Consumer Advocate

Company benefits: Paid birthday leave* & early sick leave*

We are looking for Consumer Advocates to support tāngata and whānau to give robust feedback and support us to listen to and take on board that feedback – you are a conduit between tāngata, whānau and the organisation, helping us move towards being better at giving and responding to their experience. We believe that doing this will enable us to create meaningful change within our services and ultimately within the mental health sector.

We have one role available and are open to negotiating options with the successful candidate. The position is permanent part-time, up to 16 hours a fortnight between the days of Monday – Friday (0.2 FTE). Although the role is flexible, it is expected that you will meet with tāngata and whānau at times that suit them which may include evenings (as a guideline this will be between the hours of 7am – 9.30pm). This opportunity exists in Dunedin.

Closing Date: 27th April 2025

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Lived experience of recovery from mental distress and addiction and can safely use your lived experience in your support of others. This could include:
  • Your individual journey of mental distress, addiction and/or disability
  • You are a whānau member of someone with lived experience of mental distress, addiction and/or disability
  • You are then able to use that experience of partnering with them as part of your advocacy and support work kete.
• Used the services provided by SST, or similar organisation, OR someone in your whānau has used the services provided by SST or a similar organisation.
• The ability to build safe, positive, healthy relationships with tāngata experiencing significant mental distress.
• Excellent skills as an active listener.
• The ability to empower others to take charge of their own life (you can support tāngata to share what they have shared with you, through the appropriate and relevant people or processes, rather than doing it for them).
• A reflective and learner orientation/mindset. You can use what you have heard and learnt to coach others. You understand that SST are on a journey towards being an organisation that genuinely listens to the voices of tāngata and whānau and have the patience to understand the stages of that journey and hold us to account.
• 2-3 years working within the mental health sector, or related field, in addition to previous experience in a Peer role (this role is not suitable for new-entry peer workers).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and are comfortable in your use of MS Office products, such as Excel and Forms with experience conducting surveys, focus groups or similar research activities desirable.
• A caring and compassionate nature alongside the skills necessary to develop positive working relationships with colleagues and contribute to an organisational and team culture of empathy and professionalism.
• A willingness to commit to and support the bicultural journey that Stepping Stone Trust is on as we live out our partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
• Strong organisational skills for managing your daily workload alongside good verbal and written communication skills.

As an effective conduit between tāngata and kaimahi, you will be required to:

• Build professional and trusted relationships with tāngata.
• Highlight feedback received in the agreed and relevant channels.
• Complete reporting requirements.
• Carry out the annual tāngata and whānau feedback survey.
• Facilitate house meetings or resident association meetings.
• Run focus groups or surveys from time to time.
• Become a conduit for tāngata to receive access to the various supports that SST provide or advocate for.
• Coach others to become better listeners.
• Build professional relationships with kaimahi as you move towards working together to achieve positive outcomes for tāngata.
• Support the complaints, review and advocacy processes including the possibility of facilitating restorative conversations.
• Meet regularly with the Quality Manager (your line manager) to review your work at agreed timeframes.
• As required and appropriate, connect with other peer workers at SST for mutual support.
• Engage in 1-1 co-reflection.
• Display high levels of professionalism within your role.

Applications can be made through our website: https://stepstone.org.nz/employment/current-vacancies/. We look forward to receiving your cover letter and CV.

We are a faith-based organisation, delivering mental distress and intellectual disability and difference recovery services, and our mission is to journey with people to find a place of standing, hope, recovery, and wellness. We champion our values of Faith, Grace, Hope, Love, and Integrity in our work by bringing the best of ourselves to every situation and put the wellbeing of all the people we care for, first.