Housing First Peer Support Specialist

Dublin Simon Community; Dublin; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

5% matched pension

Paid Sick Leave Policy

Paid Maternity Leave Policy

Bike to Work Scheme

Commuter Travel Tax Savers Ticket

Training and progression opportunities

Job summary

Dublin Simon Community is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to join our Housing First team in Dublin City Centre. You will use lived experience to build rapid trusting relationships, advocate for clients, and work alongside Intensive Case Managers to support tenancy sustainment.

The role requires a strong commitment to trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practice and collaboration with health and social care services.

Qualifications

• Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health or equivalent, NQF level 8 (DCU).
• Must be at least 2 years out of services, post recovery.
• Lived experience of homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use and/or recovery, or Prison custody.

Responsibilities

• Act as a critical member of the Housing First team and uphold fidelity to the Housing First model.
• Use lived experience to build rapid, trusting relationships with clients.
• Advocate for clients and ensure voices and needs are represented within the service.
• Work with Intensive Case Managers and hold an allocated caseload.
• Maintain up-to-date support plans, risk assessments, and case notes in PASS and related databases.
• Maintain professional boundaries and participate in supervision and reflective practice.
• Contribute to a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented team culture.

Skills

Lived experience

Relationship-building

Advocacy

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Peer Support Certification (NQF8)

Job description

About Us: At Dublin Simon Community, we’re dedicated to making home a reality. We empower individuals to access and sustain housing through services like prevention, addiction treatment, emergency response, and targeted interventions, in collaboration with our partners.

If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for client-focused, friendly, and adaptable individuals to join our team.

We prioritise best practices in HR, including staff training, communication, and involvement in decision-making, to create a supportive and effective work environment.

About The Role

Peer Support Specialists or lived experience roles are critical to the Housing First team and fidelity to the model. This role is an additional support for sustainment of tenancies and managing transition from chronic homelessness and/or addiction to independent living. They should have lived experience which can range from homelessness, mental health, prison custody and will play the role of advocate for the clients. They lead on building rapid trusting relationships with clients. They will work alongside the Intensive Case Managers and report directly to the team leaders and manager for Housing First, holding their own caseloads as identified by ICM’s or requested by clients. This role will be carefully managed, as we are aware of the risks to someone who has lived experience, and they will need to have a clear set of supports to ensure that they are set to succeed while being mindful of their own boundaries.

Contract Type

full-time, permanent

Working Hours

37.5 hours per week, 7-day liability (includes mornings, daytimes, evenings, and weekends)

Location

Dublin City Centre

Salary

33,500-35,000 DOE

Role Responsibilities

• Act as a critical member of the Housing First team, supporting fidelity to the Housing First model
• Use lived experience (e.g. homelessness, mental health challenges, addiction, or prison custody) to build rapid, trusting relationships with clients
• Advocate for clients, ensuring their voices, choices, and needs are represented within the Housing First service and wider systems
• Work closely alongside Intensive Case Managers (ICMs) to support agreed client goals
• Hold and manage an allocated caseload, as identified by ICMs or requested by clients
• Support clients in navigating services, developing life skills, and strengthening independence
• Maintain comprehensive and up to date support plans, risk assessments, and case notes on PASS and related databases in accordance with SLA requirements.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries while drawing on lived experience in a safe and ethical way
• Participate in structured supervision and support to ensure wellbeing, role clarity, and ongoing development
• Report directly to Housing First Team Leaders and Manager
• Contribute to a trauma informed, strengths-based, and recovery oriented team culture
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of mental health issues, good practice in the field of mental health, and act as professional guide and mentor to members of staff.
• Promotion of the Harm Reduction model by providing support in Harm Reduction interventions and meetings.
• To develop and maintain a collaborative approach between the accommodation provider and mental health and addiction services (i.e. addiction treatment clinics, Community GPs, community mental health teams, Simons Counselling services, homeless specific mental health teams, other professionals and Health services).
• To provide brief interventions to clients in crisis and in line with best practice.
• The achievement of goals as determined by organisational strategy and local scorecard.

Essential

Qualifications and Experience

• Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health or equivalent, NQF level 8 (DCU).
• Must be at least 2 years out of services, post recovery.
• Lived experience of one or more of the following:
• Homelessness
• Mental health challenges
• Substance use and/or recovery
• Prison custody or involvement with the criminal justice system
• A strong commitment to the values and principles of the Housing First model
• Ability to build trusting and respectful relationships with people with complex needs
• Understanding of the challenges faced by people transitioning from chronic homelessness to independent living
• Ability to use lived experience appropriately to support, motivate, and advocate for clients
• Willingness and ability to work within professional boundaries and reflect on personal wellbeing
• Capacity to manage an allocated caseload with support and supervision
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good communication skills, including the ability to advocate effectively for clients
• Willingness to engage in regular supervision, training, and reflective practice
• Basic IT skills and ability to complete required documentation

Desirable

• Previous experience in a peer support, support worker, or lived experience role
• Knowledge of trauma informed, recovery oriented, and strengths-based practice
• Understanding of housing related support, tenancy sustainment, or homelessness services
• Experience working alongside case managers, social workers, or health professionals
• Knowledge of local support services (e.g. mental health, substance use, health, welfare, or justice services)
• Experience of group work or community-based support
• Lived experience of successfully sustaining a tenancy

Benefits With Dublin Simon Community

• 25 days annual leave
• 5% matched contribution to your pension
• Paid Sick Leave Policy
• Paid Maternity Leave Policy
• Bike to Work Scheme
• Commuter Travel Tax Savers Ticket
• 1st-week Comprehensive Training
• Progression Opportunities

Please note

If you are unsure of any of the requirements, please contact the Recruitment Team at [phone]. Shortlisting will continue throughout the recruitment process.

Shortlisting may take place while the vacancy is live, so you may be called for interview and/or the vacancy may be filled before the closing date.

Dublin Simon Community is an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.