Advocacy Officer - Right Support Right Time

Cedar Foundation; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health organization in Northern Ireland seeks an Advocacy Officer to promote mental wellbeing and resilience for disabled individuals and their families. This role involves providing tailored one-to-one and group support, creating person-centred plans, and ensuring rights are safeguarded. Applicants should have a relevant degree and experience in supporting those with mental health issues. The position offers agile working options and comprehensive benefits, contributing to impactful mental health advocacy work.

Benefits

20 days annual leave

Enhanced pension scheme

Occupational-Sick-Pay

Access to retail discounts

Commitment to staff development

Qualifications

• RQF level 6 or equivalent in relevant fields.
• Minimum of 1 year paid experience in education, training or support.
• Ability to work independently with good organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with people with mental health issues.

Responsibilities

• Support the Right Support Right Time project promoting mental wellbeing.
• Provide one-to-one and group support tailored to individual needs.
• Create person-centred plans and safeguard rights.

Skills

Organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

MS Teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Community work or Health and Social Care

Relevant professional qualification

Job description

Ref 25-377-AO-CS-WEB

Job Role: Advocacy Officer – Right Support Right Time

Location: Regional post with office base options in Belfast/Ballymena/Derry/Londonderry

Working arrangement: Agile Working/Working-from-Home

Salary: Starting on £29,540 per annum (pro-rata)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Until March 2029

Travel: Regular travel to our services required

The Service

Right Support Right Time is a new collaborative project designed to promote positive mental wellbeing, build resilience, and prevent the escalation of existing mental and emotional distress among individuals, families, and communities.

The initiative specifically focuses on supporting disabled people by improving access to appropriate mental health services, while also offering tailored casework support and advocacy.

This project is delivered in partnership with Inspire Wellbeing, alongside five other organisations across Northern Ireland and the Border Regions, reflecting a strong regional collaboration aimed at inclusive and accessible mental health support.

Purpose Of The Job

The Advocacy Support Officer supports the Right Support Right Time project, promoting mental wellbeing and resilience for disabled individuals and their families. They provide one-to-one and group support tailored to individual needs, helping people access services, build life skills, sustain independence, and reduce isolation. Working closely with partners, the officer creates person-centred plans, safeguards rights, and empowers individuals to manage their mental health. The role involves maintaining accurate case records and contributing to service improvement. It is a front-line, rights‑based role central to Cedar's early intervention and inclusive mental health advocacy efforts.

Benefits

• 20 days annual leave and 12 statutory days pro rata, increasing with years of service
• Agile working and working from home options promote well-being and work‑life balance
• Flexi‑time policy
• Enhanced auto‑enrolment pension scheme (5% employee contribution and 4% employer contribution)
• Occupational‑Sick‑Pay Scheme
• Westfield Healthcare Cashback scheme
• Westfield rewards – access to over 600 retailer discounts
• Investor‑in‑People Platinum accredited organisation with commitment to staff development through training and learning opportunities

Essential Criteria

• RQF level 6 (e.g., bachelor's degree) or equivalent level in Psychology, Education, Community work or Health and Social Care or a relevant professional qualification
• Minimum of 1 year paid experience in direct provision of education, training or support
• OR minimum RQF 4 or equivalent level in a relevant discipline and minimum of 3 paid years' experience as above
• Ability to work independently with good organisational and interpersonal skills
• Minimum of one year's experience working with people individually or in groups with mental health issues or personal lived experience
• Detailed knowledge of disability and ability to develop new ideas and initiatives to support development and participation
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, relationship building, negotiation and interpersonal skills to communicate with various stakeholders
• Proficiency in IT skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, MS Teams

Apply

Closing Date: Wednesday, 7th January 2026 at 10:00 am

The Cedar Foundation is an Equal Opportunities Employer and does not offer sponsorship.