Job summary
We
have an exciting opportunity for a part-time Band 3 Peer Support Worker (Expert
by experience)- 0.6 wte (22.5 hours per week) , 18-month fixed term/secondment
within the Herefordshire Early
Intervention Services.
The
services address the needs of people aged 14-65 who have recently experienced a
first episode of psychosis, or aged 14-35, who may be at risk of developing
psychosis.
The role requires you to have had a personal experience of
psychosis and be at least one year post-discharge from an Early Intervention In
Psychosis Service. The post holder must be able to provide formalized
peer support and practical assistance to patients within the service to
understand their experience and promote an individual and unique recovery
process. Within a relationship of support
and peer information sharing, the post holder will promote choice,
self-determination, and opportunities for the fulfillment of personally valued
roles and connections to local communities.
For further information or an informal
discussion, please contact : Sarah
Lewis 01432 220100
Interviews are due to take place on 16 January 2025
If you wish to be considered
for a secondment please gain permission
from your Substantive Manager before applying
Main duties of the job
The main duties for a Peer Support Worker includes
Establishing supportive and respectful relationships with service users
To provide peer support whilst maintaining professional boundaries
Sharing ideas about ways of achieving Recovery goals, drawing on personal experiences and a range of coping, self-help and self-management techniques.
Sign-post to various resources, opportunities and activities within the Trust and in local communities (Voluntary sector).
Supporting service users to attend appointments/meetings/activities of their choice and to offer support in practical tasks.
Provide and promote health education; support and encourage the patient to meet their own health and wellbeing needs.
Provide support to the carers of patients/service users on their caseload.
Assist in groups to promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing and independence/recovery.
Complete documentation accurately and contribute to reports of patients activity and progress in a timely manner.
Participate in discussions about patient care including MDTs and supervision.
Maintain and develop skills through training and supervision.
Liaise effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues, other health professionals, teams and voluntary agencies
To complete (if not already completed) the Trusts Peer support worker training programme
About us
At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.
We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. Its why we were named Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award at the 2022 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.
What we offer
27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
Flexible and agile working opportunities
Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
Wide range of staff networks such as LGBT+ and ENRICH (Equality Network for Race Inclusion and Cultural Heritage)
Health service discounts and online benefits including excellent cycle to work and car salary sacrifice schemes
Health and wellbeing opportunities
If you would like to know more, please visit our careers website.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The PSW will act as a recovery champion and an ambassador of recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organizations. There is also an expectation that PSWs will be involved in the ongoing development of peer roles in the Trust including the Peer Support Training Programme and evaluation.
For full details of the duties and criteria
for the role please refer to the job description and person specification
attached.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The PSW will act as a recovery champion and an ambassador of recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organizations. There is also an expectation that PSWs will be involved in the ongoing development of peer roles in the Trust including the Peer Support Training Programme and evaluation.
For full details of the duties and criteria
for the role please refer to the job description and person specification
attached.
Person Specification
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Emotional Maturity / range of life experience
- Flexibility and Reliability
- Energy / drive, enthusiasm and tenacity
- Patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations
- Ability to support service users to attend appropriate appointments etc.
Knowledge
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
- Understanding of the impact of stigma and discrimination
Desirable
- Appreciation of the community resources within the geographical location of the post and key partners
- Understanding of the service delivery goals of the care pathway
Qualifications
Essential
- Good level of secondary education to GCSE level i.e. A-C in Maths and English or equivalent, or able to demonstrate equivalent levels of literacy and numeracy skills
- Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support
- Completion of the Accredited Peer Support Worker Training
- (equivalent to 1 module at Level 4 training i.e., 20 credits)
- The post holder will be expected to meet the Care Certificate standards within 12 weeks of commencing employment with the Trust
- I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills e.g. ability to communicate their personal experience of Recovery.
- Basic IT skills in Outlook and Word and a willingness to learn the Trusts IT systems
- Able to relate to a wide range of people
- Ability to problem solve, think creatively and work in an enabling way.
- Understands, and able to maintain, professional boundaries
- Able to manage conflict and to help others to do so
- Ability to maintain a healthy home/work life balance
- High level of self-awareness ability to critically appraise own performance - and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans
- Willingness to support people with a range of needs to meet their recovery goals
- Ability to manage stress and to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to carry out practical tasks
- Ability and willingness to work flexibly through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate including unsocial hours and
- weekends
Desirable
- Computer literate in software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook etc
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of secondary mental health services and able to reflect on their personal experience of Recovery that has followed this
- Wide range of life experiences to bring an enabling and positive view of opportunities for others
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of the health and social care service either paid or as a volunteer
- Experience of training, teaching, coaching/mentoring others
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
- Experience of working in a team or a group environment
- Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques
Person Specification
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Emotional Maturity / range of life experience
- Flexibility and Reliability
- Energy / drive, enthusiasm and tenacity
- Patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations
- Ability to support service users to attend appropriate appointments etc.
Knowledge
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
- Understanding of the impact of stigma and discrimination
Desirable
- Appreciation of the community resources within the geographical location of the post and key partners
- Understanding of the service delivery goals of the care pathway
Qualifications
Essential
- Good level of secondary education to GCSE level i.e. A-C in Maths and English or equivalent, or able to demonstrate equivalent levels of literacy and numeracy skills
- Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support
- Completion of the Accredited Peer Support Worker Training
- (equivalent to 1 module at Level 4 training i.e., 20 credits)
- The post holder will be expected to meet the Care Certificate standards within 12 weeks of commencing employment with the Trust
- I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills e.g. ability to communicate their personal experience of Recovery.
- Basic IT skills in Outlook and Word and a willingness to learn the Trusts IT systems
- Able to relate to a wide range of people
- Ability to problem solve, think creatively and work in an enabling way.
- Understands, and able to maintain, professional boundaries
- Able to manage conflict and to help others to do so
- Ability to maintain a healthy home/work life balance
- High level of self-awareness ability to critically appraise own performance - and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans
- Willingness to support people with a range of needs to meet their recovery goals
- Ability to manage stress and to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to carry out practical tasks
- Ability and willingness to work flexibly through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate including unsocial hours and
- weekends
Desirable
- Computer literate in software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook etc
Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of secondary mental health services and able to reflect on their personal experience of Recovery that has followed this
- Wide range of life experiences to bring an enabling and positive view of opportunities for others
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role
Desirable
- Experience of the health and social care service either paid or as a volunteer
- Experience of training, teaching, coaching/mentoring others
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
- Experience of working in a team or a group environment
- Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques
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.
