Three quick questions

Are you a mature Christian professional passionate about advocacy?

Are you looking for a new voluntary challenge?

And do you have a heart for detainees?

Yes, yes and yes?

Then why not have a think about serving with us in this voluntary post? A faith-inspired non-government organisation (NGO) with a heart for detainees, we are in great need of a solid Head of Advocacy (HoA) to take our advocacy service to the next level!

This senior appointment would ideally suit a Christian professional with experience of advocacy matters related to healthcare - advocating for individual patients, writing on social media about particular issues, and lobbying those in power for changes in law.

Perhaps you live in Europe, the Philippines or elsewhere in the Western Pacific region, or somewhere else. Maybe you're retired on a pension or perhaps you'd be doing this role alongside paid employment. Regardless, if you've got the skills we're looking for and a heart for this world's 11 million souls behind bars, please read on...

Post description

What would we require of you, and what could you expect of us?

Base

This position is suitable for home working, so you could be based at your usual residence:-
- although you could reside in the UK or the Philippines, which is where most of our non-European personnel live & work, residence in another country would be possible provided that it has adequate, secure communications infrastructure and tolerance of online Christian activities;
- if you choose to move to reside & work at our Philippines base (Integritas House Olongapo), accommodation will be provided with a charge to cover the cost of utilities;
- if you choose to reside outside of the Philippines, there may be the occasional need to travel there.

Duties

To ensure the efficient and optimal running of our advocacy service in Europe (primarily the United Kingdom (UK)), the Western Pacific (primarily the Philippines) and any other World Health Organisation (WHO) region in which we perform activities.
Your duties will include but not be limited to:-
- Advocacy:-
  - writing advocacy letters on behalf of individual patients;
  - writing advocacy articles for our website and social media;
  - editing the draft advocacy writings of other advocacy staff.
- Development:-
  - growing our advocacy service in line with our strategic plan;
  - looking for new opportunities for advocacy service growth;
  - working with the other service heads to develop our organisation.
- Governance:-
  - expanding and updating our advocacy policies;
  - managing our advocacy governance risk;
  - scanning the criminal justice, political and international horizons for threats to and opportunities for our advocacy service.
- Leadership:-
  - line managing our advocacy staff including our Philippines-based social worker;
  - representing us in meetings and negotiations with other advocacy organisations;
  - participation in our managers’ on-call rota.
You will be taught any necessary new skills and you will not be permitted to work beyond your competence.

Hours

Although we will consider a lesser contribution, ideally you will contribute at least 10.5 hours (three half-day sessions) of voluntary work per week, depending upon your availability; these could be quarterised or even annualised.
Your usual working hours will be at least partly within the Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00 UK window; if you choose to reside in an area of the world that has a very different time zone, further modification of the above 09:00-17:00 aspiration will be agreed.
Occasional evening and weekend working will be required (for example, if visiting the Philippines and to attend quarterly governance meetings) and time-off-in-lieu will be given.
You will receive six working weeks of annual leave and one working week of study leave per year, which ordinarily should be taken at times when the chief medical officer (CMO) is not on leave & vice versa.

Line management

You will be line managed by our CMO (pictured above) who currently also functions as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
You will also liaise with our Board of Directors’ member who holds the advocacy governance portfolio.
Your line management will be supportive in nature and will include regular performance reviews to enhance your performance and professional growth.

Remuneration & Travel

This is not a remunerated post; you will be a volunteer and so will need to raise your own financial support.
If & when working at Integritas House Olongapo, you will receive free working week lunches.
Travel expenses will be reimbursable.

Person specification

Read on to find out if this position would be a good fit for you…

Experience, knowledge, qualifications & skills

Essential
- experience of service development
- experience of using social media
- fluency in oral & written English
- skilled user of computers, PowerPoint and Word
- skilled writer of persuasive public advocacy articles
Desirable
- Arabic, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog or any other language speaker
- car driver with a clean licence
- experience of engaging with social workers
- experience of human resource management
- experience of interacting with news agencies and the media
- experience of posting articles on social media and websites
- experience of working within a multi-cultural team
- experience of working within a senior management team
- skilled oral presenter
- skilled verbal negotiator
- skilled writer of individual advocacy letters
Health & Safety
Essential
- if wishing to reside in the Philippines:-
  - fit enough to live for several hours on occasion (during electrical blackouts) in 30-35 degrees Celsius of shady heat without air conditioning
  - no uncontrolled chronic health problems
  - no phobias of things common within Philippines life (eg cats, cockroaches, dogs, dust & spiders)
  - willing to undergo basic safety awareness training
- willing to obtain enhanced criminal records check (1)
- willing to undergo in-house induction training

Personal Attributes

Essential
- acknowledgement that this work is service unto God
- active Christian faith with ecumenical outlook (2)
- adaptable
- appreciation of multi-culturalism
- appropriate relationships and personal boundaries
- autonomous worker who takes initiative
- calm under pressure
- compassion for detainees
- compatibility with our CMO’s ISTJ personality
- confidential
- delegator
- highly organised
- interest in human rights, offender healthcare & social justice
- professional approach to working life
- punctual & reliable with excellent time management skills
- smart personal appearance
- superb communication & interpersonal skills
- sympathy with our aims & values
Desirable
- possession of a passport & willingness to travel long haul on occasion
- subscriber to the concept of integral mission

Availability

Essential
- available at least 7 to 10.5 hours (two to three half-day sessions) per week
- available for at least three years
- available to reside in a country that has an adequate, secure communications infrastructure and is tolerant of online Christian activities
Desirable
- available up to full time
- available indefinitely
- availability to reside in the UK
- willingness to travel occasionally to the UK, the Philippines +/- other countries