Peer Support Specialist

Ember Group; New Zealand; Remote; NZD 35,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional leave

Wellbeing program

Professional development

Supportive environment

Competitive salary

Induction program

Peer coaching

Job summary

Ember Korowai Takitini seeks Peer Support Specialists at Greenlane Hospital to empower individuals and families affected by eating disorders within a multidisciplinary team.

You will support both adults and youth across the Tupu Ora continuum, including outreach to the residential unit, using lived experience to foster recovery, autonomy, and inclusive care.

Qualifications

• Personal lived experience with eating disorders essential or supporting a family member with eating disorders.
• Experience within eating disorders or mental health sector preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one peer support to individuals with eating disorders and recovery goals.
• Facilitate peer-led groups and support across services.
• Collaborate with clinical staff on individualized care plans and outcomes.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of individuals and families.
• Maintain accurate documentation and confidentiality.

Skills

Lived experience

Mental health sector

Interpersonal skills

NZ Drivers Licence

Education

Level 4 NZ Health & Wellbeing

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their journey with eating disorders and recovery?

Do you have personal lived experience in navigating the challenges of an eating disorder issue and treatment? Or do you have personal experience in supporting a loved one in navigating the challenges of an eating disorder issue and treatment?

Do you have a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others?

We are looking for people with their own lived experience or lived experience of supporting a family / whanau member of a moderate to severe anorexia nervosa and who have experienced specialist level eating disorders treatment within a hospital level eating disorders service in a hospital outpatient or inpatient service.

This role will be based within our specialist community eating disorders team at Greenlane Hospital working across our Tupu Ora continuum – in both our child and adult teams, and providing in reach to our residential unit in Pt Chevalier.

You will be working with a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians including psychiatrists, General practitioners, psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and cultural advisors.

• Permanent, Part-time or Full-time (Minimum 24 hours - maximum 40 hours per week)
• Working Hours will be between the hours of 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday. (We have some flexibility around exact days and hours, and this can be discussed on appointment).
• Ember Support Worker Pay Rates: $25.63 - $30.70ph (depending on qualification held and its equivalence to the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing L4, with stepped increases based on tenure).

About Ember Korowai Takitini | Nga Mataponi

Ember Korowai Takitini are leaders in The Peer & Lived Experience mental health and addiction sector, dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Our Peer & Lived Experience services blends professional expertise and lived experience to offer a range of services and supports for anyone with mental health, addiction, or intellectual disability needs.

• Offers additional leave – Recreation days & study leave
• Provides a comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programme, including health checks, flu vaccinations and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and more
• Professional development opportunities, including training and workshops
• Supportive and inclusive work environment, fostering personal growth and work-life balance
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Comprehensive service induction
• Monthly Peer Coaching and Supervision

About The Service | Ko Te Whare O Kahurangi

As a Peer Support Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in our clinical services team, providing invaluable support to individuals with mental health conditions You will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals, ensuring a holistic and person-centred approach to care.

As a Family Whānau Peer Support Specialist you will connect with families and whānau of tāngata whaiora who are in treatment with the Tupu Ora Child and adolescent team working with young people (under 18yrs) and their families as they progress through their treatment and recovery. Communication, clinical outcomes, access, and care experiences will all be improved from your contribution as a bridge between clinicians and family whānau.

Tupu Ora means to grow your wellness:

The Tupu Ora service is a community-based specialist service providing assessment and evidence-based treatment for children, young people and adults with acute and complex eating disorders (ie. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, EDNoS) in the Metro Auckland region. The service provides consultation and liaison services and specialist support to Northland.

The Tupu Ora Residential Eating Disorders Unit is a nine-bedded unit. The unit provides an eating disorder intensive treatment programme for clients 15+ who have a diagnosis of an eating disorder. Individualised treatment plans are constructed to meet the unique needs of the client including initial assessment, weight restoration, and stabilisation and harm reduction pathways.

About the Role | Nga mahi

Peer Support Specialists bring more than their own personal lived experience to the role. Their approach is shaped by a knowledge base and practices derived from individual and collective understandings of what is needed for recovery and sustained wellbeing.

Responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one peer support to individuals with eating disorder conditions, fostering hope, empathy, and trust.
• Assist individuals in identifying and setting personal recovery goals, promoting self determination and autonomy.
• Facilitate peer-led support groups, creating a safe and inclusive environment for sharing experiences and building a sense of community.
• Collaborate with clinical staff to develop and implement individualized treatment plans, based on the unique needs and goals of everyone.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of individuals, ensuring their voices are heard and respected within the healthcare system.
• Serve as a resource to clinical staff, providing insights and perspectives from the lived experience of eating disorder challenges.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of all interactions, ensuring compliance with confidentiality and regulatory requirements.
• Use your own lived experience of supporting someone with an eating disorder and their journey towards wellbeing.
• Use your own experiences of supporting someone with an eating disorder to encourage and inspire the families and whānau you will work with.
• Honour the contributions of family-whānau and support them to identify and use their strengths.
• Encourage family-whānau to make their own decisions, try new things, and work together.
• Have an understanding of how discrimination, trauma, and injustice affect family whānau.
• Model resilience and positive ways of providing support to a loved one with an eating disorder.
• Serve as a resource to clinical staff, providing insights and perspectives from the lived whānau experience of eating disorder challenges.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of all interactions, ensuring compliance with confidentiality and regulatory requirements.

You will bring | Nga Pukenga

• Personal lived experience with eating disorder challenges and successful recovery is essential. Sustained recovery of 5 years or more. Or personal lived experience of supporting a close whānau member (e.g. child or sibling) with eating disorder challenges. Experience of recovery - your whānau member has had sustained recovery of 3 years or more.
• Previous experience within eating disorders or Mental Health sector.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Preferably level 4 National Certificate of Health & Wellbeing or higher qualification.
• Understanding of recovery-oriented principles and practices, and the ability to apply them in a clinical setting.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple responsibilities and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, while also demonstrating initiative and independent judgment.
• Proficient computer skills for documentation and data management purposes.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth.
• Full NZ Drivers Licence
• Valid/Current work visa, residency, or citizenship

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion

in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all.

We particularly welcome applications from our Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

We will interview candidates as applications come through rather than waiting until the

advertisement closes. The vacancy may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.