Job Description
Location: South London and Maudsley
Contract type: Part Time 21 Hours
Salary: £13,369.21 plus £1800 London Allowance (based on 21 hours)
Working pattern: On site across six specialist units
Make a real impact from day one
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves to have their voice heard — especially when navigating decisions about their care and treatment. As a Trainee Single Discipline Advocate – Triage IMHA, you’ll play a vital role in empowering people on their mental health journey, supporting them to understand their rights, express their wishes, and take ownership of their choices.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone passionate about mental health, advocacy, and human rights who is ready to learn, grow, and make a meaningful difference.
We’ll support you every step of the way — including funding and protected study time for your Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification, with a clear pathway to becoming a fully qualified IMHA Advocate.
What you’ll be doing
As a trainee advocate, you’ll build your skills through shadowing, training, and hands on experience across six national specialist units. You will:
• Raise awareness of advocacy among patients and hospital staff
• Support people to self-refer and understand the IMHA process
• Triage new referrals and provide welcome information to patients
• Run engaging workshops, drop ins, and awareness sessions for wards
• Build positive working relationships with clinicians, ward teams and partner services
• Hold a small caseload (around three cases at a time) as your confidence develops
• Learn how to deliver both instructed and non-instructed advocacy
• Maintain accurate, timely records and understand safeguarding responsibilities
• Become part of a supportive team focused on empowerment, inclusion, and person-led practice
You’ll also develop a strong understanding of key legislation, such as the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, with support from experienced IMHA Advocates and the Advocacy Contract Manager.
Who we’re looking for
You don’t need previous advocacy experience — just the values, commitment, and willingness to learn. You will thrive in this role if you are:
• Passionate about mental health, rights, and equality
• A great communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• Confident working independently on wards and engaging with professionals
• Able to build trusting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Open to learning new legislation, frameworks, and advocacy approaches
• Organised, proactive and able to manage your time well
• Committed to completing the Level 4 qualification and relevant IMHA modules
You’ll live the Rethink values of Passion, Openness, Expertise, Understanding, Hope and Equity, and embody our CARES behaviours — Connect, Accountable, Respect, Evolve, Success.
Why join Rethink?
• Full training and funded Level 4 qualification
• Protected study time built into your role
• Supportive supervision and reflective practice
• Opportunities to shape and run workshops and awareness sessions
• A clear development pathway into a Qualified IMHA role
• Being part of an organisation that truly puts people first
Ready to make a real difference?
If you’re looking for a role with purpose — one where your work has the power to change lives — we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and start your journey as an advocate for people severely affected by mental illness.
