Advocacy Worker

Partners in Advocacy; Musselburgh; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Partners in Advocacy is recruiting an Independent Advocacy Worker for our Edinburgh service. You will provide one-to-one advocacy for people aged 16+ with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people, helping them express views, understand rights and participate in decisions.

You'll work largely independently, plan your own diary, travel across Edinburgh with travel expenses covered, and contribute to data recording and quarterly impact reports while receiving regular supervision

Qualifications

• Autonomy in managing workload and prioritising tasks.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication.
• Good planning and punctuality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and basic IT skills.
• Comfortable travelling independently across Edinburgh.
• Commitment to equality, rights and person-led support.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one independent advocacy to people aged 16+ with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people.
• Travel across Edinburgh to meet service users in community and clinical settings (travel expenses covered).
• Support planning and scheduling to maintain an effective and sustainable workload.
• Maintain accurate service data and support the development of quarterly reports.
• Record, track, and anonymise case notes and contribute to impact data.

Skills

Autonomy

Communication

Planning

IT skills

Travel independently

Rights-based approach

Confidentiality

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

Partners in Advocacy has been delivering independent advocacy services since 1998 and is recognised as a trusted and established provider across Scotland. We are pleased to offer an opportunity to join our Edinburgh service as an Independent Advocacy Worker. This is a rewarding role in a supportive, experienced team, where you will make a genuine difference by providing one-to-one independent advocacy to people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people. You will support individuals in having their voices heard, helping them express their views, understand their rights, explore their options, and participate in decisions that affect their lives. The role involves travelling throughout Edinburgh to meet people in a range of community and clinical settings. Travel expenses are covered, and you will be supported to plan your work in a way that is both effective and sustainable. Working closely with the Service Coordinator, you will help maintain accurate service data and support the development of quarterly reports, helping demonstrate the impact of advocacy. This role offers a high degree of autonomy, alongside regular support, supervision, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across the organisation.

We warmly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

Partners in Advocacy is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment.

What the role is really like:

• You’ll be working most of the time independently, managing your own diary and priorities
• You’ll need to be comfortable and excellent at working with people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people
• Your days will vary from supporting someone in a meeting, covering duty calls, to travelling across Edinburgh, and completing case notes at home
• Some situations can be complex or emotionally demanding, and good boundaries are important
• You’ll need to understand complex information and processes, translate them to your advocacy partners, helping them to understand their rights and explore their options
• You’ll need to be comfortable making decisions and working proactively, while staying connected to your wider team
• You’ll be speaking to a range of professionals in a range of settings, communicating, and amplifying your advocacy partner's opinions and wishes
• You’ll record, track, and compile statistical and other information, writing it into tracking spreadsheets, Microsoft Word forms and creating anonymised case studies

You’ll be a good fit if you:

• Are comfortable working autonomously and managing your own workload
• Can recognise the right times to check in with your line manager
• Have good planning and are punctual
• Can build trust with people and communicate clearly in a range of situations
• Are organised and able to balance direct work and admin responsibilities
• Have good writing and IT skills
• Be confident travelling independently across Edinburgh
• Value equality, rights, and person-led support
• Can research, read, and understand complex information, then translate it and explain it in clear terms