Advocate

Responsibilities

Service Provision

• Assist, support and represent people with disabilities to seek a service, negotiating on their behalf and pursuing any right of review or appeal as required

• Work with people in residential and day service settings and with service providers to ensure people’s rights, dignity, choices and decisions are safeguarded

• Work as part of the regional advocacy team and share learning to improve practice and effect policy change

• Ensure that people with disabilities who need information, advice and advocacy are provided with the service that best supports their needs and that those with the capacity to self-advocate are supported to use mainstream services in their local community

• Identify and record issues that arise for people with disabilities to inform systemic changes in both the delivery and policy of public services

• Adhere to standardised policies, practice and quality standards.

• Provide peer support within the advocacy team and develop specialist expertise as required

• Work in co-operation with other advocates across the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities

• Effectively manage a caseload and keep accurate records using the electronic case management system, adhering to case management requirements

• Report on advocacy activities, and undertake review and evaluation as required by the Regional Advocacy Manager

• Observe data protection legislation and good practice in service provision

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in special projects and joint working arrangements in consultation with the Regional Advocacy Manager

• Participate in mentoring activities

• Undertake promotional work on the National Advocacy Service and undertake other duties as directed by the Regional Advocacy Manager

• Develop and share knowledge of relevant legislation, appeals/redress mechanisms and social policy and practices in relation to advocating on behalf of people with disabilities

• Undertake appropriate training as required and ensure continuing professional development

• Undertake supervision of practice in line with service requirements

• Participate and work within a Performance Management Development System (PMDS) process

Person specification

Minimum Educational Qualifications & Experience

• Educated to graduate level in one or more of the following areas: social sciences, humanities, law, training and development. Equivalent experience and training will also be considered.

Desirable

• Advocacy qualification

Person specification

• An understanding and knowledge of the philosophy, background and operation of advocacy

• Awareness of the needs of people with disabilities and the barriers experienced in accessing rights and services.

• Ability to represent, negotiate and communicate on behalf of others

• Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality

• Ability to respect and promote people’s right to make informed decisions/choices

• Excellent judgement

• High degree of personal integrity

• Ability to organise one’s own workload, plan and set goals

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Commitment to the rights of people with disabilities

• Flexibility of approach and flexibility to work unsocial hours when required and ability to travel efficiently throughout the region as requested.

Desirable

• Prior experience of representative advocacy with people with disabilities.

• Capacity to develop responses to policy submissions.

Required Competencies

NAS operates a competency based application and interview process, however there may be skills testing or a presentation involved in latter stages (this will be made known to those shortlisted).

The application form will ask you to write about your experiences in your career to date under several competencies and indicators. Use the below indicators to help you shape your responses, ensuring you clearly list employers (if applicable) and times of the experiences.

Competency Indicator (not exhaustive)

1. Specialist Knowledge/ Self development and upskilling in this area.

• Knowledge of the legislative, policy and regulatory framework in relation to disability.

• Ability to clearly identify breaches of current legislation/ peoples rights

• Evidence of awareness of disability sector and developments underway or under consideration in the sector

• Knowledge of legislation and policy frameworks regarding health and/or welfare rights issues for other marginalised groups.

• Constantly learns from experience and takes the initiative to develop new skills and expertise through research, learning and training.

2. Ability to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities

• Understanding of principles of advocating on behalf of others

• Experience of providing representative advocacy to people with, including advocating on behalf of people who have communication differences.

• Experience of working with people in residential and day service settings and with service providers

• Ability to negotiate effectively on behalf of people

3. Ability to review, monitor and evaluate, and organisation/administrative skills

• Constructively monitors and evaluates own performance/project work

• Identifies appropriate means of enhancing performance/ outcomes

• Experience of using case management system

• Efficient organisation and management of own time and caseload.

• Effectively uses available IT resources to deal efficiently with workload

• Keeps accurate and up to date records in line with data protection requirements

4. Ability to Identify Policy Issues • Ability and experience to observe and correctly identify policy issues.

• Able to report on and highlight such issues to create improvements in service provision.

5. Communication Skills/Team Work • Demonstrates excellent communication skills, written and spoken.

• Experience of making presentations to a variety of audiences

• Is an effective team member and fits into the team well.

• Balances personal objectives with those of the team

• Shares work-related knowledge with team members

6. Drive & Commitment to NAS Core Values • Can demonstrate commitment to values similar or the same as the NAS Core Values of Independence, Autonomy, Equality/Citizenship, Respect and Empowerment (see page 4) in personal and/or professional life.

• Ensures the citizen is at the heart of all services provided.

• Is personally honest and trustworthy and can be relied upon.

• Through leading by example, fosters the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Terms & Conditions

Advocate

Salary

€49,598 - €66,361, including two long service increments (pro rata for part-time).

It is expected that all new entrants to NAS will be appointed at point one of the salary scale. However, NAS operates an incremental credit process for appointments higher than point one. This process is applicable to new entrants into NAS. Incremental credit criteria, based on the competencies for the role, are assessed against employment history as laid out in the application form only. A request for incremental credit from a successful candidate must be made within the first 3 months of employment. The decision on whether or not to award an incremental credit is a decision made by the Board and is subject to the availability of funding.

Pension

A company pension scheme is in place, and membership is obligatory upon commencement. Employee contribution; 5% of salary, Employer contribution; 7% of salary. NAS has a normal retirement age linked to the State Pension Age (currently 66).

Annual Leave

23 days per leave year (January to December).

24 days per leave year (after 2 years’ continuous service).

25 days per leave year (after 5 years' continuous service).

Requirements

• The position entails some travel; therefore access to use of a car is a requirement for the post.

• The Advocate will be asked to obtain Garda Clearance before they begin work.