Training allowance to maintain an up-to-date skillset

**Accountable to**:Chief Executive Officer

**The Role**:
Community Disability Advocate will support members of the charity in advocating the needs of those with disabilities and their families in accordance with the charity's objectives and that of the Care Act.

The Advocate will visit disabled members and families regularly to ensure their needs are being met whilst signposting them to appropriate services and activities internally and externally. They will take referrals from members, groups and external agencies where pathways have been identified. They will support members in expressing their wishes and feelings, help to identify and solve barriers, empower individuals to make their own decisions, support in understanding their rights, write reports for outside agencies to support members, identify and report Safeguarding concerns, work with charity committees to share members feedback and needs, provide spot check on care facilities to ensure members needs are being met and their wishes are being considered and work with external agencies and organisations including local authorities to build a working relationship.

**Personal Qualities**:
The Community Disability Advocate will be deeply committed to promoting inclusion, equality, and diversity, both within CDFN and the broader community. They will have a strong passion for advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families, demonstrating unwavering dedication and enthusiasm for their role. As a part of the CDFN team, they will excel in building meaningful relationships with members, families, colleagues, and external stakeholders to promote the work of the charity whilst keeping the needs of our members at the forefront of everything they do.

Professional and supportive conduct is fundamental to the role of the Community Disability Advocate, and they foster an environment of honesty and transparency in their interactions with members and families. They will be proactive problem solvers, have a friendly and approachable nature, be great communicators and actively encourage collaborative efforts to advance CFDN's charitable mission.

Please see the Person Specification for a full breakdown of the essential and desirable skills, attitudes and knowledge required for this position.

**Essential Qualities and Experience**:

- Strong background in supporting people with disabilities or related fields, with the ability to provide effective support and assistance to individuals with disabilities and their families.
- Able to research information and people’s rights providing the most up-to-date information
- Stand up and challenge decisions whilst promoting Safeguarding principles
- Have good English skills (written and verbal) to understand complex policies, procedures and legal requirements within the United Kingdom.
- A genuine commitment to CFDN's charitable objectives and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of those with disabilities.
- Upholds the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct, serving as a role model for CFDN's values.
- Demonstrates the ability to think creatively and contribute to the overall success of CFDN's mission.
- Have an understanding of the role of an advocate with prior training and knowledge or the ability to undertake training and learn the role.
- Strong leadership qualities and a collaborative mindset, ensuring the effective support of members and families.

**Desirable Skills and Attributes**:

- Familiarity with advocacy regulations and compliance in the context of the UK is advantageous.
- Have an understanding of, experience in or the ability to learn about the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Care Act.
- Previous experience in advocacy or related roles would be beneficial but not essential as long as the individual can commit to the training required to achieve the standard of learning required.
- Professional qualifications or experience in heal