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

Come and work for
Leeds GATE!

We are seeking a committed individual to work as an advocate alongside Gypsy and Traveller community members across Leeds. This role will focus on reducing inequalities by ensuring members can have their voice heard and achieve access to the things they need for a better quality of life.

Job role: Leeds Advocate
Location: Cross Green, Leeds (with outreach across Leeds)
Reporting to: Team leader - Leeds
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: Grade 4 SCP 11 - £24,829 - £26875 (with a pay award pending of minimum 7% in May 25)
Contract: 5 year contract
Leave: 28 days plus 14 Bank Holidays (pro rata)
Pension and benefits – 5% employer contribution pension, with an additional 5% employee contribution.
Workplace wellbeing support and activities, hybrid working where the role allows, flexible working and a range of family friendly policies and free parking.

Closing Date: 16th April 2025 5pm

Interview dates: Wednesday 30th April 2025 (or Thursday 1st May if high number of applications)

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

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.    

Job Summary

The 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. There are also a number of community facing and strategic projects to achieve these aims including advocacy, community development and youth work.

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

You will also support members through 121 appointments in the office, on outreach and in peoples homes, to holistically support the community with a wide range of Advocacy needs including, welfare rights, benefits, housing and education to name but a few. You will be helping members to develop the necessary skills to self-advocate through providing information, signposting and support.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. 

About You

With empathy and interpersonal and relationship building skills, you will have excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in stressful situations.

You will have knowledge and experience of:

· Working with groups or individuals experiencing exclusion and the barriers they face when accessing services

· Working with vulnerable people

· Working within a safeguarding framework – making decisions and sharing information

· Advocacy principles and practice

· Relevant legislation and rights, for example in relation to housing, welfare, family, health and equalities

· Monitoring and evaluation

· Risk management and associated processes

You may also have experience in areas such as Advocate, Advocacy, Advocacy Officer, Welfare Advocate, Outreach, Community, Community Advocate, Community Outreach, Social Outreach, Outreach Officer, Welfare and Outreach Officer, Community Outreach Officer.

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

PLEASE NOTE: CV’s will not be accepted for this role. Please see below for our application form.

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 complete our application form below showing how you meet the below job specification, along with a completed Equality Monitoring Form, and send 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.