Job summary
Have you had lived experience of mental ill health and inpatient services? Would you like to support current inpatient service users? If so, we would like to hear from you as we have an exciting opportunity to become a peer support worker (PSW) within the Acute and Urgent Care Division.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of individuals experiencing acute mental health needs, while supporting the development and wellbeing of the ward team.
The Acute Assessment and Short Stay Treatment Unit (AATU) will be a Female Only ward, providing single sex accommodation and has a multi-disciplinary team including psychologists, occupational therapy, recreational workers as well as the nursing and medical team.
Please be aware that HPFT are not offering sponsorship for this role and you must have the right to work in the UK in order to apply. If you are a graduate visa holder, you must have at least 12 months before expiry.
Main duties of the job
Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the their path of recovery. The role of Peer Support Worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for those who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing your wisdom from your own experiences you will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As an integral and highly valued member of the team you will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. You will be a member of a multidisciplinary team working alongside mental health professionals. Peer Support Workers will be fully supported in their role through regular 1 to 1 supervision within the team line management structure. You will also have access to training opportunities to support your professional development.
For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As an integral and highly valued member of the team you will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. You will be a member of a multidisciplinary team working alongside mental health professionals. Peer Support Workers will be fully supported in their role through regular 1 to 1 supervision within the team line management structure. You will also have access to training opportunities to support your professional development.
For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level/or evidence of competency specifically in English and Maths
Desirable
- Completed peer support worker training.
- Evidence of further training in relation to personal recovery principles
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate first person experience and knowledge of recovery from inpatient mental health challenges.
- Experience of having accessed inpatient mental health services, or similar.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
- Experience of positively sharing own life experiences, and personal recovery journey with service users, carers and others.
- Experience of working both independently as well as providing group and 1:1 activities.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of health and/or social care settings as a peer support worker.
- Recent experience of delivering training and presentations to a wide range of audiences.
- Experience of delivering peer support services.
- An interest in developing a career in mental health care.
- Undertaking evaluations, audit and research.
- Delivery of Recovery college courses.
- Experience of project development.
- Experience of supervision of others.
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level/or evidence of competency specifically in English and Maths
Desirable
- Completed peer support worker training.
- Evidence of further training in relation to personal recovery principles
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate first person experience and knowledge of recovery from inpatient mental health challenges.
- Experience of having accessed inpatient mental health services, or similar.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
- Experience of positively sharing own life experiences, and personal recovery journey with service users, carers and others.
- Experience of working both independently as well as providing group and 1:1 activities.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a range of health and/or social care settings as a peer support worker.
- Recent experience of delivering training and presentations to a wide range of audiences.
- Experience of delivering peer support services.
- An interest in developing a career in mental health care.
- Undertaking evaluations, audit and research.
- Delivery of Recovery college courses.
- Experience of project development.
- Experience of supervision of others.
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems.
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.
