Peer Support Worker

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Peer Support Worker to support inpatients at Basildon Mental Health Unit. The role leverages lived experience of recovery to help service users regain control of their lives during their stay.

Successful candidates will work within a multidisciplinary team, delivering compassionate peer support, and helping patients identify recovery goals and navigate the inpatient pathway toward discharge.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health peer support is desirable.
• Right to work in the UK and ability to work without sponsorship.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide formal peer support and practical assistance to service users to support their recovery on the ward.
• Build positive relationships with service users based on mutuality, reciprocity and inclusivity.
• Advocate for patients’ needs and support self-advocacy during inpatient stay.

Skills

Peer support

Lived experience

Empathy

Education

Job description

Job Overview

Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

As an integral and highly valued member of the Inpatient Care Team working within Basildon Mental Health Unit, the Peer Support Worker will provide formal and professional peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their unique recovery journey in a progressive way during their time on the ward.

Working in line with the national peer support competency framework, and the key principles of peer support as outlined by ImROC, the PSW will effectively use their own lived experience of recovery to support a person in their own recovery journey, helping the people they are supporting to navigate the inpatient pathway. By building positive relationship with service users and patients based on mutuality, reciprocity, and inclusivity, they will support people to identify their recovery goals and strengths working towards discharge. The PSW will advocate for a person's needs and support that person to self-advocate during their inpatient stay.

Main duties of the job

• To improve the lives of people with mental ill health by minimising the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing
• To be compassionate in meeting the needs of patients and their carers
• To work closely with multidisciplinary team within the service regarding the mental health needs of the people they are support

Working for our organisation

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre‑employment checks.

Staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.