Trainee Paid RPR at Rethink Mental Illness in London
About the role
- Trainee Paid Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR)
- Location: Field-based – Camden and Surrounding Areas
- Job Type: Permanent - 35 Hours
- Salary: £24,015.68
- Make a difference where it matters most
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves to have their voice heard. As a Trainee Paid RPR, you’ll play a vital role in supporting people who have been deprived of their liberty—helping them understand their rights, express their views, and ensure their voices shape decisions about their care.
This is more than a job. It’s a chance to build a meaningful career in advocacy while gaining a nationally recognised qualification.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll start your journey by learning, observing, and developing your skills—supported every step of the way—before progressing to managing your own caseload.
In this role, you will:
- Advocate for people in hospitals and care homes
- Empower individuals to understand their rights and make informed decisions
- Represent people in line with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Take action when people’s rights may not be upheld, including raising challenges where appropriate
- Work closely with health and social care professionals to ensure the person’s voice is central
- Maintain accurate, high-quality case records and reports
- Identify safeguarding concerns and act appropriately
- Contribute to awareness-raising and engagement across services
You’ll work across Camden, so being comfortable with travel between locations is essential.
Your development journey
We’ll invest in your future from day one. You will:
- Enrol on the Level 4 Independent Advocacy Practice qualification
- Complete specialist modules (including IMCA and DoLS)
- Gain hands-on experience through shadowing and supervised practice
- Progress to a Paid RPR role once qualified
Protected study time and ongoing supervision will support your success throughout.
What we’re looking for
You don’t need previous advocacy experience—we’re looking for people with the right values, passion, and potential.
You’ll bring:
- A commitment to learning and completing your qualification
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with diverse individuals
- Empathy, integrity, and a non-judgemental approach
- The ability to work independently while being part of a supportive team
- Confidence using IT systems and managing your workload
- A willingness to travel across your local area
Experience in health, social care, or lived experience is welcome but not essential.
Ready to start your advocacy career?
If you’re passionate about empowering others, standing up for rights, and making a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and take your first step into a rewarding advocacy career.
IND1
Why join Rethink Mental Illness?
We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:
- An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
- Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
- Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
- Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
- Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Our commitment to inclusion
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.
