Overnight Peer Support Worker

Turning Point UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days paid holiday (rises with years

Job summary

Turning Point UK in Manchester is seeking an Overnight Peer Support Worker to provide compassionate, recovery‑focused support to people in emotional distress or mental health crisis. You will use your lived experience to inspire hope and help individuals move forward.

You will work with colleagues to conduct triage, assess risks, maintain records to GDPR standards, and support service users with coping strategies and next steps in their recovery journey.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health challenges, emotional distress or crisis.
• Ability to share your lived experience to inspire hope and support others on their recovery journey.
• Experience in mental health, health and social care, or related support environments.
• Experience undertaking triage, risk assessments and risk management in a relevant setting.
• Ability to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns and crisis situations.
• Remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate, recovery-focused support to individuals in mental health crisis.
• Build positive, supportive relationships with service users.
• Use lived experience in a safe, professional way to support recovery.
• Undertake triage assessments to identify needs and determine appropriate support.
• Complete risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans.
• Identify and respond to risk, safeguarding concerns and crises.
• Offer emotional support to help individuals manage difficult situations and progress in recovery.
• Support individuals to identify strengths, coping strategies and next steps for wellbeing.
• Promote hope, independence and self-confidence through engagement and person-centred support.
• Maintain accurate records in line with GDPR and organisational requirements.
• Collaborate with colleagues and partner agencies to achieve best outcomes.

Skills

Lived experience

Share recovery journey

Mental health experience

Triage and risk assessments

Identify and respond to risk

Calm under pressure

Communication skills

Prioritisation

Desire to help others

Job description

Our Recovery Lounge in Manchester was first commissioned in 2021 and has provided vital evening support to people across the city for the past five years. During this time, we have developed a strong track record of supporting people in mental health crisis who are seeking immediate support. Due to the success of the service, we are now extending our opening hours to provide overnight support. This exciting new project is initially funded for 12 months, with a further two years of funding already earmarked subject to successful delivery. We are now recruiting a dedicated team to help shape and deliver this enhanced service.

The Role

As an Overnight Peer Support Worker, you'll be at the heart of the service, providing emotional and practical support to people who may be experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis. Drawing on your own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, you will use this experience appropriately to inspire hope, build trust and support people accessing the service. Your ability to share aspects of your recovery journey in a safe and professional way will help people feel understood, empowered and less alone in their experiences. Working in an environment where no two shifts are the same, you'll help create a safe, welcoming and supportive space where people feel listened to, understood and empowered to move forward. You'll work alongside colleagues to support individuals accessing the service, helping them explore coping strategies, build resilience and identify positive next steps as part of their recovery journey.

• Provide compassionate, recovery-focused support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Build positive and supportive relationships with individuals accessing the service.
• Use your lived experience in a safe, purposeful and professional way to support and encourage others in their recovery.
• Undertake triage assessments to identify individuals' needs and determine the most appropriate support.
• Complete risk assessments and contribute to ongoing risk management plans.
• Identify and respond appropriately to risk, safeguarding concerns and crisis situations.
• Offer emotional support and encouragement to help people manage difficult situations and work towards their recovery goals.
• Support individuals to identify their strengths, develop coping strategies and make informed choices about their wellbeing.
• Promote hope, independence and self-confidence through meaningful engagement and person-centred support.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in line with GDPR and organisational requirements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure the best outcomes for service users.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the service, including general housekeeping duties to maintain a comfortable and welcoming environment.
• Promote a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

About You

We're looking for passionate, resilient and empathetic individuals who are committed to supporting people with mental health needs.

You will ideally have:

• Lived experience of mental health challenges, emotional distress or crisis, and experience of recovery.
• The ability to use and appropriately share your lived experience to inspire hope and support others on their recovery journey.
• Experience working within mental health, health and social care, or a related support environment.
• Experience of undertaking triage, risk assessments and risk management, ideally within a mental health, health or social care setting.
• The ability to identify and respond appropriately to risk, safeguarding concerns and crisis situations.
• The ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• A genuine desire to support people and help them achieve positive outcomes.

About Us

As a leading health and social care provider with more than 300 locations across England, we take real pride in the services we offer. We run all of our services on a not-for-profit basis; instead, we invest every penny back into our services and people. We never stop believing in change for the better, and we work constantly to improve the lives of the people we support.

What Benefits Will I Receive?

We know reward looks different to each person and so whether its ways to make your money go further, a culture supporting recognition and celebration, or opportunities to boost your career – we want to support you in every way we can with our total reward package.

• You will get 31 days' paid holiday a year, increasing with each year of service up to 33 days. Plus the option to buy additional holidays and spread the cost.

Turning Point Benefits