Peer Support Worker - Ashford

Job description

Job responsibilities

Location: Ashford Safe Haven Hours: 25 hours per week 5 shifts a week 6:30pm to 11:30pm Salary: £23,909 - £24,876 FTE Could you make Mental Health Matter? Are you looking for a role where you can have a positive impact on the lives of people living with mental health needs, then this could be the role for you! Job Purpose: Peer Support Workers have lived experience, and the knowledge gained from that experience, is the foundation of peer support, helping build connections between peer support workers and the people they work with. (PSW Competency Framework, 2020). Peer Support Workers in MHM work alongside Recovery Workers and other staff, their role requires that they draw directly from their own experience of mental health difficulties or caring for someone who experiences mental health difficulties. You will be able to warmly welcome and introduce new people into our service, supporting in the day to day management of crisis recovery, while demonstrating awareness of local support in your communities, signposting and advocating for the people you support. You will be able to develop and support small group sessions of peer support work to support individuals in feeling part of a community. About us: Mental Health Matters are a national charity who provide innovative and life changing mental health support for both individuals and communities. We offer a diverse range of services, and each and every person who works with us directly contributes to making positive changes, improving mental health and breaking down barriers. Everything about MHM is people focused, both for our workforce and the people we support. Our people are the driving force of our organisation, and we are committed to having a talented workforce who will make a positive impact on our communities. Peer Support Workers will be able: * To draw on their own personal experience to offer insight and understanding. * To behave in a supportive, respectful, and non-judgemental way and promote diversity within services. * Challenge stigma in communities, in service and with stakeholder organisations. * To support clients and Recovery Workers to create collaborative plans which identify the client's goals and steps they wish to take to achieve them. * To work alongside the client through their journey to achieve their personal goals * To work with people in a face to face, virtual and telephone-based way to offer responsive support, including in a time of crisis. * To support clients to access statutory support including psychological interventions. * Support clients to access and make use of digital technologies. * To develop and maintain a good working knowledge of community resources and partner organisations to signpost clients and to promote social inclusion. * To co-facilitate some groups and activities. * To deliver training/information sessions, where appropriate, on topics relevant and identified by clients. * Give them a sense of hope and wellbeing and support them to gain a sense of control over their lives, * Help them engage with, and build connections and a sense of belonging to their local communities, * Help them gain satisfaction in different parts of their lives and; * live the values of Peer Support as described in the PSW Competency Framework 2020. * To continuously assess risk and safety management issues for clients and staff and to escalate concerns as appropriate and in line with organisational procedures. * To promote the rights of people being supported and support people to advocate on their own behalf. * To participate constructively in team meetings and to engage positively in regular support and supervision. What we offer You will go through our comprehensive, in-person training program in your first few weeks with MHM which will give you the tools you need to succeed in the role, as well as offering a great opportunity to get to know your new colleagues. MHM offers 25 days annual leave per annum, plus statutory holidays and up to a 5% contributory pension scheme. At MHM not only can you expect a competitive salary, generous annual leave and pension entitlement, you can also expect to be supported in your ongoing personal and professional development. In addition, you will work with people who are passionate about supporting individuals in their day to day lives. The closing date given is a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please note that due to the sensitive nature of the duties, an enhanced DBS will be sought in event of a successful application. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential short-listing criteria are guaranteed an interview. MHM is an Equal Opportunities Employer. How to Apply We operate Safer Recruitment processes, so if you are interested in this role, you will need to apply via our online application form. Please ensure you answer all of the mandatory questions and attach your personal statement showing how you meet the person specification criteria. This can be done on a separate document and uploaded as part of your application supporting documents. We are an equal opportunities employer. We really value diversity and are committed to ensuring our processes are inclusive. We may ask some personal information during the application process, however, everything we ask is to ensure we can offer fair and accessible opportunities for everyone. If you would like to have an informal conversation about this role, please contact: Zoe Williams -

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Completion of Peer Support Worker
• Training or willingness to undertake such
• training in the first 12 months of
• employment, dependant on course
• availability.

Experience

Essential

• Good standard of written English
• * Able to demonstrate a lived experience of
• mental health difficulties and supporting
• someone with a mental health difficulty.
• * Able to demonstrate careful listening and
• empathy and a non-judgemental attitude.
• * Able to support people's self-management
• (that is, the actions people can do to take
• care of themselves and gain control over
• their own lives).
• * Understanding of recovery-focused and
• person-centred approaches.
• * Ability to communicate effectively within a
• Team and externally with voluntary and
• statutory agencies.
• * Good interpersonal and listening skills
• * Able to plan and prioritise workload and
• meet competing demands
• * Able to demonstrate a commitment to selfdevelopment, training and CPD
• * Able to motivate, support clients,
• volunteers

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

Mental Health Matters

Address

Ashford Safe Haven, The Paula Carr Centre, William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Rd, Willesborough, Ashford TN24 0LZ

Ashford

TN24 0LZ

Employer's website

https://www.mhm.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)