Peer Support Worker

Job summary

We are seeking a Peer Support Worker who has personal lived experience of mental health challenges. This individual will act as a role model for service users, utilizing their own recovery journey to instil hope and resilience. By sharing their life experiences and the lessons learned throughout their recovery, they will motivate others.

Main duties of the job

• Promote understanding of the principles and practice of peer support and user-run services amongst staff and patients within the service
• Assist patients to identify their personal interests and objectives
• Help identify early signs of patients becoming unwell and/or relapsing by monitoring their progress, level of functioning, mental state and supporting them to recognise early warning signs
• Promote and support independent living for service users by maintaining knowledge and links to resources, actively supporting patients to use them and signposting to local and community-led services
• Identify with patients how to access various supports and various support networks within their area
• Support service users in seeking to connect/reconnect with family, friends, significant others and in learning how to improve or eliminate unhealthy relationships
• Support in-patients on the unit, working towards their objectives to combat social isolation
• Build up patients' skills to manage their independence, to maintain their wellbeing as they settle back into the community
• Keep timely and accurate patient notes to present to the MDT and contribute to the service evaluation process
• Support patients to represent their views and interests to other professionals and signpost to advocacy services where appropriate
• Further to discharge you will continue patient support for up to 12 weeks in the community, including facilitating access to community activities and living independently

About us

Phoenix Unit is an inpatient service offering 24-hour care and treatment to individuals who are dealing with mental health challenges in their recovery and reintegration into the community. Someone may be referred to the unit if they require a phased approach to their discharge or need additional support but not at the level provided in a ward environment. Patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are focused on empowering and equipping them with the skills needed to live more independently and achieve recovery. During their stay, patients take part in a range of individual and group-based activities designed to help them acquire or enhance various life skills, including social skills, communication skills, problem-solving, and coping mechanisms.

Phoenix Unit is a 16-bed specialist inpatient rehabilitation unit supporting peoplewith severe and enduring mental illness to develop the skills they need to live more independently and achieve recovery.