Peer support worker

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.

Nearly 3,800 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 1,400+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, catering, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

If so, we’d love you to join us!

We will consider flexible working arrangements for our roles, please indicate in your application if this is something you require

JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

Please read the job description/person specification carefully and ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience needed.

It is important that you complete a formal application form as CV’s alone will not be accepted.

We can provide all our job application materials in alternative formats so that these are accessible to everyone. Should you require any documents within this job pack in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE: If you use a hotmail, msn or yahoo e-mail account, you will need to check your "junk" mail regularly as these email providers will divert any communication from this Trust/NHS JOBS straight into your " junk" inbox.

Please note, NSFT uses tools to screen any applications generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Job overview

Are you passionate about helping others thrive? We are seeking a compassionate Peer Support Worker to join our Occupational Therapy service! In this vital role, you'll empower individuals on their recovery journey by sharing your own experiences and providing valuable support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Foster a supportive environment for clients
• Facilitate group discussions and activities
• Collaborate with occupational therapists to enhance client care

Qualifications:

• Lived experience with mental ill health or recovery
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to promoting wellness and recovery

Help others find their strength—apply today and make a difference in your community!

Main duties of the job

• Listening and validating experiences: Peer Support Workers offer empathetic listening, providing a safe space for individuals to express their feelings, experiences, and challenges without judgment.
• Offering encouragement: They provide positive reinforcement and encouragement, helping individuals build self-esteem and motivation for recovery.
• Sharing personal experience: Peer Support Workers often share their own lived experiences, which can help clients feel understood and less isolated, fostering hope and a sense of possibility.

• Supporting clients in setting recovery goals: They help individuals identify their personal recovery goals and assist in creating action plans to achieve them.
• Collaborating with clients: Peer Support Workers work alongside clients to identify strengths and barriers to recovery, offering practical advice and support in navigating challenges.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Leading or co-facilitating peer support groups: In some settings, Peer Support Workers may help facilitate support groups where clients can share experiences, learn from each other, and build social connections.
• Promoting peer relationships: They foster a sense of community and belonging among clients by promoting peer connections and encouraging individuals to support each other.

• Sharing relevant information: Peer Support Workers help educate clients about mental health, recovery, and available services or resources.
• Offering practical advice on navigating services: They guide clients in accessing and making use of various services, such as therapy, housing support, or employment assistance.

• Supporting clients in self-advocacy: Peer Support Workers help clients develop the confidence and skills to advocate for their own needs, whether within healthcare systems, the workplace, or social settings.
• Empowering clients: They encourage individuals to take control of their recovery and make decisions that align with their values and goals, fostering autonomy and self-determination.

• Working alongside other professionals: Peer Support Workers often collaborate with therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers to ensure that clients are receiving comprehensive support.
• Providing feedback: They may share insights from a lived experience perspective that can help inform treatment plans or improve service delivery.

• Demonstrating recovery: By modeling how they manage their own recovery, Peer Support Workers provide hope and inspiration for clients.
• Mentoring: They may serve as mentors for individuals who are earlier in their recovery process, providing guidance and insight based on their personal experience.

• Tracking client progress: While not typically responsible for clinical assessments, Peer Support Workers may monitor client progress in achieving recovery goals and provide informal updates to the clinical team.
• Identifying challenges or changes in client behavior: They may notice changes in clients' moods, behavior, or engagement and report these to the team for further intervention or support.

• Fostering hope and resilience: They play a key role in creating a recovery-oriented environment that emphasizes hope, personal growth, and the potential for change, based on the belief that recovery is possible.
• Supporting empowerment and self-determination: Peer Support Workers encourage individuals to make their own decisions and take an active role in shaping their recovery journey.

• Maintaining confidentiality: Peer Support Workers are responsible for respecting the privacy and confidentiality of clients, within the ethical guidelines of the service they work in.
• Setting and maintaining professional boundaries: They must maintain clear professional boundaries with clients, balancing empathy and personal sharing with the need to keep the relationship focused on the client's well-being.

• Sharing coping strategies: They offer guidance on coping skills, self-care practices, and practical tools to manage mental health symptoms or other challenges.
• Supporting in daily living skills: Depending on the context, they may help clients with everyday tasks or skills that support independent living, such as budgeting, organization, or cooking.
• Encouraging participation in activities: They encourage clients to engage in therapy programs, group activities, or social opportunities that support their recovery.

Person specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of peer support worker role
• Experience of managing emotional difficulties

Assisting with goal setting

• Knowledge of setting goals with others
• Experience of collaborating with others to identify strengths

Group facilitation

• Knowledge of running groups

• Experience of planning and delivering recovery style groups

Collaboration of working within MDT

• Knowledge of value of MDT team

• Experience of working within an MDT, sharing knowledge and utilising the skills of others for reasoning

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (formerly CRB)

FOR POSTS WITH DIRECT SERVICE USER CONTACT - Please be advised that due to recent changes in the DBS Service, organisations no longer receive copies of DBS Disclosures – these are sent directly to candidates only. Therefore, it will be your responsibility, if successful, to ensure that this is taken to the appointing officer as soon as you receive it.

Alternatively, if you have subscribed to the update service, we will be able to check your status once we have your authority to do so.

The Trust has now introduced a DBS Update Service which is a contractual requirement. You need to subscribe when you have applied for your DBS clearance and there is a time limit to subscribe of 19 days after receipt of your DBS disclosure. Please ensure that this is completed within the set time scale.

This update service is an annual subscription at a cost of £13 to you. This will enable the Trust to have instant online access to your DBS record, with your consent, and so will remove the need for you to have to apply for this repeat check again.