Reconnect Peer Support Worker

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Peer Support Worker to assist individuals transitioning from prison to community. This role involves utilizing personal experiences to guide and encourage others facing challenges such as mental health and housing. Candidates should possess recent lived experience of the criminal justice system, showcasing strong communication and empathy skills. Benefits include flexible working arrangements, extensive annual leave, and ongoing training opportunities. Apply now to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Health service discounts

Qualifications

• Recent lived experience of the criminal justice system.
• Previous experience accessing secondary mental health services.
• Experience supporting others in group or community settings.

Responsibilities

• Build positive relationships with individuals preparing for release.
• Provide encouragement and share personal experiences safely.
• Help individuals engage with services by attending appointments.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Ability to relate to diverse individuals

Education

General education

Willingness to complete peer support training

Job description

Reconnect is a national NHSE service that supports people as they leave prison and return to the community. Many individuals face challenges with mental health, substance use, homelessness, trauma or accessing essential services. Our role is to offer practical help, hope and human connection at a crucial point of transition.

We are recruiting a Peer Support Worker who will use their lived experience of the criminal justice system to support others. Your personal journey, insight and understanding will help people feel heard, motivated and less alone. You will not be expected to take on clinical tasks or replace the work of qualified practitioners. Instead, you will use your unique perspective to build trust, offer encouragement and help people stay engaged with the support available to them.

You will be part of a compassionate and inclusive team who work closely with probation, prison staff, healthcare services, housing providers and voluntary organisations. We will provide training, supervision and development opportunities. This role is ideal for someone who is stable in their recovery, reflective, resilient and committed to supporting others to make positive changes. If you want to use your experience to make a difference, we welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

As a Peer Support Worker, you will build positive relationships with people preparing for release and those recently returned to the community. You will listen to their experiences, provide encouragement and share elements of your own story safely and appropriately to inspire hope. You will help individuals engage with services by attending appointments with them, supporting them to understand information and offering practical advice on issues such as housing, health, benefits, substance use and community activities.

You will work alongside Reconnect Engagement Workers, practitioners and partner agencies to ensure people understand their plans and feel supported. You will model positive coping strategies, help people set realistic goals and support them to develop confidence and independence. You will contribute to basic screening, record contacts clearly and communicate any concerns to the wider team. You will follow safeguarding procedures, maintain boundaries and work within agreed professional frameworks. Your insights and experience will help shape a compassionate service that meets people's needs.

About us

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the Trust."

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
<>Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Structured learning and development opportunities

Job responsibilities

Please review the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account

Person Specification

Education

• Recent lived experience of the criminal justice system
• Previous experience of accessing secondary mental health services
• Completed/willingness to complete peer support training
• Willingness to complete WRAP plan
• Willingness to undertake further training relevant to role
• Good level of general education

Experience

• Wide range of experiences to bring an enabling and positive view of opportunities to others
• Able to relate to and work with a wide range of people to support them to meet their recovery goals
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role.
• Experience as a service user or carer
• Experience supporting others in group or community settings

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.

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