Forensic Advocate

**Circles Network Summary**

Circles Network is a UK wide voluntary organisation based in Warwickshire, renowned for building inclusive communities on the foundations of justice, advocacy, empowerment and friendships.

Working with people of any age who are isolated or at risk of isolation, this organisation has ground breaking expertise in the development of Circles of Support; Independent and Collective Advocacy; Person Centred Planning and Inclusion into the mainstream of life. Working in highly creative, entrepreneurial styles, we are dynamic and ever more determined to dream, dare and do.

**Project Summary**

**Advocacy - Glasgow**
Circles Network Advocacy Service provide a professional, independent advocacy service for individuals detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in medium secure care (Rowanbank) and low secure care (Leverndale) in Glasgow. The majority of the individuals we support are detained and may have had contact with criminal justice services.

Our core funding comes from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the West of Scotland Forensic Directorate.

In addition to providing advocacy in a hospital setting we also provide an advocacy service for those recently discharged to the community, for up to a three month period following discharge. The areas we cover include male and female admissions, male and female rehabilitation, the National Learning Disability Unit, pre-discharge and community outreach. In addition to independent mental health advocacy, we facilitate annual service review for the Scottish Association for Mental Health within 14 of their community supported accommodation units.

**Job Summary**
- To assist the Coordinator for Scotland, Service Manager and colleagues to continue developing the advocacy service, for people using the services at Rowanbank Clinic and Leverndale Hospital and those who have made the transition into the community, who are at risk of isolation due to the effects of enduring mental ill-health, learning difficulties and / or in contact with the Forensic Mental Health Directorate.
- To provide Independent and Collective Advocacy to people in hospital and community settings.
- To facilitate opportunities for inclusion, empowerment, advocacy and self-determination for people using the service within the legal and statutory framework of Forensic Mental Health Care.
- To ensure that the ethos of the organisation and its values and beliefs are upheld at all times.

**The main duties and responsibilities of the post are as follows**:

- To provide independent advocacy to individuals, in compliance with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and other relevant legislation and guidelines including the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
- To maintain and operate within professional advocacy standards in accordance with advocacy guidelines.
- To ensure that all individuals are supported to advocate in their own right, including the safeguarding of rights relating to those individuals defined as not having capacity/insight.
- To promote awareness of statutory rights and resources available to the individuals using Circles Network Advocacy services.
- To adopt flexible, person centred approaches to advocacy which meet the needs of each individual.
- To actively seek and identify ways in which to engage particularly vulnerable and isolated individuals.
- To embrace person centred approaches and individualised working to promote and facilitate effective communication of expressed needs in the immediate and long term future.
- To ensure that the civil and human rights of individuals are recognised, respected and upheld.
- To maintain accurate and up to date records in a clear and concise manner with strict adherence to confidentiality and data protection policy.
- To source and provide relevant information on a range of services that the individual may wish to access.
- To contribute to the ongoing development of the advocacy role through participation in training, research, and professional development within Circles Network and other appropriate external agencies.
- To contribute to the communication and planning processes within Circles Network through meetings, planning groups etc.
- To organise the administration of work undertaken ensuring efficient, accurate filing and information sharing.
- To ensure good time management.
- To produce and contribute to written reports on work relating to the project.
- To share appropriate information within the team, distributing articles and reports and encouraging collaborative working throughout Circles Advocacy Services.
- To facilitate group work sessions with new and on-going groups when appropriate
- To work proactively with individuals who are additionally vulnerable through matters of incapacity in accordance with statutory principles.
- To create links with advocacy initiatives in order for people of this and