Job summary
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) are recruiting for 6 Peer Supporters in a variety of locations. Positions are available in Community Services, In-patient Wards, Secure Services and Children & Young People Services.
The Peer Supporter role is a vital part of our plan to continually improve the services that we provide. The roles are aimed at people with personal lived experience and/or experience of caring for someone, who has lived with mental health issues or with mental health issues arising from dementia.
The principal role of the posts will be to support service users or carers throughout their journey through our services, to establish greater control over their lives and decisions, and build resilience during their care and treatment.
These are unique opportunities to work as part of a Clinical Team, utilising your personal experience to inspire people through their own recovery path. The roles focus on creating trusting relationships whilst supporting service users (and/or carers) in their journey of recovery.
Please ensure to view the attached job Descriptor document - which details all available vacancies.
Main duties of the job
The principal role of the post holder will be to support service users by developing mutual peer relationships based on their own lived experience, in some services this principal role may relate to carers.
A key feature of the post will be the person's unique lived experience of secondary mental health services and their recovery (and / or of supporting someone in a caring capacity with (a) mental health condition(s), neurodiversity or learning disability), and how the wisdom that comes with this can support others on their personal journey.
The majority of the post holder's time will be devoted to having direct contact with service users, mainly on a one to one basis but at times in group settings.
They will support service users to identify aspects of life that give meaning, hope, value and purpose whilst recognising that each individual's wellbeing is distinctive and deeply personal, conversations may include reference to their own recovery journey.
They will support staff to identify, understand and respect aspects of life that give meaning, hope, value and purpose to service users and / or carers, creating an awareness in staff of the key role that service user's experience may play in their identity and how it influences their wellbeing.
About us
Information Event
We are hosting an 'Open Afternoon' where we will deliver a presentation on the role of the Peer Supporter in CNTW. For those interested, there will be opportunities to discuss the role with current Peer Supporters and other members of the Peer Support Service.
Open Afternoon
13:00 - 15:00 Friday 17th February 2023
ReCoCo
1 Carliol Square
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6UF
Or for an informal chat please contact us at: PeerSupport@cntw.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note to apply for this role you must have the right to work in the UK. CNTW NHS Foundation Trust will not provide sponsorship for this role.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 2nd February 2023
Closing date : 2nd March2023
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note to apply for this role you must have the right to work in the UK. CNTW NHS Foundation Trust will not provide sponsorship for this role.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 2nd February 2023
Closing date : 2nd March2023
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Good level of secondary education
- Commitment to complete the CNTW Peer Supporter Educational Programme
Desirable
- Completion of Peer Support Specialist Training or other similar peer support training
- Completion of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) training
- Completion of WRAP Educator training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of secondary mental health services and own recovery journey and / or personal lived experience of supporting someone with mental health / neurodiversity / learning disability
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of a person-centred approach
- Experience of working in the mental health field
- Knowledge of trauma informed practice
- Knowledge of strength's based and person-led practice
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Understanding of personal values and beliefs
- Good interpersonal and team-working skills
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
- Confidence in own skills and ability to draw upon own resilience and strengths to sustain own wellbeing Ability to assist people to develop recovery and wellness plans
- Ability to facilitate groups
- Ability to deliver aspects of a planned training event.
- Ability and willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
- Ability draw on own resilience while working with challenging situations
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to undertakebreakaway skills
Desirable
- Experience of WRAP or other recovery / person-centred planning tools
- Knowledge of how the mental health and other health and social care systems operate
- Understanding of issues affecting mental health and well-being
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential
- Commitment to putting recovery values and principles into practice
- Belief that people can and do recover and that people can live a meaningful life in the present or absence of difficulties
- Ability to seek support when needed
Desirable
- The ability to effectively challenge practice and language use
- Ability to work as a bridge between service users / carers and clinical team
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Enthusiasm towards and understanding of the specialist nature of the Peer Support role
- Motivation towards the promotion and development of the role
- Reliable and professional
- Non-judgemental, tolerant, compassionate and respectful
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the post
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Good level of secondary education
- Commitment to complete the CNTW Peer Supporter Educational Programme
Desirable
- Completion of Peer Support Specialist Training or other similar peer support training
- Completion of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) training
- Completion of WRAP Educator training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of secondary mental health services and own recovery journey and / or personal lived experience of supporting someone with mental health / neurodiversity / learning disability
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of a person-centred approach
- Experience of working in the mental health field
- Knowledge of trauma informed practice
- Knowledge of strength's based and person-led practice
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Understanding of personal values and beliefs
- Good interpersonal and team-working skills
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
- Confidence in own skills and ability to draw upon own resilience and strengths to sustain own wellbeing Ability to assist people to develop recovery and wellness plans
- Ability to facilitate groups
- Ability to deliver aspects of a planned training event.
- Ability and willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
- Ability draw on own resilience while working with challenging situations
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to undertakebreakaway skills
Desirable
- Experience of WRAP or other recovery / person-centred planning tools
- Knowledge of how the mental health and other health and social care systems operate
- Understanding of issues affecting mental health and well-being
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential
- Commitment to putting recovery values and principles into practice
- Belief that people can and do recover and that people can live a meaningful life in the present or absence of difficulties
- Ability to seek support when needed
Desirable
- The ability to effectively challenge practice and language use
- Ability to work as a bridge between service users / carers and clinical team
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Enthusiasm towards and understanding of the specialist nature of the Peer Support role
- Motivation towards the promotion and development of the role
- Reliable and professional
- Non-judgemental, tolerant, compassionate and respectful
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the post
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
