Job Title:

Board Members

Job Description:

This rapidly growing. exciting organisation which is at the cutting edge of innovative developments within the advocacy field, and has projects across the South East and South West UK regions, is currently looking for enthusiastic Board members.South of England Advocacy Projects (SEAP) provides specialist advocacy support and related services. It manages a number of advocacy projects in the fields of learning disabilities, mental health, children/young people, and ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service). Its primary role is to support vulnerable service users in having a voice in the way they are cared for, in the services they receive, and in decisions that are made about their lives. SEAP is centrally involved in the national social policy agenda, ensuring that service users views influence the development of services.The Board meets bi-monthly in Hastings, East Sussex, for 3 hours, followed by lunch, and all expenses will be paid.We are looking for Board members with a range of skills including: service user involvement, financial management, HR, marketing, health and social care, specific client groups etc. This is an exciting opportunity for people who are interested in local and regional community involvement, in influencing the shape of services to reflect service users views, and in ensuring that the voices of those who are often most vulnerable are heard and effect change.If you would like further information, please call Jill Miles, Chief Executive on or complete the application form attached and we will send you an information pack.

Salary Details:

Voluntary

Person Description:

Closing date for applications:

31 October 2007

Recruiting organisation:

South of England Advocacy Projects

Contact person:

Aoife Murphy

Address:

South of England Advocacy Projects
The Advocacy Centre
42 Robertson Street
HASTINGS
TN34 1HL

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Web Address:

http://www.seap.org.uk

Organisation summary:

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ADVOCACY PROJECTSSEAP manages four projects that provide advocacy and related services to a wide range of client groups including:Mental Health Advocacy - adults with Mental Health issues Xpress Advocacy Service - children and young people MY CHOiCE - adults with learning difficulties ICAS - anyone wishing to make a complaint about their NHS healthcare For more information on these projects, please go to the SEAP home page.SEAP also provide training, consultancy and external supervision. Please go to our Other Services page. GUIDE TO ADVOCACYAdvocacy is concerned with ensuring that people, particularly those most vulnerable in our society, are enabled to express their views, wishes and feelings, either directly or through a competent and independent voice. Advocates work to ensure that the rights of vulnerable people are safeguarded and their voices heard and genuinely considered as part of the decision-making process.Advocacy is: Independent - not part of statutory or other services Confidential - unless something of a life-threatening nature is disclosed, or in other limited circumstances confidentiality will never be breached (please ask for a copy of our confidentiality policy) Empowering - the client is in control of the advocacy process and no decisions are ever made without their express consent Not concerned with making a judgement about the person's best interests - the client is the expert on their life and it is their view of what they wish to happen that the advocate will act upon Advocates will: Plan from the person's definition of the situation Work towards an acceptable outcome for the person Recognise the person as having the most specialised knowledge of their life, views, wishes and needs Provide information and help the person explore their options, to enable them to make an informed decision, without influence. The ultimate aim of advocacy is always to enable people to advocate on their own behalf, and to see statutory, voluntary and private service providers develop their services in a way which places the views, wishes and feelings of those who use them, firmly at the centre.SEAP is committed to working with service providers from all sectors to this end.OTHER SERVICESTrainingSEAP has many years experience in writing and delivering advocacy and rights-related training to advocates and service providers. It has developed a number of stand-alone training courses, some of which have received formal accreditation, and is also able to design training specific to your organisation's needs.SEAP works extensively with service users as co-trainers, and is able to provide training for organisations wishing to develop this area of work. SEAP frequently runs workshops and provides speakers for conferences, including service users, outside of its own training and conference programme. Please contact us for further details or to be added to our mailing list.ConsultancyAs an advocacy provider for over 10 years, SEAP has developed a sound knowledge-base in developing and managing advocacy projects, across many different client groups. If you are looking for advice regarding a complex advocacy issue, or support and guidance regarding the management or development of your agency, SEAP will help you to explore your difficulties and find a way forward.External SupervisionMany organisations prefer to approach external consultants to meet the supervision and consultancy needs of their managers/lone workers. Advocacy is a complex, demanding and often stressful area of work, and workers can benefit from seeking support from an experienced, external source. Providing supervision and consultancy support within the advocacy field is an area in which SEAP has considerable knowledge and skill.To discuss your training, consultancy and supervision needs in more detail and for information about fees, please contact us on . CONTACT Advocacy Health Advocacy (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service)South East: West: find your local office.