Senior Practitioner

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

Job summary

A leading advocacy organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Senior Practitioner to provide engagement and support services. You will support individuals in Health and Social Care, managing a caseload and facilitating group sessions. Ideal candidates will have a degree or relevant qualification with experience in advocacy. The role offers a temporary full-time position with £19.10 per hour.

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable people.
• Advanced communication skills, including empathy and active listening.
• Knowledge of Health and Social Care complaints procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual advocacy support for Health and Social Care concerns.
• Manage a caseload and participate in a duty rota.
• Facilitate group sessions, workshops, and public engagement events.

Skills

Empathy

Active listening

Communication skills

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills and Qualifications

• 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
• 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).
• 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.

Further Information

First Choice is an Equal Opportunities Employer.