Family and Carer Ambassador | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Runwell; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based healthcare provider is seeking a Family and Carer Ambassador. In this pivotal role, you will provide emotional and practical support to families and carers of patients in a mental health setting. Responsibilities include empowering families, collaborating with healthcare staff, and ensuring family voices are included in care discussions. This position offers flexible working options and comprehensive benefits, including generous holiday and pension schemes.

Benefits

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent pension of up to 14.5%

Staff discounts and benefits

Interest-free season ticket loans

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health support is preferred.
• Ability to empower families and carers.
• Strong detail orientation and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to families and carers of patients.
• Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals.
• Document and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Strong communication abilities

Organizational skills

Compassion

Proactive approach

Job description

Overview

As a Family and Carer Ambassador, you will provide practical and emotional support to families and carers of those with complex mental health needs. You will also offer advocacy to ensure that the families / carers and patients’ needs and views are heard and acted on, whatever their communication needs are. You will identify and address cross‑organisational challenges and work closely with key agencies across the health, education, social care and voluntary sector, including adult services where required for transition planning or ongoing support.

To be successful in this role you must be proactive, compassionate, have a strong eye for detail, excellent organisational skills and strong communication abilities. You should be passionate and sensitive about creating change, empowering patients, families and carers. This is a new post with opportunities to shape the role and build relationships with stakeholders.

The Family and Carer Ambassador works directly with patients, families and carers on the forensic ward, providing a visible and approachable presence and ensuring that family voices are included in care discussions and recovery planning. You will collaborate with nurses, doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, peer support workers and other ward staff, contributing to daily discussions, care planning and discharge processes.

Support & Development

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• Access mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• Participate in recognition awards to celebrate staff dedication.

Flexible Working

• Use the work bank to supplement income and develop skills through shifts.
• Flexible working is available from day one for most roles.
• Job shares are welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Work with carers and families from admission to discharge.
• Help carers/families understand the inpatient system and provide high‑quality information that is easy to understand.
• Work proactively within allocated inpatient units to support communication between the clinical unit and carers/families, fostering a compassionate and responsive approach.
• Empower families/families to access information and participate in planning (with CYP consent).
• Use knowledge and local area networks to support carers and families with information and signposting.
• Act as a liaison with the unit on family and carer matters, promoting quality improvement initiatives for inclusive engagement.
• Help families/carers raise concerns and, where necessary, take action to scale those concerns.
• Champion the role of families/carers as partners within units, ensuring their voice is heard and they are treated as equals in patient inpatient care.
• Maintain accurate records and comply with local procedures for record keeping, confidentiality and security.
• Champion families, carers, patients and their interests and involve the public and patients in policy development and decision‑making.
• Ensure all public and patient contact with the office is of the highest professional standard.
• Embed patient and public involvement at all levels of decision making.
• Provide carer support to carers, friends and families of those admitted to the ward.
• Ensure all 72‑hour carer phone calls are completed and followed up.
• Ensure all carers receive a copy of the ward’s carer pack, including the carer letter.
• Invite carers to ward reviews.
• Collate themes from the carer cards in reception to support development of strategy and service.
• Lead the monthly carers group, ensuring carers are invited and followed up.
• Maintain professional boundaries with both service leaders and carers at all times.
• Document carer input on the Carenotes system and ensure information is circulated to the team.
• Refer carers to carer services and support.
• Build links with local carer charities, such as Carers Support West Sussex.
• Attend the locality Triangle of Care meeting, held quarterly, to represent the carer voice and review carer involvement through the Triangle of Care self‑assessment.
• Create a relapse prevention and support plan with the carer.
• Initiate and follow up referrals to carer support.
• Monitor the progress of the carer strategy and link into the Triangle of Care lead.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail or bus.

This advert closes on Sunday 4 Jan 2026.