TOUCHSTONE

JOB DESCRIPTION

BARNSLEY FUTURES PAID PEER SUPPORTER

Grade:NJC Scale 2 (scp 11-13) Starting at £15,807- £16,491 per annum, pro rata (A minimum of £8.25 per hour living wage applies)

Hours:15.5 hours per week

Responsible to:Barnsley Futures Peer Volunteer Development Worker

Employing Body:Touchstone – Board of Trustees

Location:Holden House, 2 Race Street, Barnsley, S70 1BG

This is a fixed term post for12 months

BACKGROUND

Interserve, through its West Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) ( is leading a partnership with Foundation ( and Touchstone ( to deliver a new Barnsley Futures service.

Barnsley Futures ( is funded by Barnsley Council and supports people with multiple and complex needs. People with multiple needs have several problems at the same time such as homelessness, offending, mental ill health and substance misuse. Our 6 service principles are; recovery focussed, integrated and multi-disciplinary, strengths and asset-based, person centred, coproduced and trauma-aware.

Barnsley Futures delivers appropriate and effective support to service users who may have been unable to access, or achieve outcomes within traditional support services due to the range, level and complexity of their presenting needs. We deliver person centred support to enable the client to achieve successful independent living.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Paid Peer Supporter will assist the Peer Volunteer Development Worker to support Barnsley Futures service users (peers) and others to volunteer within the service and elsewhere. The post holder will:

  • Assist in delivering recruitment and training packages for peers, volunteers and sometimes other staff.
  • Assist service users to get involved in a number of different roles within the service.
  • Work alongside the Peer Volunteer Development Worker, Project Manager, Team Leader and external providers to develop opportunities for Barnsley Futures peer volunteers.
  • Support volunteers to successfully fulfil their roles, under guidance, assisting with personal development plans and promoting employment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. To support Barnsley Futures with the administration of recruitment, selection and induction of volunteers.
  2. To assist in the promotion of volunteering amongst Barnsley Futures service users and to successfully assist and encourage people to become volunteers.
  3. To assist with the administration of DBS checks and risk assessments.
  4. To assist the Peer Volunteer Development Worker (PVDWorker) in the development of internal and external training provision and development opportunities wherever possible.
  5. To assist volunteers with personal development plans.
  6. To occassionally lead and facilitate peer support groups with Barnsley Futures service users under the guidance and direction of the PVD Worker.
  7. To work alongside Barnsley Futures staff to comply with monitoring arrangements as directed.
  8. To promote volunteering externally through drop-in services throughout the local community.
  9. To support the PVDWorker to maintain accurate admin systems and keep records up to date for the effective running of the project.
  10. To provide appropriate support to peer volunteers, volunteers and service users in conjunction with the PVD Worker.
  11. To ensure that volunteers adhere to the policies and procedures of Barnsley Futures.
  12. To contribute to the future development of Barnsley Futures through attending meetings and appropriate PR events.
  13. To support volunteers and staff regarding admin processes and practices.

GENERAL

  1. To work at all times as part of a team. This includes working with other staff, attending team and staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of the organisations work.
  2. To maintain records as required by the PVD Worker.
  3. To be flexible in the approach to hours of work including evening and weekend work as required by the service.
  4. To be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisations performance management policies and procedures.
  5. To be responsible for personal learning and development and undertake appropriate training, both mandatory and optional to increase knowledge, skills and awareness.
  6. To assist with monitoring and reports as part of funding and organisational requirements.
  7. To be aware of and employ the general practices of Barnsley Futures/Touchstone safeguarding, health and safety policies and ensure these are adhered to at all times.
  8. To operate within the aims, policies and practices of Barnsley Futures/Touchstone at all times and to be committed to and promote the organisations equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies.
  9. To ensure information is dealt with in accordance with Barnsley Futures/Touchstone policies around confidentiality, communications, internet, e-mail and telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure eg. Volunteer and service user data.
  10. To provide information regarding Touchstone, Barnsley Futures and volunteering to people/agencies and organisations interested in the organisations work.
  11. To keep the PVD Worker and Project Manager informed about any serous and untoward incidents, safeguarding issues, health and safety, financial issues and staff/volunteer welfare matters
  12. To undertake any other duties as directed by the PVDWorker and Project Manager in line with the responsibilities of the post.