Trainee Multidisciplinary Advocate

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves to have a voice in decisions that impact their life. Advocacy is about standing alongside people — ensuring their rights are upheld, their views are understood, and their choices are respected.

We’re looking for someone passionate, curious and people‑focused to join our Barnsley Advocacy team as a Trainee Multi‑Disciplinary Advocate
. If you have the right values, we’ll give you the training, qualification and support you need to grow into a confident, skilled advocate.

As a Trainee Multi‑Disciplinary Advocate, you’ll learn how to deliver high‑quality, independent advocacy across a range of statutory and non‑statutory remits — including IMHA, IMCA, ICAA, Community Advocacy and Paid RPR.

You’ll enrol onto the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification
, using protected study time to learn, while shadowing experienced colleagues and gradually developing your own caseload. We’ll support you every step of the way as you build skills in instructed and non‑instructed advocacy, safeguarding, and the legal frameworks that shape people’s care and treatment.

This is a field‑based role
, meaning you’ll work from home and travel across Barnsley to meet the people you support in hospitals, care settings, secure units, and within the community.

You’ll quickly become a trusted, empowering presence in people’s lives. Day‑to‑day, you will:

• Support people to understand their rights, explore their options, and have their voice heard.
• Provide instructed and non‑instructed advocacy using person‑led, issue‑based approaches.
• Build understanding of key legislation, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care Act.
• Work across multiple advocacy remits, meeting people’s needs holistically.
• Keep accurate, high‑quality case notes and reports.
• Raise safeguarding concerns where required and follow local protocols.
• Manage your own schedule, client visits and admin in a structured, efficient way.
• Represent the service through outreach, awareness sessions and partnership working.

On completing the Level 4 qualification, you’ll progress into a fully‑qualified Multi‑Disciplinary Advocate
.

You don’t need to be an experienced advocate — what matters most is your values, communication skills and willingness to learn.

• You’re ready to work towards the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification.
• You’re passionate about empowerment, rights and fairness.
• You bring either transferable skills, relevant experience or lived experience.
• You communicate clearly, compassionately and in a person‑centred way.
• You can manage your time well and keep organised, factual records.
• You can travel across Barnsley for visits, meetings and training.
• You’re aligned with our Rethink CARES behaviours:
  Connect, Accountable, Respect, Evolve and Success.

If you want a role where every day you make a real difference — where your voice helps others find theirs — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and start your journey towards becoming a qualified Multi‑Disciplinary Advocate.

• Inclusive Culture:
  Join staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion.
• Wellbeing Support:
  Access our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and the Unmind mental health app.
• Recognition & Rewards:
  Enjoy discounts, cashback offers, and celebrate achievements through our PULSE platform.
• Flexible Working & Generous Leave:
  Starting at 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with options to buy or sell extra days.
• Learning & Development:
  Grow your career with structured onboarding and training opportunities.
• Financial & Family Support:
  Contributory pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits like season ticket loans and cycle‑to‑work schemes.
• Referral Bonus:
  Earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.

Diversity is important to us, and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By…