Job Title: Independent Mental Health Advocate
Contract Length: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (5 weekdays of 7.5 hours per day plus an unpaid lunchbreak of 30 minutes each day)
Salary: £24,785 - £26,000 (depending on experience and qualifications)
Line Manager: Forensic Advocacy Manager
Location(s): Riverside Centre and Prestwich Hospital. Possible additional locations in the local area.
Application deadline: 5PM on Thursday 12 November 2026
Interview date: Thursday 3 December 2026
Working for Mind in Salford
Mind in Salford is an independent, user-focused charity providing vital services that improve the wellbeing and mental health of local people. We represent the voice of Salford in challenging stigma and influencing political, social and cultural change around mental health.
About the Role
The post holder will support vulnerable patients within the Adult Forensic and Acute Adult Services of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, with scope to work with patients at various stages of their treatment and rehabilitation. Please note that this role requires physical presence at the hospital. Appointment will be subject to risk assessment.
The successful, dynamic candidate will have:
- Experience of providing Independent Mental Health Advocacy, or having worked in a related field, to a high standard. Relevant skills and experience from backgrounds other than Advocacy can be built on.
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals and service-users. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential as well as being adaptable to the needs and abilities of others.
- A working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, relating to both the civil and forensic sections of the Act and other associated legislation. As a minimum, a general understanding is required, with a willingness and an ability to expand on this once in post.
Our independent advocacy service provides IMHA services for GMMH medium and low secure, stepdown and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). We require an advocate to provide advocacy at the Riverside Centre Medium Secure Unit and CAMHS Units.
The service provides a free, independent, impartial and comprehensive advocacy service in line with statutory requirements under the Mental Health Act.
Job Description
The advocate will typically meet people in person on hospital wards, with duties including:
- Briefing patients on their rights under the Mental Health Act, the Human Rights Act and related legislation
- Supporting and, if necessary, representing clients in a variety of meetings and situations and working towards developing self-advocacy
Working as part of a team, the advocate will help promote the integration of independent rights-based support within mental health services, including criminal justice and social care.
Please note: an Enhanced DBS clearance is required.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
- To provide Independent Mental Health Advocacy for in-patients in secure mental health wards.
- To provide legislative information and casework support on a one-to-one basis for Mind in Salford’s clients on a variety of issues.
- To support and, if required, represent clients in expressing their views and making choices about their care and treatment, whilst recognising people’s
- differing experiences and protected characteristics.
- To ensure all casework conforms to legislative requirements, Mind in Salford’s systems and procedures and to the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark standard.
- To follow the principles of the Advocacy Charter (Action for Advocacy 2002)
- To work within and meet agreed case-working standards, requirements, targets and service goals.
- To proactively promote the service, relational security and generate awareness - by attending wards, meetings etc. on a regular basis, ensuring that the advocacy service is well publicised by providing information and support on issues raised.
- To take referrals directly from clients or via third parties, e.g. NHS staff, family, other advocates and other mental health professionals.
- To attend client appointments in hospital, Mind in Salford’s offices and out in the community as necessary.
- To provide the service in a range of styles and venues, which will include providing a drop-in service, telephone-based support, and working at different sites.
- To ensure that all work is updated in a timely fashion including casework, statistical and monitoring information and other records for the purpose of information retrieval and casework continuity.
- To utilise computer-based software for the recording of information onto Mind in Salford’s Client Management Database.
- To maintain a high standard of performance by working within Mind in Salford’s policies and procedures.
- To keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to mental health and advocacy.
- To take due account of health and safety and undertake client risk assessments. Where risks are identified, to act directly and/or report to management as appropriate.
- To provide cover, where necessary, within the organisation.
- To work, at all times, under the instruction and guidance of the line management structure.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as required.
General duties
- To attend and participate in relevant meetings and give reports/presentations when required.
- To comply with, promote and contribute to the development of Mind in Salford’s policies and procedures, including its Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies.
- To participate constructively in appropriate internal and external training courses, supervision and staff away days.
- To work effectively as an individual and as part of a team in all aspects of the role.
- Liaise with statutory and non-statutory bodies and represent Mind in Salford as appropriate
Person Specification
All candidates will be assessed against the following person specification. Assessment will be made initially on the basis of information supplied on the job application form, then at interview through structured questions with the possibility of a task for shortlisted candidates. If a task is required, shortlisted candidates will be supplied with information on the task prior to interview, plus any information that may be needed.
All candidates are reminded to address as many of the points in the person specification as possible in their application.
Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of The Mental Health Act, Human Rights Act and associated mental health legislation and ability to apply these appropriately.
- Knowledge of mental health services and the ability to advocate on any issue a client may face.
- An understanding of the specific challenges faced bypeople detained in mental health services
- Experience of liaison and negotiating with or on behalf of clients to third parties and representing clients’ views in a non-confrontational manner.
- Excellent written communication skills with particular emphasis on preparing reviews, reports and correspondence.
- Effective oral communication skills, including ability to communicate with people who may be experiencing varying degrees of emotional or mental distress.
- Able to engage with vulnerable patients and show respect and understanding.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with professionals across varying disciplines.
- Ability to follow instructions and also to participate in regular supervision.
- Able to prioritise and organise own caseload and maintain up to date client and work records including monitoring information.
- Able to use Microsoft Office and custom database packages, and to be administratively self-servicing.
- Ability to contribute to organisational development, working co-operatively and supportively with colleagues to achieve shared outcomes.
- Demonstrable knowledge and skills in client empowerment and participation.
- Ability to follow Mind in Salford’s Policies and Procedures.
- An understanding of quality assurance process and where you have contributed to them
- Understanding of health and safety, including risk assessing and lone working precautions.
- Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity and confidentiality.
- Willingness to learn and develop personally, and engage positively with new ways of working, and to seek out appropriate training for your own professional development.
Qualifications & Experience
- Essential: At least 1 years’ experience as an advocate or experience in a related field.
- Desirable: Relevant qualifications, particularly the IMHA qualification, would be an advantage, but not required.
Other Requirements
- Ability to travel to various sites in the local area.
- Undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service criminal record check.
- Two detailed professional references will be required and disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.
Further Information
Contact: admin@mindinsalford.org.uk
Telephone: 0161 710 1070
Website: www.mindinsalford.org.uk
Address for correspondence:
Mind in Salford
The Angel Healthy Living Centre,
1 St Philip's Place,
Salford
M3 6FA
Mind in Salford welcomes applications from people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us so we can support you.
Our charity provides a range of services to people across Salford and sites in Manchester.
We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and the service we provide, and welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health issues. We encourage applications from everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity.
- We offer generous holiday entitlement which includes 27 days holiday plus 8 days statutory days and 3 days additional over the Christmas period (pro rata). Further, an extra day annual leave for birthday.
- Staff members are granted an additional 3 hours per month as wellbeing time.
- Our social secretaries team organise regular well-being activities to help with staff connectedness.
- We are have an internal learning management system with access to over 4,000 courses to continue your professional development and skills.
Please apply by completing the application form available on our website - https://www.mindinsalford.org.uk/get-involved/vacancies/ - and sending to admin@mindinsalford.org.uk before 17:00PM on Thursday 12 November.