Peer Support Worker chez Together for Mental Wellbeing
Together for Mental Wellbeing · Mitcham, Royaume-Uni · Onsite
- Bureau à Mitcham
Contract Details
- Hours: 15 hrs per week
- Salary: Pro rata
- Currently we are in discussions to extend the contract to end of March 2027
Job Purpose
- To draw on your own lived experience of mental distress to empathise with and support people using the service on their journey to better mental wellbeing
- To use experiential knowledge to support those accessing the service to manage their own mental health, build support networks and work alongside services
- To deliver peer support that is aligned to Together’s peer support model, principles and organisational values
- To demonstrate commitment to service user leadership through empowering people who are experiencing mental distress to lead their own journey to wellbeing
Key Responsibilities
Functional Responsibilities
- Deliver peer support that is grounded in Together’s peer support model and principles, working closely with the Peer Support Co-ordinator to support best practice
- Promote the benefits of peer support across the service
- Support individuals to work alongside the service, identify what they need, how they would like to progress supporting service users to exercise choice and control
- Draw on your lived experience of mental distress to empower people to recognise their strengths and potential, whilst building hope and empowerment
- Support individuals to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation through 1:1 and group peer support
- Support people to develop coping and self-management techniques through 1:1 sessions and group based peer support, drawing on your own lived experience of mental distress
- Access specialist advice, guidance and mentoring from the Service User Leadership Team to support best practice
- Support service users accessing peer support to develop safety plans
- Support people to connect with others, including within their communities, supporting the voice of lived experience to be amplified
- Work closely with the Peer Support Co-ordinator, service users and the Service User Leadership Team to develop peer support within the service, including supporting the recording and monitoring of the impact of peer support
- Access regular support and supervision to reflect on own mental wellbeing given the potential emotional demands of this role, whilst having a space to acknowledge the mutual benefits gained from the peer relationship
- Attend mandatory peer support training and work collaboratively with the Service User Leadership Team as and when requested to support the development of Together’s peer support model and training
- Keep up to date with Peer Support on Together’s intranet to ensure consistency in practice and use of resources
- Promote Together’s unique approach to peer support at external events, as required
- Develop links with local services and support people to access opportunities or support as required
- Work with IT equipment and systems to ensure accurate and timely recording of service user data, accidents/incidents, as well as the use of shared electronic calendars and a lone worker safety system
- Maintain and build upon good working knowledge of IT
- Work within set targets and manage time effectively on own initiative and as part of a team
- Work in a way that ensures the service is delivered in compliance with relevant legislation, the service values, policies and practices and contractual requirements
- Carry out any other reasonable duties within the scope of the role as required
- Commitment to working in accordance with Together’s Policies and Procedures, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Confidentiality and Safeguarding Behaviours
- Models the highest levels of the Together Values commitment and its associated behaviours, to provide a clear example for all colleagues
- Ensures that Service User Leadership is at the heart of everything we do
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of mental health distress/using mental health services
- An understanding of the difference between peer support and professional care in mental health
- Understanding the importance of leadership of those accessing the service and the benefits of peer support
- Knowledge and experience of supporting people individually or as part of groups to achieve goals relating to their mental and/or physical health
- Ability to draw on your own experiences of mental distress in an appropriate way
- Ability to establish and develop empathetic, service user led relationships based on mutual respect and trust
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to deal tactfully and sensitively with a range of people experiencing mental distress, including individuals who may be in crisis
- Ability to respond to individuals’ needs promptly, in a flexible, consistent and appropriate way
- Ability to develop, maintain and facilitate positive working relationships with individuals, staff, volunteers and health professionals
- Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office, shared calendars and the internet
- Ability to manage a busy workload, work on own initiative, prioritise work, meet deadlines and make autonomous decisions where needed
- Willing and able to engage with IT systems, including a client record management system, on a daily basis and accurately and efficiently maintain appropriate records
Desirable
- At least one year full-time equivalent experience of working in mental health, paid or unpaid
