[ref. e75926924] NHS - Peer Support Worker

Job overview

**Previous applicant need not apply**

We are currently looking for full and part time Peer Support Workers to join our dynamic team.

As an integral and highly valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, the Peer Support Worker will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to peers and other service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process.

Through sharing the wisdom from own lived experience, the Peer Support Worker will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

Main duties of the job

Within a relationship of mutuality, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) will facilitate and support information sharing to promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.

The PSW will take a lead role in embedding recovery values within CALT , alongside other Trust Recovery Champions, and act as an ambassador of Recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organisations.

The PSW will promote their role, through the provision of information and a range of learning opportunities for the multi-disciplinary team and others across the Trust.

The PSW will also have opportunity to co-work with other colleagues.

Reporting to the team manager, or other designated person, under the professional supervision of the Peer Support Worker Professional Lead, they will be responsible for the delivery of peer support interventions as agreed within the peer relationship.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Work in the community on a 1:1 basis to provide formalised peer support to adults with physical and/or mental health challenges. This is usually in the peers home or at a community venue but may occasionally be online/via phone depending on the peers needs.
2. Work towards recovery focussed goals within a time frame of up to 6-8 weeks. This may include supporting access to community groups and networks that enable peers to participate in community activities in order to maximise opportunities for ‘living well’.
3. Effectively manage your own diary and travel time to support seeing a minimum of 3 peers a day.
4. Contribute to the wider overall care of your peer by writing recovery focussed notes on NHS systems and seeking regular feedback via service set outcome measurements.
5. Assist peers in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or similar ‘life plan’.
6. Support peers to overcome fears and within a relationship of empathy, trust and honesty, challenging negative self-talk and refocussing on the unique strengths your peer has.
7. Value, respect and promote the personal, social, cultural and spiritual uniqueness each peer has.
8. Contribute in a recovery focussed way to weekly meetings where you will feedback progress on your peers recovery goals to the wider team.
9. Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multi-disciplinary team members, peers and carers.
10. Raise awareness of recovery language with Trust staff by modelling positive strengths based, non-discriminatory, non-jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work.
11. Support other members of the multi-disciplinary team in promoting a recovery orientated environment and in identifying recovery focused activities imparting information/ education as required.
12. Abide by the PSW Code of Conduct, so that the central focus of your work to inspire recovery is not compromised at any time.
13. Attend regular operational and professional supervision (monthly) in accordance with good practice guidelines and Trust policy.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Good level of secondary education to GCSE level
• Completion of Peer Support Worker Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of employment

• Related Health or Social Care qualification

Experience

• Lived experience of a long-term health condition
• Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques
• Experience of working in a team or a group environment

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• IT literacy using Microsoft Office
• Willingness to support people with a range of needs to meet their recovery goals
• Ability to maintain a healthy home/work life balance

Physical Requirements/Other

• Respectful and compassionate
• Patient and a non-judgmental approach

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children and young people’s mental health services;
• Children’s community services in Peterborough;
• Social care;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity.

CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.

Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a ‘Red List’ country.

Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.

If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.

All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.