NHS Independent Complaints Service Advocate
| Posting date: | 27 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £26,089 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 26 June 2025 |
| Location: | Northwich, Cheshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Healthwatch Cheshire CIC |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | HWC25/01 |
Summary
Healthwatch Cheshire are seeking a confident, enthusiastic and experienced NHS Independent Complaints Service (ICAS) Advocate.
Job Title: Healthwatch Cheshire NHS Independent Complaints Advocate
Salary: £26,089 pro rata
Location: Cheshire/office/home
Hours: 12 hours per week
Contract: 18-month contract
Benefits: 26 days annual leave (not including bank holidays)
About Healthwatch
Healthwatch Cheshire (consisting of Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West) are the local independent champion for people who use health and care services.
Our team use a variety of engagement techniques to gather people’s views, experiences and stories to help shape and improve how health and care services are run now and in the future. We also provide the independent advocacy support to help people to understand and use the NHS complaints procedures, and to support with making complaints. To help us continue to deliver our support we are looking for a passionate and motivated team player who wants to join our small but dynamic team, and to use their skills to help make a difference.
About the role
As an NHS ICAS Advocate, you will:
• Support people living in Cheshire who wish to make a complaint about their NHS funded healthcare to understand their rights and choices
• Provide both remote and direct advocacy support as needed at each stage of the NHS complaints process
• Meet with clients in the Healthwatch office, their homes, hospitals, surgeries or meeting rooms, to listen and talk through options available within the NHS complaint structure and support clients, ensuring that the options chosen are consistent with the NHS complaints process
• Communicate with clients as required by telephone, letter and email
• Communicate with individuals and NHS organisations to help support the clients’ views, while keeping them informed of the progress of their case
• Accompany clients to meetings where necessary ensuring their views are expressed and their voices are heard
• Ensure that the diverse needs of all clients and potential clients are met.
About you
The ideal candidate will:
• Be motivated to work independently as well as part of a small and professional team of staff and volunteers
• Have achieved the National Advocacy Qualification at Level 3 or be prepared to work towards it
• Have a broad knowledge of NHS Complaints regulations and procedures
• Be passionate about making a difference for local communities
• Have a can-do attitude and a proactive approach to work
• Have the ability to record and present findings in an accurate, clear and understandable way
• Have a keen interest in health and care issues
• Have access to a car, as travel across Cheshire will be required for which you will be paid mileage* (car insurance will need to cover business activity)
Closing date: Friday, 4th July 2025
Interviews: Wednesday, 6th August 2025
CVs will not be considered. For an application pack please visit:
www.healthwatchcwac.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us or www.healthwatchcheshireeast.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us
*Excluding travel to and from the Healthwatch Office.
Job Title: Healthwatch Cheshire NHS Independent Complaints Advocate
Salary: £26,089 pro rata
Location: Cheshire/office/home
Hours: 12 hours per week
Contract: 18-month contract
Benefits: 26 days annual leave (not including bank holidays)
About Healthwatch
Healthwatch Cheshire (consisting of Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West) are the local independent champion for people who use health and care services.
Our team use a variety of engagement techniques to gather people’s views, experiences and stories to help shape and improve how health and care services are run now and in the future. We also provide the independent advocacy support to help people to understand and use the NHS complaints procedures, and to support with making complaints. To help us continue to deliver our support we are looking for a passionate and motivated team player who wants to join our small but dynamic team, and to use their skills to help make a difference.
About the role
As an NHS ICAS Advocate, you will:
• Support people living in Cheshire who wish to make a complaint about their NHS funded healthcare to understand their rights and choices
• Provide both remote and direct advocacy support as needed at each stage of the NHS complaints process
• Meet with clients in the Healthwatch office, their homes, hospitals, surgeries or meeting rooms, to listen and talk through options available within the NHS complaint structure and support clients, ensuring that the options chosen are consistent with the NHS complaints process
• Communicate with clients as required by telephone, letter and email
• Communicate with individuals and NHS organisations to help support the clients’ views, while keeping them informed of the progress of their case
• Accompany clients to meetings where necessary ensuring their views are expressed and their voices are heard
• Ensure that the diverse needs of all clients and potential clients are met.
About you
The ideal candidate will:
• Be motivated to work independently as well as part of a small and professional team of staff and volunteers
• Have achieved the National Advocacy Qualification at Level 3 or be prepared to work towards it
• Have a broad knowledge of NHS Complaints regulations and procedures
• Be passionate about making a difference for local communities
• Have a can-do attitude and a proactive approach to work
• Have the ability to record and present findings in an accurate, clear and understandable way
• Have a keen interest in health and care issues
• Have access to a car, as travel across Cheshire will be required for which you will be paid mileage* (car insurance will need to cover business activity)
Closing date: Friday, 4th July 2025
Interviews: Wednesday, 6th August 2025
CVs will not be considered. For an application pack please visit:
www.healthwatchcwac.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us or www.healthwatchcheshireeast.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us
*Excluding travel to and from the Healthwatch Office.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.