Band 6 Senior Practitioner

First Choice Selection Services Ltd; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public health organization is seeking a Senior Practitioner based in Northern Ireland to deliver high-quality advocacy and support services. This temporary full-time position offers a pay rate of £19.10 per hour and involves managing advocacy cases, facilitating public engagement, and building relationships across the health and social care sectors. Candidates need a relevant degree and experience in advocacy or project coordination.

Benefits

£19.10 per hour

Minimum 28 days paid holiday

Company pension scheme

Qualifications

• 2+ years working with vulnerable people, or 5+ years with at least 1 year coordinating projects.
• Experience liaising with statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Advanced communication skills to build rapport.

Responsibilities

• Provide advocacy support for individuals and families.
• Manage caseload and participate in duty rota.
• Facilitate group sessions and public engagement events.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Active listening

Education

Degree or relevant professional qualification

Job description

The Patient and Client Council (PCC) is currently seeking a Senior Practitioner to deliver high-quality engagement, advocacy, and support services across Northern Ireland based at PCC offices in Belfast, Ballymena, Lurgan, or Omagh.

This is a temporary full-time position, starting on the 1st of October 2025 and lasting until the 31st of March 2026. The pay rate will be £19.10 per hour.

Within this role, you will:

• Provide individual advocacy support, helping people and families share their views, raise concerns, and resolve issues relating to Health and Social Care (HSC).
• Support individuals through complaints, Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs), and Public Inquiries, ensuring their voice is represented at every stage.
• Manage a caseload and participate in a duty rota, including helpline cover and email support.
• Facilitate group sessions, workshops, and public engagement events, capturing the voices of service users, carers, and communities to influence service design and improvement.
• Build positive working relationships with HSC professionals, voluntary and community organisations, and service users, promoting collaboration and co-production.
• Contribute to projects and initiatives that enhance engagement, involvement, and innovation across the health and social care system.

This role offers an opportunity to make a real difference by empowering people, ensuring their experiences shape services, and helping to deliver a more responsive and people-centred HSC system.

What we need from you

Essential

• A degree, or a relevant professional qualification with at least 2 years’ experience working in a paid capacity with vulnerable people, or at least 5 years’ experience working with vulnerable people, including 1 year coordinating projects or casework involving partnership working, engagement, or advocacy.
• Experience liaising with statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Experience developing effective relationships with service providers while balancing advocacy and constructive challenge.
• Advanced communication skills, including empathy and active listening, to build rapport and resolve concerns.
• A current, full UK driving licence and access to a car (unless a disability prevents this and suitable transport is available).

Desirable

• Knowledge of HSC complaints procedures.
• Experience supporting individuals through complaints, trauma, or crisis.
• Familiarity with safeguarding and multi-agency working.
• A qualification in advocacy or a similar discipline.
• Project coordination or delivery experience.

What we will offer you

• £19.10 per hour.
• A minimum of 28 days paid holiday (pro rata).
• Inclusion into our company pension scheme.