Peer Support Worker
JobDescription
Accountability & Supervision: Peer Support Co-ordinator
Job Purpose: Post holder will use their ‘lived experience of mental health issues to provide peer support to people who use our services, with the aim of increasing their confidence and self-esteem in order to support their recovery. This work may take the form of discussion, reflection, coaching/mentoring, as well as supporting people with activities and personal plans as appropriate. This will involve engaging with service users and assisting them in achieving the goals within their support plan (which they have already created with a Senior/ Wellbeing Worker).
The post will also involve liaising with statutory and voluntary sector professionals, working constructively with theTogether Norfolk Service User support team of Project Managers, Senior/Wellbeing Workers and helping people to use the Together services to engage with appropriate community services and formal and informal support networks.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1.Establish and develop empathetic relationships based on mutual respect and trust
2.Support Service Users to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation and promote progress in their journey to recovery
3.Discuss with the Service User to Identify what they need and how they would like to progress (goals, plan) using empowering language to overcome negative self-talk.
4.Support Service User in meeting holistic needs (education, welfare, employment, financial, leisure, housing, spiritual, etc.) in partnership with other individuals and agencies and within a recovery environment.
5.Share/teach coping and self-management techniques to our Service Users.
6.Support Service Users as necessary in achieving their support plan, and support them to share sections of the plan with their care co-ordinators, should they wish to do so.
7.Use a Strengths approach to support our Service Users for example: using the Achievement Tool and Shield Model.
8.Complete necessary admin tasks and keep relevant monitoring & evaluation records as appropriate
9.Attend meetings (supervision, group/team/staff meetings etc)
10.Empower clients to provide mutual support though one to one and group work.
11.To support less experienced Peer Support Workers in their role, providing advice and guidance as appropriate.
12.To work in cooperation with other team members and staff (as appropriate).
13.All staff and volunteers are expected to abide by Together’s policies and procedures and to participate in training activities necessary to their post including successful completion of Peer Support Worker Training
Equal Opportunities Statement
We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Together employees and service users can bring to the work of the projects and the organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or addiction problems.
All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development.
Full details may be found in the Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.
Peer Support Worker
Person Specification
Essential / DesirableKnowledge
An understanding of the principles of recovery /
Understanding and commitment to Together’suser leadership and peer support principles and practice /
An understanding of the needs of service users who are in crisis or unwell /
Understanding of a person-centred approach /
Knowledge of how the mental health and other health and social care systems operate /
Skills & Personal Qualities
Able to empathise with and relate to a wide range of peopleexperiencing mental distress and work in equal partnership with them /
Able to self motivate, take initiative and work unsupervised /
Excellent communication and team-working skills and ability to engage with people from different backgrounds /
Good time management and administrationskills /
Ability to share personal story of recovery as and when appropriate /
Ability to assist people to develop to achieve their support/recovery plans / tick
Good networking skills /
Ability to work in a flexible, responsive and enabling way /
A real belief that people can recover and lead their own recovery with appropriate support /
An understanding of the importance of confidentiality /
Commitment to personal development and learning /
Basic numeracy and literacy and basic IT skills /
Experience
Personal experience of mental distressand accessing mental health services /
Experience of supporting others one-to-one in a person-centred, confidential and empathic manner /
Experience of running group activities /
Experience of recovery/person centred planning tools /
Other
Able to work out of hours as/when needed /
A willingness and capacity to travel locally (and occasionally regionally) as the job requires. Driving license, own transport or access to a car /
Able to maintain high standards of customer care, to uphold the Equality and Diversity Policy and health and safety standards /
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