Peer Support Worker

The Specialist Outreach Recovery Team are seeking a hardworking, flexible and committed Peer Support Worker to join our dynamic team. This post will offer a challenging and exciting opportunity to be part of a passionate, friendly and hardworking team offering a range of city wide community based interventions. We are a mental health recovery focused team and you will be working with a client group who have a diagnosis of complex psychosis.

The role of Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, Peer Support Workers will inspire hope and belief in recovery and support others to gain a sense of control over their lives.

Please note - Informal visits, remote or in person, prior to interview are encouraged and highly recommended. Please make contact with the Team Manager using the details on the advert.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Main duties of the job

As a highly valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, the peer support worker will provide peer support and practice assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and build connections with their local communities. Based with the specialist outreach recovery team, the Peer Support Worker will work within SORT, and third sector partner agencies, supporting service users transition between services.

The Peer Support Worker (PSW) will act as a recovery champion across mental health services pathways and act as ambassador of recovery for LWSW with external agencies and partner organisations. PSW will be expected to be involved in the ongoing development of the role.

PSW will work alongside a number of service users on a 1:1 or group basis, reporting to the team manager and under the professional supervision of the peer support worker lead.

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Responsibility for People Management

To be involved in the continued development of the PSW training programme and in the ongoing evaluation of the PWP role.

To participate in and support students learning along with other members of the team.

5.2 Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

• The post holder will have no direct responsibility for finance; however they will adhere to relevant LWSW policies on financial issues.
• The post holder will use Livewell resources in a sustainable way.
• To have a knowledge and understanding of counter fraud.

5.3 Responsibility for administration

To plan own diary and maintain accurate records of all activity.

Maintain up to date electronic records in a timely and accurate manner.

Maintain confidentiality of information being aware of LWSW policies and local protocols and keeping up-to-date with changes.

To regularly access email and other information through Livewell SouthWest Intranet.

5.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

The PSW will work with a number of service users on a 1:1 or group basis.

The post holder will form and maintain supportive relationships with service users.

The post holder will promote better mental health by acting as a suitable role model.

The post holder will accompany service users to appointments with agencies across the pathway, SORT, Third sector agencies to undertake a number of practical tasks, aligned to recovery goals.

To attend meetings and other formal/informal communication events linked to the work of the team, as directed by team manager.

To liaise appropriately with other agencies as part of supporting the delivery of care.

The post holder will share ideas about ways of achieving recovery goals, drawing on personal experience and a range of coping, self-help and self-management techniques.

To assist others to create their own recovery plans, make and record advanced decisions.

To support patients to identify and overcome fears within a relationship of empathy and trust.

To model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness.

To monitor mental health of service users and report changes to qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date. Be aware of fluctuations in mental health.

To work with service users and carers to work towards recovery.

Encourage social/physical activities as identified within the care plan.

Promote independence and recovery.

Be able to respond effectively to any concerns of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.

To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the persons quality of life. To record contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic record systems.

5.5 Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To abide by the PSW code of conduct, so that the central focus of work, inspiring recovery, is not compromised in any way.

To comply with Livewell Southwest policies and procedures relevant to the role.

To report any observed incident of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences or faulty equipment.

To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.

To take part in any audit processes as required.

Comply with universal infection control precautions and procedures.

To complete all Mandatory training and other training pertinent to the role, as agreed by line manager.

5.6 Other Responsibilities

The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.

Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Livewell policies.

Person Specification

Experience

• Lived experience of using mental health services.
• Previous care experience with people who have mental health difficulties.
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid).

Specific Skills

• Ability to manage time and plan work.
• To complete clinical records.
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff.
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability to work in a team effectively.

Qualifications

• Vocational Qualification Level III or equivalent qualification/skills/knowledge and ability to work to this level.
• To complete the NCFE level 2 in understanding and supporting people with mental health needs and complete care certificate within the first 6 months of joining unless already obtained.
• QCF level 3 in health and social care or equivalent qualification/skills/knowledge and ability to work to this level.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

Additional Requirements

• To be able to mobilise across Plymouth throughout the working day.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health.
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.
• Basic IT skills.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Organisational skills.
• An awareness to maintain professional boundaries.
• Awareness of own limits and boundaries in relation to own job role.
• Willingness to positively share your own life experiences, personal experiences of your own ill health with service users and carers.
• Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower service users.
• Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/equal opportunities.
• Resilience.
• A basic understanding of physical health presentation.

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.