Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of an MDT in a Peer Support work role. This roles builds on the success of a Maudsley Charity funded project to embed Peer Workers into the Croydon Home Treatment Team. Peer Support Workers will use their lived experience of mental illness to inspire hope that recovery is possible. They will work with service users by offering emotional support, promoting social inclusion, sharing coping mechanisms and support them to navigate mental health services.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will have completed an accredited Peer Worker training course or a willingness to complete training. This role has been specifically designed for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and experience of using mental health services.
The post holder is also responsible for building and maintaining professional working relationships with clinical staff, peers, care coordinators, and others in the multi-disciplinary team, to encourage open channels of communication and actively participate in the creation of an open and safe working environment that promotes shared learning, growth and development.
Peer Support Workers will be fully supported in their role through regular 1 to 1 supervision with a dedicated Peer Support Work coordinator and team line management structure, as well as access to the SlaM wide group supervision.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organizations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main responsibilities
- Based at the Croydon Home Treatment Team, working with other members of the team to undertake home visits and social inclusion.
- To explain and promote the role of Peer support to other members of the MDT and new staff.
- To use lived experience to inspire hope that change is possible, sharing lived experience safely and effectively.
- To use a number of agreed recovery tools that are person-centred in a flexible way to support the service users.
- Communicates with patients/clients and carers, using empathy and reassurance and where there are barriers to understanding.
- To support the service users to understand the role of mental health services and how they can support their treatment alongside other community resources.
- To be able to signpost to community and/or online resources and access appropriate social care resources.
- To take part in regular one to one supervision with senior staff and peer mentoring at SLAM.
- To take part in group supervision for peer workers at SLAM.
- Organise own workload, under supervision of Advanced Practitioner
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main responsibilities
- Based at the Croydon Home Treatment Team, working with other members of the team to undertake home visits and social inclusion.
- To explain and promote the role of Peer support to other members of the MDT and new staff.
- To use lived experience to inspire hope that change is possible, sharing lived experience safely and effectively.
- To use a number of agreed recovery tools that are person-centred in a flexible way to support the service users.
- Communicates with patients/clients and carers, using empathy and reassurance and where there are barriers to understanding.
- To support the service users to understand the role of mental health services and how they can support their treatment alongside other community resources.
- To be able to signpost to community and/or online resources and access appropriate social care resources.
- To take part in regular one to one supervision with senior staff and peer mentoring at SLAM.
- To take part in group supervision for peer workers at SLAM.
- Organise own workload, under supervision of Advanced Practitioner
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Achieved grade/ Years of experience
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Lived in experience of mental health
Experience
Essential
- Personal experience of mental health difficulties and recovery
- Experience of working with people in a mental health crisis
- Willing to positively share your own life experiences, with service users and carers and colleagues
Desirable
- An interest in developing a career in mental health care
- Lived experience in specialist areas such as Dual Diagnosis recovery.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the Values of Peer Support( for example sharing the lived experience, service users led/person-centred support).
- To be able to share lived experience in way that is safe, respectful and useful. Ability to demonstrate empathy, compassion and patience.
- Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form relationships with service users, staff, friends and families/carers.
- Understanding of issues affecting people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Desirable
- Knowledge of recovery based tools such as Wellbeing and Recovery Action Plans or goal setting.
- Excellent knowledge of the local area and local services available including public services, community led services and 3rd sector/charitable services.
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Achieved grade/ Years of experience
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Lived in experience of mental health
Experience
Essential
- Personal experience of mental health difficulties and recovery
- Experience of working with people in a mental health crisis
- Willing to positively share your own life experiences, with service users and carers and colleagues
Desirable
- An interest in developing a career in mental health care
- Lived experience in specialist areas such as Dual Diagnosis recovery.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the Values of Peer Support( for example sharing the lived experience, service users led/person-centred support).
- To be able to share lived experience in way that is safe, respectful and useful. Ability to demonstrate empathy, compassion and patience.
- Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form relationships with service users, staff, friends and families/carers.
- Understanding of issues affecting people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Desirable
- Knowledge of recovery based tools such as Wellbeing and Recovery Action Plans or goal setting.
- Excellent knowledge of the local area and local services available including public services, community led services and 3rd sector/charitable services.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Croydon HTT, New Admin Building, Bethlem Royal Hospital
Monks Orchard Road
Beckenham. Kent
BR3 3BX
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
