Peer Support Worker

The Peer Support Worker roles are a vital part of our plan to improve our services through collaboration with people who have lived experience of mental health challenges. The role of peer support worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, Peer Support Workers will inspire hope and belief in recovery, and supporting others to gain a sense of control over their lives.

Based with the First Response Service, the Peer Support Worker will work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians, and other practitioners. The role will require an effective working knowledge of the voluntary sector.

The Peer Support Worker will act as a recovery champion across mental health services pathways and act as an ambassador of recovery for the organisation with external agencies and partner organisations.

Peer Support Workers will be expected to be involved in the ongoing development of the role.

Main duties of the job

The First Response Team is looking for a hardworking, flexible, and committed Peer Support Worker (PSW, 0.4 FTE).

As a highly valued member of the First Response team, the PSW will provide short-term support to service users who may be struggling with a Mental Health Crisis and will support service user transitions between services.

The PSW will work alongside a number of service users on a 1:1 basis, reporting to the team manager and under the professional supervision of the Practice Lead.

Please note - Informal visits, remote or in person, prior to interview are encouraged and highly recommended. Please make contact with the Team Manager using the details on the advert.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7-day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Responsibility for People Management

To be involved in the continued development of the PSW training programme and in the ongoing evaluation of the PWP role.

To participate in and support students' learning along with other members of the team.

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

The post holder will have no direct responsibility for finance; however, they will adhere to relevant trust policies on financial issues.

The post holder will use Livewell resources in a sustainable way.

To have a knowledge and understanding of counter fraud.

Responsibility for administration

To plan own diary and maintain accurate records of all activity.

Maintain up-to-date electronic records in a timely and accurate manner.

Maintain confidentiality of information being aware of trust policies and local protocols and keeping up-to-date with changes.

To regularly access email and other information through Livewell SouthWest Intranet.

Responsibility for people who use our services

The PSW will work with service users usually on a 1:1 basis.

The post holder will form and maintain supportive relationships with service users during brief time-limited interactions.

The post holder will promote better mental health by acting as a suitable role model.

Promote a recovery model that empowers persons, carers, and relatives to be at the forefront of decision-making, owning their packages of care/treatment.

Champion persons' rights and service users including: dignity, equality, diversity, choice, and respect.

Provide advice and guidance regarding mental health problems.

To attend meetings and other formal/informal communication events linked to the work of the team, as directed by the team manager.

To liaise appropriately with other agencies both internally and externally.

The post holder will share ideas about ways of achieving recovery goals, drawing on personal experience and a range of coping, self-help, and self-management techniques.

To support patients to identify and overcome fears within a relationship of empathy and trust.

To model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy, and hopefulness.

Encourage social/physical activities as identified within the care plan.

Be able to respond effectively to any concerns of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.

Be able to respond effectively to any concerns regarding risk to the person and/or others and escalate to the appropriate colleague(s)/manager.

To record contacts, interventions, and observations on the electronic record systems.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To abide by the PSW code of conduct so that the central focus of work, inspiring recovery, is not compromised in any way.

To comply with Livewell Southwest policies and procedures relevant to the role.

To report any observed incident of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.

To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.

To take part in any audit processes as required.

Comply with universal infection control precautions and procedures.

To complete all Mandatory training and other training pertinent to the role, as agreed by line manager.

Other Responsibilities

The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits and competencies.

Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Livewell policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Vocational Qualification Level III, QCF level 3 in health and social care or equivalent qualification; skills and experience.
• Maths & English GCSE Grades 4 and above or equivalent.
• To complete the NCFE level 2 in understanding and supporting people with mental health needs and complete care certificate within the first 6 months of joining unless already obtained.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health.
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.
• Basic IT skills.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• An awareness to maintain professional boundaries.
• Awareness of own limits and boundaries in relation to own job role.
• A basic understanding of physical health presentation.

Experience

• Lived experience of using mental health services.
• Previous care experience with people who have mental health difficulties.
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.

Specific Skills

• Ability to manage time and plan work.
• To complete clinical records.
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff.
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability to work in a team effectively.

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.