Peer support worker

NHS; Norwich; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a compassionate Peer Support Worker to empower individuals on their recovery journey. This part-time role involves providing emotional support, facilitating discussions, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to enhance client care. Ideal candidates will have lived experience of mental health difficulties and a commitment to promoting wellness.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience of secondary mental health services.
• Commitment to promoting wellness and recovery.
• Experience in facilitating group discussions.

Responsibilities

• Foster a supportive environment for clients.
• Facilitate 1:1 discussions and activities.
• Collaborate with occupational therapists and MDT.

Skills

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Education

Lived experience with mental ill health

Job description

Are you passionate about helping others thrive? We are seeking a compassionate Peer Support Worker to join our Forensic Community Team! In this vital role, you'll empower individuals on their recovery journey by sharing your own experiences and providing valuable support on a 1:1 basis with some group work.

We are looking to recruit a part-time Peer Support Worker (PSW) to join our Forensic Community Mental Health Team for adults with mental health difficulties who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.The PSWrole has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health difficulties. Therefore, you must have lived experience of secondary mental health services and / or the criminal justice system to apply for this role.

It is not recommended to apply for a role within a clinical service where you are currently a patient, due to possible conflicts of interest. If you wish to discuss this further, please contact us.

Key Responsibilities:

• Foster a supportive environment for clients
• Facilitate 1:1 discussions and activities, with some group work
• Collaborate with occupational therapists and MDT to enhance client care

Qualifications:

• Lived experience with mental ill health and recovery relevant to the specific service.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to promoting wellness and recovery

Help others find their strength--apply today and make a difference in your community!

Main duties of the job

Providing Emotional Support

• Listening and validating experiences:Peer Support Workers offer empathetic listening, providing a safe space for individuals to express their feelings, experiences, and challenges without judgment.
• Offering encouragement:They provide positive reinforcement and encouragement, helping individuals build self-esteem and motivation for recovery.
• Sharing personal experience:Peer Support Workers often share their own lived experiences, which can help clients feel understood and less isolated, fostering hope and a sense of possibility.

Assisting with Goal Setting and Recovery Planning

• Supporting clients in setting recovery goals:They help individuals identify their personal recovery goals and assist in creating action plans to achieve them.
• Collaborating with clients:Peer Support Workers work alongside clients to identify strengths and barriers to recovery, offering practical advice and support in navigating challenges.

About us

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk?The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Job responsibilities

• Leading or co-facilitating peer support groups:In some settings, Peer Support Workers may help facilitate support groups where clients can share experiences, learn from each other, and build social connections.
• Promoting peer relationships:They foster a sense of community and belonging among clients by promoting peer connections and encouraging individuals to support each other.

Providing Information and Education

• Sharing relevant information:Peer Support Workers help educate clients about mental health, recovery, and available services or resources.
• Offering practical advice on navigating services:They guide clients in accessing and making use of various services, such as therapy, housing support, or employment assistance.

Advocacy and Empowerment

• Supporting clients in self-advocacy:Peer Support Workers help clients develop the confidence and skills to advocate for their own needs, whether within healthcare systems, the workplace, or social settings.
• Empowering clients:They encourage individuals to take control of their recovery and make decisions that align with their values and goals, fostering autonomy and self-determination.

Collaboration with the Multi-Disciplinary Team

• Working alongside other professionals:Peer Support Workers often collaborate with therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers to ensure that clients are receiving comprehensive support.
• Providing feedback:They may share insights from a lived experience perspective that can help inform treatment plans or improve service delivery.

Role Modelling and Mentorship

• Demonstrating recovery:By modelling how they manage their own recovery, Peer Support Workers provide hope and inspiration for clients.
• Mentoring:They may serve as mentors for individuals who are earlier in their recovery process, providing guidance and insight based on their personal experience.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Tracking client progress:While not typically responsible for clinical assessments, Peer Support Workers may monitor client progress in achieving recovery goals and provide informal updates to the clinical team.
• Identifying challenges or changes in client behaviour:They may notice changes in clients' moods, behaviour, or engagement and report these to the team for further intervention or support.

Promoting Recovery-Oriented Practices

• Fostering hope and resilience:They play a key role in creating a recovery-oriented environment that emphasizes hope, personal growth, and the potential for change, based on the belief that recovery is possible.
• Supporting empowerment and self-determination:Peer Support Workers encourage individuals to make their own decisions and take an active role in shaping their recovery journey.

Confidentiality and Boundaries

• Maintaining confidentiality:Peer Support Workers are responsible for respecting the privacy and confidentiality of clients, within the ethical guidelines of the service they work in.
• Setting and maintaining professional boundaries:They must maintain clear professional boundaries with clients, balancing empathy and personal sharing with the need to keep the relationship focused on the client's well-being.

Providing Practical Guidance and Support

• Sharing coping strategies:They offer guidance on coping skills, self-care practices, and practical tools to manage mental health symptoms or other challenges.
• Supporting in daily living skills:Depending on the context, they may help clients with everyday tasks or skills that support independent living, such as budgeting, organization, or cooking.
• Encouraging participation in activities:They encourage clients to engage in therapy programs, group activities, or social opportunities that support their recovery.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of peer support worker role
• Experience of managing emotional difficulties

Assisting with goal setting

• Knowledge of setting goals with others
• Experience of collaborating with others to identify strengths

Group facilitation

• Knowledge of running groups
• Experience of planning and delivering recovery style groups

Collaboration of working within MDT

• Knowledge of value of MDT team
• Experience of working within an MDT, sharing knowledge and utilising the skills of others for reasoning

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.