Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Band 4 Peer Support Worker to join our specialist Perinatal Trauma and Loss Team (PTLT). The post-holder will work within our highly skilled multi-disciplinary service comprised of Psychologists, Specialist Midwife and Administrators.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Team; the service is undergoing an exciting journey of transformation and expansion alongside the specialist Perinatal Community Service, which includes the establishment of peer support roles and a peer support provision.
We welcome candidates interested in this role who have lived experience of perinatal mental health issues and recent experience of working in a peer support role within the mental health sector at Band 4 or equivalent.
Main duties of the job
- To help establish the peer support role and provision within the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Team
- To work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team
- To use your own lived experience of mental ill health to connect with, explore and safely develop a working relationship with patients
- To assist the patient/service user to understand their rights and choices within the service.
- To co-lead (as appropriate) therapeutic groups with patients
- The job role will be community based
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
About our location:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- With support from qualified members of staff, co-facilitate groups and participate in group discussion where required.
- To establish the peer support role and provision within this new trauma service, for the particular localities of South West London.
- Monitor mental health and report changes to qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date.
- To co-lead (as appropriate) therapeutic groups as part of the programme.
- To make notes of date, length and type of all contacts with patients/services users in the Digital Care Record.
- Contribute to monitoring the patients/service users progress, level of functioning and mental state, reporting progress and escalating areas of concern to the relevant senior staff member.
- Report using the risk management system any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.
- Comply with universal Infection Control precautions and procedures.
- To read and understand the basic statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act (1983).
- To engage in the trust PSW 8-day training programme (1 day a week for 4 weeks, a break, and then the last 4 days over 4 weeks).
- To participate in Trust mandatory training & development opportunities considered appropriate to the PSWs role and as identified in their appraisal.
- To participate with the Support & Development group, monthly, online (space for all lived experience roles within the trust to meet, and shared knowledge related to lived experience work).
- To make full use of clinical supervision, peer support with other peer workers and other support as necessary to remain well and safe in their PSW role.
- Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Trust Policies.
- To communicate with patients/service users and carers with empathy, reassurance, and tact.
- Ability to use their own experience of mental ill health to connect with, explore and safely develop a mutual relationship with patients.
- To assist the patient/service user to understand their rights and choices within the service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- With support from qualified members of staff, co-facilitate groups and participate in group discussion where required.
- To establish the peer support role and provision within this new trauma service, for the particular localities of South West London.
- Monitor mental health and report changes to qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date.
- To co-lead (as appropriate) therapeutic groups as part of the programme.
- To make notes of date, length and type of all contacts with patients/services users in the Digital Care Record.
- Contribute to monitoring the patients/service users progress, level of functioning and mental state, reporting progress and escalating areas of concern to the relevant senior staff member.
- Report using the risk management system any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.
- Comply with universal Infection Control precautions and procedures.
- To read and understand the basic statutory requirements of the Mental Health Act (1983).
- To engage in the trust PSW 8-day training programme (1 day a week for 4 weeks, a break, and then the last 4 days over 4 weeks).
- To participate in Trust mandatory training & development opportunities considered appropriate to the PSWs role and as identified in their appraisal.
- To participate with the Support & Development group, monthly, online (space for all lived experience roles within the trust to meet, and shared knowledge related to lived experience work).
- To make full use of clinical supervision, peer support with other peer workers and other support as necessary to remain well and safe in their PSW role.
- Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Trust Policies.
- To communicate with patients/service users and carers with empathy, reassurance, and tact.
- Ability to use their own experience of mental ill health to connect with, explore and safely develop a mutual relationship with patients.
- To assist the patient/service user to understand their rights and choices within the service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of education with a relevant qualification AS Level, NVQ 3 or equivalent OR Key Skills in Literacy and Numeracy Level 2 (or willing to achieve within 2 years) Equivalent experience of providing peer support in the mental health sector
Desirable
- Customer Service/ Business Admin /ITQ or equivalent professional experience
- Educated to degree level
Experience
Essential
- Experience of being part of team developing a project or service
- Prioritising, planning and organising own and others tasks
- Experience of dealing with difficult situations and confrontations
- Recent experience of working in the mental health sector at band 3 or equivalent
- Lived experience of mental health issues or caring for a person with mental health issues
- Experience of working with people who have complex physical &/or emotional wellbeing needs that require a diverse range of services or support.
- Experience of working with carers friends and families, who may have complex physical &/or emotional wellbeing needs that require a diverse range of services or support.
Desirable
- Experience of using recovery approach in working with individuals
- Previous experience of using peer support
- Experience of mentoring or working with individuals with lived experience
- Lived experience of perinatal loss
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of education with a relevant qualification AS Level, NVQ 3 or equivalent OR Key Skills in Literacy and Numeracy Level 2 (or willing to achieve within 2 years) Equivalent experience of providing peer support in the mental health sector
Desirable
- Customer Service/ Business Admin /ITQ or equivalent professional experience
- Educated to degree level
Experience
Essential
- Experience of being part of team developing a project or service
- Prioritising, planning and organising own and others tasks
- Experience of dealing with difficult situations and confrontations
- Recent experience of working in the mental health sector at band 3 or equivalent
- Lived experience of mental health issues or caring for a person with mental health issues
- Experience of working with people who have complex physical &/or emotional wellbeing needs that require a diverse range of services or support.
- Experience of working with carers friends and families, who may have complex physical &/or emotional wellbeing needs that require a diverse range of services or support.
Desirable
- Experience of using recovery approach in working with individuals
- Previous experience of using peer support
- Experience of mentoring or working with individuals with lived experience
- Lived experience of perinatal loss
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).
