Family and Carer Ambassador Job Chelmsford England UK,Social Work

Family and Carer Ambassador

The closing date is 12 July 2026

Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

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. You will work closely with key agencies across the health, education, social care and voluntary sector;

this will also include links with adult services where either there are requirements for transition planning to adult services or where the families / carers are receiving adult service support.

Main duties of the job

To be successful in this role, you must be proactive and compassionate, have a great eye for detail, excellent organisational skills and strong communication skills. You must be passionate and sensitive about effecting change, and empowering patients, families and carers. This is a new post; therefore, although having clear parameters and expectations, there will be opportunities to shape and influence the role and build and develop important relationships with stakeholders and partners.

Lived experience is a key aspect of this role.

What is lived experience?

It is the knowledge and understanding you get when you have personally lived through something.

Examples of lived experience:

being a carer to family or friends
extensive experience of working on a ward
been service users

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

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.
If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
£8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs

Flexible working: available from day one for most roles. Job share:
Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Work with carers and families from admission to the unit to discharge.

Help carers / families understand the inpatient system and processes and be a source for high quality information that is easy to understand.

To work proactively with the allocated inpatient units. Supporting communication processes between the clinical unit and carers/families; enabling units to create a compassionate and responsive approach to families and carers.

Empower families / carers to access information and to be part of planning (with CYP consent).

Have knowledge and networks of the local area to support carers and families with information and signposting.

To be a point of liaison with the Unit on family and carer matters, specifically quality improvement initiatives to enable more robust and inclusive engagement / involvement.

Help families / carers raise concerns where necessary and take action to elevate those concerns if necessary.

Champion the role of families / carers as partners within units, supporting the families and carers to ensure their voice is heard and they are seen as equals in patients inpatient care pathway.

Maintain accurate records and comply with local procedures for record keeping, confidentiality and security.

To act as a champion for families, carers, patients and their interests and involve the public and patients in the policy development and decision-making.

To ensure all public and patient contact with the office is of the highest professional standard.

To 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 carers pack, including our carer letter.

Invite carers to ward reviews.

Collating themes from the carer cards in reception to support development to the strategy and our service.

Lead on 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 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…