Spectra’s Trans Health Advocacy Service is looking for a new Independent Health Advocate to join our team. You’ll work 4 days per week alongside our small, close-knit team to amplify the voices of trans and nonbinary people in healthcare settings. If you’re a confident communicator and compassionate listener with a passion for challenging healthcare inequality, this is the role for you! Work Includes:

• Independent client-led advocacy casework helping trans and non-binary (TNB) people develop informed plans, challenge decisions, and navigate pathways to improve mental, physical, and transition-related healthcare access.
• Maintaining a caseload of London-based TNB people who have experienced barriers in accessing health care services.
• Helping clients’ voices be heard by negotiating with healthcare providers, facilitating complaints, accompanying clients to appointments, doing research, co-working with other agencies at the client’s direction, and more.
• Developing relationships with grassroots community and healthcare providers to improve access to services for TNB people.
• Co-creation and -facilitation of resources/training to improve the UK trans community’s access to healthcare nationally.
• Undertaking training, reflective practice, and optional advocacy qualifications.

  Essential Skills:

• Experience of work (professional or grassroots/volunteer) with marginalised communities experiencing barriers to healthcare access.
• Understanding of the principles of client-led advocacy in line with the Advocacy Charter and Code of Practice.
• Lived experience and knowledge of health issues impacting LGBTQ communities in the UK, especially trans and non-binary people.
• Ability to work within a team and form collaborative relationships within Spectra and related services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to form good working relationships with service users and maintain professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of issues affecting trans people and relevant services, including but not limited to healthcare access, sex work, mental health services, racialised transphobia, asylum seeking, sexual health, housing, hate crime, poverty, and legal issues.
• Ability to assess and manage risk whilst prioritising clients’ safety and dignity.
• Strong commitment to social justice and tackling health inequality.
• Desirable but not essential: Language skills (especially languages reflecting the UK’s current asylum seeking demographics, e.g. Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, and Ukrainian), London-based (though will need to commute for in-person client work).

  We especially welcome applications from trans people of colour and/or disabled trans people. To discuss particulars of the role before applying, including access and support needs, please reach out to the Service Coordinator at: [email protected]. Deadline for applications: noon, 22th July 2022