Lead Peer Support Worker

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Slough; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job description

Job Summary

Lead Peer Support Worker - Thames Valley

The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team are looking for a Lead Peer Support Worker who would like to use their lived experience to support others.

Do you have the lived experience of the criminal justice system?

Have you faced life challenges such as mental health or substance misuse problems and are focused on recovery?

Do you have some practical experience of working in a health, social care or other support organisations, in a paid or voluntary role?

Recognised with a number of awards, including a Gold Award from the Lived Experience Charter, Thames Valley Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.

Main duties of the job

• By using your own experience of going through the Criminal Justice System, treatment and recovery you will be supporting service users with vulnerabilities going through the Criminal Justice System.
• You will be a positive role model helping to understand, inspire, motivate, guide and support our service users to engage with services and work on their recovery. You will evidence and show visible recovery; showing that change is possible.
• You will offer emotional and practical support to our service-users by using your own lived experience of the criminal justice system and the challenges and fears this can create which will enable them to achieve a positive future.
• Lead on recruiting and supervising peer support volunteers in the team.
• Working flexibly, visiting custody suites, magistrates' courts, and other locations in the community, you will enjoy travelling across multiple sites and have access to your own car.
• This post is for 9-5 Monday to Friday.

About Us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our Values At Berkshire Healthcare Are

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Date posted

02 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,857 to £30,570 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS733

Job locations

Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ

Job Description

Job responsibilities

The Must Haves For This Role

• Must have lived experience of the criminal justice system
• Must have direct lived experience and being stable in recovery from substance misuse addiction, mental ill health or other vulnerabilities
• Must have an awareness of modelling appropriate behaviours, having the capacity to cope when unsupervised; setting clear boundaries and seeking support and guidance to support and protect own recovery, health and wellbeing
• Must have good listening skills and effective communication skills; to be able to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, and partnership agencies.
• NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at band 3 level.

Responsibilities

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at band 3 level
• Minimum of 12-18 months relevant work experience in supporting vulnerable clients within a health and social care or voluntary sector

Desirable

• Post graduate psychology qualification

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Evidence of attendance at relevant conferences/training courses
• Evidence of qualifications
• Evidence of recent reading research around speciality
• Completed Care Certificate or willingness undertake Care Certificate training

Desirable

• Experience of teaching/training individuals and groups.
• Experience of working in a health and social care setting.

Previous Experience Essential

• Lived experience of the criminal justice system, mental health and / or drug and alcohol services.
• Having recent lived experience and demonstratable recovery of 3-5 years of no longer being in contact with criminal justice system.
• Experience of supporting people with health and social care needs.
• Ability to identify appropriate resources with the service user, using a collaborative style of working.
• Experience of the principles of recovery, person-centred planning, and safeguarding.
• Relevant work experience in health and social care setting minimum of 18months at band 3 level.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in Liaison and Diversion.
• Experience of working within the criminal justice system.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Willingness to share personal experiences in an appropriate way and maintain clear boundaries.
• Empathy, patience and sensitivity to be able to support people whilst maintaining boundaries.
• Willingness to seek support and guidance. The ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers and Peer Mentors.
• Well-developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills to be able to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies, both face to face and by phone.
• The ability, with supervision, to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner.
• Demonstrate ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set.
• Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service.
• Well-developed IT skills including competent use of Microsoft Office, and the use of electronic record keeping systems.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and work within local policy framework.
• Demonstrates an appreciation of the values that underpin the delivery of care.
• Team-working skills within a multi-disciplinary group.
• Able to demonstrate an appreciation of equal opportunities/diversity issues.
• Possess an enthusiasm for learning and development.
• Flexible and adaptable to change.

Desirable

• Experience of supervising staff, volunteers or peer mentors.

Additional Requirements Essential

• Required to demonstrate a recovery capital and period of desistance 3yrs+ from misusing substance (inc alcohol) and a minimum of 2+ year completing any licence conditions/requirements.
• Full driving license and access to a car.
• Able to travel freely and flexibly across the local area in order to work effectively with service users and peer mentors.
• Have experience of at least one of the key vulnerabilities identified as the target group for Liaison and Diversion.
• Must be abstinent from all illicit substances, and in active recovery for at least 3 years.
• Two professional/character checkable references.
• Ability to deal sensitively and decisively with conflict management.
• Ability to deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing situations.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and multi-task.
• In addition to DBS there is additional requirement to secure police vetting for this role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/