Mental Health Advocacy Project (West Lothian) SCIO

The Mental Health Advocacy Project (MHAP) has been in existence since the late 1980’s when care in the community began to develop. Initially, the Project was set up as a befriending service but developed into an independent advocacy service in the mid 1990’s. MHAP became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation in May 2015.

We offer professional individual advocacy and collective advocacy services for people who experience mental health problems and/or substance use issues. We are committed to helping our service users to have their views and opinions heard.

We provide advocacy services to approximately 500 people annually who experience mental health, drug and alcohol problems. We have a current staff team of 7 people and are governed by a management committee with the majority being mental health service users. Our project is independent which means we work with people in a way that is free from conflict of interest.

We are looking to recruit an Advocacy Worker for a full time (36 hours) post to provide independent advocacy for people who have or have had mental health issues and/or substance use problems.

Advocacy plays an important role in the process of supporting and enabling people to express their views and concerns, access information and services, defending and promoting rights and exploring choices and options, both individually and collectively.

Main Responsibilities

The post holder will work with people on a one-to-one basis to provide advocacy support on a specific issue. Main responsibilities include:

• To work as part of a team responding to requests for independent advocacy.

• Provide advocacy in a range of settings, for example hospital, office, community and HMP Addiewell and any other relevant environment.

• Manage a caseload in conjunction with our priority groups e.g. Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 and Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

• To provide non- instructed advocacy for individuals falling under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, in line with the SIAA Non-Instructed Advocacy Guidelines.

Additional Information

• Safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults is of utmost importance in our work therefore the successful applicant will be given training and regular supervision and will be required to submit to an Enhanced PVG Scheme Disclosure.

• The post will be based in our office in Broxburn however candidate would be expected to travel throughout West Lothian.

• IT equipment will be supplied to allow homeworking when suitable.

• Office hours are Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm and Friday between 9am and 3pm.

• Probationary period: 4 months.

• Employees will be auto enrolled into a Group Personal Pension in line with current legislation – 6% contribution by employer and 3% contribution by employee.

• Employees have access to Employee Assistance Programme.

• Death in Service scheme.

• Holidays: 30 days per year + 7 public holidays.

• Post funded until Mar 26.

We offer independent advocacy services for people accessing or trying to access mental health and addiction services in West Lothian. Advocacy plays an important role in the process of supporting and enabling people to express their views and concerns, access information and services, defending and promoting rights and exploring choices and options, both individually and collectively.

Purpose of the Job

To provide a range of advocacy services that contribute to the Projects effective and innovative work with residents in West Lothian and HMP Addiewell as well as sustaining and developing its existing work of individual and collective advocacy.

The post is to develop a panel for those with a lived/living experience of addictions and incorporate this into our existing Collective Advocacy. The post holder will also provide Individual Advocacy for people who experience substance misuse and mental health problems.

Experience of working in mental health/addictions is desirable.