Job summary
We are recruiting for a Peer Support Worker who wishes to join our team. You should share our passion and drive to ensure that our patients receive quality and compassionate care and work with us to ensure the Trust continues its journey towards "great people, great place".
The role of the Peer Support Worker should have experience of an EIP and/or a recovery service; provide hope, empathy, and a non-clinical practical perspective through developing supporting partnerships, dialogue and act as a role model.
To enable people using services, staff and organisations to positively re-frame lived mental health experience valuing people as experts in their own lives.
You will work within a multi-disciplinary team to foster a safe and nurturing environment to promote growth, resilience, aspiration, and opportunity.
This role will be split between the Early Intervention in Psychosis team and the Recovery Service.
Previously applicants please reapply if you meet the amended desired criteria.
If you are interested in the role and would like more information, or an informal discussion, please contact Anne-Marie Hempstead on 01983 552555.
Main duties of the job
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the 'Job Description and Main Responsibilities' section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
We are passionate about providing excellent CARE, which is why our values are Compassion, Accountable, Respect and Everyone counts. Our mission is to make sure that our community is at the heart of everything we do and that we hold our values across all our services.
We are committed to endorsing inclusion, diversity and multiculturalism throughout out services and as such, our procedures and policies ensure that applicants are always treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
Why not come and see for yourself the CARE we give to our patients and staff. Apply to be part of our team today.
About us
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight healthcare services are evolving and transforming to meet the continuing care needs of our population. Now is a very exciting time to join Isle of Wight NHS Trust as we enter this period of change.
This year Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust have strengthened our partnership and formed a group giving us an opportunity to work together to be innovative in improving patient care and outcomes as well as improving the experience and opportunities for our people across the two organisations.
We have also been working with other local NHS Trusts across our region to create a new organisation, bringing together all community, mental health and learning disability services from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Subject to approvals, the new organisation will be called Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
As part of the move towards working as one organisation, people employed in our community, mental health and learning disability services by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust on 30 April 2024, will transfer to Southern Health Foundation Trust under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) on 1 May 2024.
On 1st July 2024 Southern Health will become the new organisation (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare Foundation Trust).
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust will continue to deliver both acute and ambulance services for the island population.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Peer support is a specific intervention which requires the use of personal experience of acute or enduring mental health illness, mental health crisis and using mental health services, to work alongside people in their recovery.
To provide a personalised and flexible offer of support for people experiencing mental health needs and their loved ones, which inspires hope and creates a non-judgmental space. Peer Support Workers are confident in promoting the fundamental belief that recovery is possible and have an understanding of the difference between peer support and professional care in mental health.
In this role, the Peer Support Worker will offer empathetic support alongside practical assistance in order to empower people to feel in control of their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and appropriate information sharing, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.
The Peer Support Worker will act as a Recovery Champion within the team, and as an ambassador for recovery for the Trust when working with external agencies and partner organisations.
Ongoing personal and professional development is encouraged and supported, with Peer Support Workers playing a key role in the future development of Peer roles across the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Peer support is a specific intervention which requires the use of personal experience of acute or enduring mental health illness, mental health crisis and using mental health services, to work alongside people in their recovery.
To provide a personalised and flexible offer of support for people experiencing mental health needs and their loved ones, which inspires hope and creates a non-judgmental space. Peer Support Workers are confident in promoting the fundamental belief that recovery is possible and have an understanding of the difference between peer support and professional care in mental health.
In this role, the Peer Support Worker will offer empathetic support alongside practical assistance in order to empower people to feel in control of their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and appropriate information sharing, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.
The Peer Support Worker will act as a Recovery Champion within the team, and as an ambassador for recovery for the Trust when working with external agencies and partner organisations.
Ongoing personal and professional development is encouraged and supported, with Peer Support Workers playing a key role in the future development of Peer roles across the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Direct experience of using mental health services
- Commitment to work towards formal peer support accredited training
Desirable
- Training for lived experience practitioners
- Evidence of further related training.
- Health related qualification.
- Recovery college qualification
Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of an EIP and/or Recovery service
- Personal experience of accessing primary or secondary mental health service.
- Basic understanding of Peer Support
- Ability to support others in a Recovery Orientated way.
- Good motivational techniques and abilities.
- Clear effective planning and decision-making skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working with peers and/ or clinicians using a co-production methodology within a work setting.
- Experience of contributing to a research project or audit
- Experience of collaborative working alongside professionals in either a statutory or non-statutory mental health service.
- Experience of group work interventions.
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of how lived experience of mental health problems can be used to support others
- Understanding of recovery focussed principles and how they can influence support for PWLE.
- Understanding of the issues and concerns that PWLE may have in relation to their care.
- Able to maintain the profile of the peer support service within a multidisciplinary/ multi-agency setting.
- Demonstrates the ability to role model, empower and enable others,
- Ability to receive highly complex and sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
- Computer Literacy.
Desirable
- Knowledge of mental health policies and legislation that may contribute to support for PWLE
- Understanding the impact of stigma and discrimination on PWLE
- Good organisational skills and time management.
- Presentation and teaching skills.
- Ability to challenge clinical practice and attitudes in a diplomatic way.
- Evidence of working within a team environment and the ability to develop and maintain constructive working relationships with colleagues.
Physical Skills
Essential
Aptitudes
Essential
- Commitment to self-development
- Empathy
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Self-motivation
- Team working
- Good time management skills
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to engage and support people who are experiencing challenges to their mental health.
- Ability to confidently share own opinions and views, whilst respecting views of others and managing potential conflict.
- Ability to share details of own lived experience of mental distress and recovery in a supportive and appropriate way.
- Ability to demonstrate a patient, non-judgemental, respectful and compassionate attitude.
- Ability to ask for help when needed.
- Ability to recognise and to deal with personal stress.
- Ability to maintain personal boundaries when sharing lived experience of mental distress.
- Ability to remain calm in a crisis.
Desirable
- Understanding of PWLE involvement and participation and why it is important.
- Ability to prioritise and plan work.
- Ability to manage challenging situations.
Communications
Essential
- Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
- Able to communicate effectively even when there are significant barriers to communication.
Desirable
- Ability to use and understand ICT including Microsoft Office and internet
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Direct experience of using mental health services
- Commitment to work towards formal peer support accredited training
Desirable
- Training for lived experience practitioners
- Evidence of further related training.
- Health related qualification.
- Recovery college qualification
Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of an EIP and/or Recovery service
- Personal experience of accessing primary or secondary mental health service.
- Basic understanding of Peer Support
- Ability to support others in a Recovery Orientated way.
- Good motivational techniques and abilities.
- Clear effective planning and decision-making skills.
Desirable
- Experience of working with peers and/ or clinicians using a co-production methodology within a work setting.
- Experience of contributing to a research project or audit
- Experience of collaborative working alongside professionals in either a statutory or non-statutory mental health service.
- Experience of group work interventions.
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of how lived experience of mental health problems can be used to support others
- Understanding of recovery focussed principles and how they can influence support for PWLE.
- Understanding of the issues and concerns that PWLE may have in relation to their care.
- Able to maintain the profile of the peer support service within a multidisciplinary/ multi-agency setting.
- Demonstrates the ability to role model, empower and enable others,
- Ability to receive highly complex and sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
- Computer Literacy.
Desirable
- Knowledge of mental health policies and legislation that may contribute to support for PWLE
- Understanding the impact of stigma and discrimination on PWLE
- Good organisational skills and time management.
- Presentation and teaching skills.
- Ability to challenge clinical practice and attitudes in a diplomatic way.
- Evidence of working within a team environment and the ability to develop and maintain constructive working relationships with colleagues.
Physical Skills
Essential
Aptitudes
Essential
- Commitment to self-development
- Empathy
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Self-motivation
- Team working
- Good time management skills
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to engage and support people who are experiencing challenges to their mental health.
- Ability to confidently share own opinions and views, whilst respecting views of others and managing potential conflict.
- Ability to share details of own lived experience of mental distress and recovery in a supportive and appropriate way.
- Ability to demonstrate a patient, non-judgemental, respectful and compassionate attitude.
- Ability to ask for help when needed.
- Ability to recognise and to deal with personal stress.
- Ability to maintain personal boundaries when sharing lived experience of mental distress.
- Ability to remain calm in a crisis.
Desirable
- Understanding of PWLE involvement and participation and why it is important.
- Ability to prioritise and plan work.
- Ability to manage challenging situations.
Communications
Essential
- Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
- Able to communicate effectively even when there are significant barriers to communication.
Desirable
- Ability to use and understand ICT including Microsoft Office and internet
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
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).
