VACANCY: Leeds Advocate
FULL-TIME (35 hours) - £24,829

Job Description: Leeds Advocate
Reporting to: Team leader - Leeds
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £24,829 12-month fixed term contract
Leave: 28 days plus 14 Bank Holidays (pro rata)
Pension and benefits – 5% employer contribution pension, with an additional 5% employee contribution.

Closing Date: 17th May 2024

If you have any questions about the post, please email or call Charlotte James or Kari Griffiths

Please note due to current circumstances you will be required to do some work from home, with desk space at the office on a booking basis and outreach appointments being risk assessed.

About Leeds GATE:
This candidate will be joining a vibrant and brave grassroots organisation led by Gypsy and Traveller people in West Yorkshire. Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE) is an established and award-winning civil society organisation with a national profile.  We are recognised as being innovative, brave and creative.  Our overall aim is to improve the quality of life for Gypsies and Travellers through addressing inequalities in homes, health, education, and employment, financial and social inclusion. We run a number of a community facing and strategic projects to achieve our aims including advocacy, community development and youth work. Those who access our services and activities are members of Leeds GATE.    

Leeds GATE is in a period of growth, as we attract funding from a variety of different sources.  This is your opportunity to join us at this exciting time. 

Job Summary

This role and project represent the first step in working with Gypsies and Travellers in Leeds. The advocate will focus on carrying regular outreach across Leeds, along with working with local partners, services and third sector projects to find Gypsies and Travellers in the Leeds area. Outreach will cover roadside camps, private yards and people in homes. 

 You will be working holistically to support the community with a wide range of needs having a focus on our members with complex needs and with families who require educational support. You will be helping members to develop the necessary skills to self-advocate through providing information, signposting and support. 

Examples of your duties include: 

• To build good relationships with members, listening to their concerns and being available to talk about challenges they face 

• To provide Leeds GATE members with daily accessible and equitable advocacy appointments at our offices and via outreach. Led by our members, topics may include:  

• Welfare rights and entitlement  

• Housing rights and support  

• Health and wellbeing including mental health 

• Equalities and justice  

• Access to goods and services 

• Criminal justice  

• Employment support 

• Family matters  

• To involve our members in the co-production of our services and identify campaigns they feel are important to them such as health, accommodation etc. 

Please click to download the full job description and person specification below.

The role will be underpinned by Leeds GATE’s values including: ‘Leeds GATE helps people to help themselves,’ and ‘Leeds GATE believes that people should be safe.’ 

Applications: To apply please send a CV and cover statement showing how you meet the below job specification, along with a completed Equality Monitoring Form, to vacancies@leedsgate.co.uk by the closing date.

Equality monitoring forms are separated from the applications on receipt before shortlisting.

APPLICATION DOWNLOAD PACK

VACANCY STATEMENTS:

• All GATE staff are required to work within and are supervised on Leeds GATE’s Values 

• Leeds GATE is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, the organisation follows safe recruitment practices to protect children and adults at risk, and the applicant will have to have a Criminal Records check. 

• Leeds GATE is an equal opportunities employer.