Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a Peer Support Worker to join the Cambridge Adult Locality Team, who are a community based service for adults aged 17-65 with severe mental illness, taking on a specific role supporting service users and carers on entry into the service and some service evaluation at exit point. 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 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.
About us
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 andempowering 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.
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
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
Establish a supportive and respectful relationship with peers and other service users.
To make individual contact where appropriate to welcome service users accepted onto team caseload and in so doing explain the function of the team and different professionals within it, what to expect from the service , how duty works, collect baseline outcome data, collect consent, collect carers information , keep some contact during any waiting period for service , how to access support outside of working hours , signpost if relevant to community resources, link in with families and carers and provide similar information as above as well as carers handbook and welcome letter .
Help prepare service users for appointments for example to be ready with questions or for example to have accessed medication information in advance . To attend appointment if appropriate or wanted and service user has no other support.
Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness via the telling of own recovery story to inspire and instil confidence in peers.
Assist peers and other service users in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and advanced directives .
Share and coach coping, self-help and self-management techniques within the peer relationship.
Support peers and other service users to identify and overcome fears and within a relationship of empathy, trust and honesty, challenge negative self-talk.
Facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable peers and other service users to participate in community activities, in order to maximise opportunities for taking on socially valued roles and positive identity.
Accompany peers and other service users to appointments/meetings of their choice and perform a range of practical tasks, aligned to recovery goals.
Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multi-disciplinary team members, peers, other service users and carers.
Have a focus on the rights of peers and other service users at all times.
Ensure that peers recovery goals are integrated into the Trust processes and are reviewed on a regular basis, liaising closely with care co-ordinators as necessary.
Work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of the individual.
Uses own initiative, personal experience and job-related training in deciding on the approach and interventions required when working with a peer or other service user in delivering peer support, although supervision is available.
Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings to promote the use of self-directed recovery tools.
Attend clinical review meetings to feedback progress on recovery goals.
To 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.
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.
Abide by the PSW Code of Conduct, so that the central focus of your work to inspire recovery is not compromised in any way.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
Establish a supportive and respectful relationship with peers and other service users.
To make individual contact where appropriate to welcome service users accepted onto team caseload and in so doing explain the function of the team and different professionals within it, what to expect from the service , how duty works, collect baseline outcome data, collect consent, collect carers information , keep some contact during any waiting period for service , how to access support outside of working hours , signpost if relevant to community resources, link in with families and carers and provide similar information as above as well as carers handbook and welcome letter .
Help prepare service users for appointments for example to be ready with questions or for example to have accessed medication information in advance . To attend appointment if appropriate or wanted and service user has no other support.
Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness via the telling of own recovery story to inspire and instil confidence in peers.
Assist peers and other service users in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and advanced directives .
Share and coach coping, self-help and self-management techniques within the peer relationship.
Support peers and other service users to identify and overcome fears and within a relationship of empathy, trust and honesty, challenge negative self-talk.
Facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable peers and other service users to participate in community activities, in order to maximise opportunities for taking on socially valued roles and positive identity.
Accompany peers and other service users to appointments/meetings of their choice and perform a range of practical tasks, aligned to recovery goals.
Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multi-disciplinary team members, peers, other service users and carers.
Have a focus on the rights of peers and other service users at all times.
Ensure that peers recovery goals are integrated into the Trust processes and are reviewed on a regular basis, liaising closely with care co-ordinators as necessary.
Work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of the individual.
Uses own initiative, personal experience and job-related training in deciding on the approach and interventions required when working with a peer or other service user in delivering peer support, although supervision is available.
Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings to promote the use of self-directed recovery tools.
Attend clinical review meetings to feedback progress on recovery goals.
To 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.
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.
Abide by the PSW Code of Conduct, so that the central focus of your work to inspire recovery is not compromised in any way.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Good level of secondary education to GCSE level
- Completion of Peer Support Worker Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of employment
Desirable
- Related Health or Social Care qualification
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of a long-term health condition
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
- Experience of working in the public sector
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Computer literate in software applications within the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook etc)
- Professional in appearance and behaviour
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional and appropriate manner
- Willingness to support people with a range of needs to meet their recovery goals
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Understanding and practical knowledge of recovery
- Understanding of the issues and concerns of mental health service users
- Knowledge and commitment to service users' rights
Desirable
- oUnderstanding of the service delivery goals of the care pathway
Physical Requirements/Other
Essential
- Emotional maturity/range of life experiences
- Flexibility and reliability
- Respectful and compassionate
- Ability to transport/accompany peers to appointments
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Good level of secondary education to GCSE level
- Completion of Peer Support Worker Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of employment
Desirable
- Related Health or Social Care qualification
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of a long-term health condition
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
- Experience of working in the public sector
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Computer literate in software applications within the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook etc)
- Professional in appearance and behaviour
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional and appropriate manner
- Willingness to support people with a range of needs to meet their recovery goals
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Understanding and practical knowledge of recovery
- Understanding of the issues and concerns of mental health service users
- Knowledge and commitment to service users' rights
Desirable
- oUnderstanding of the service delivery goals of the care pathway
Physical Requirements/Other
Essential
- Emotional maturity/range of life experiences
- Flexibility and reliability
- Respectful and compassionate
- Ability to transport/accompany peers to appointments
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).
