Job summary
Lead Peer Support Worker - Thames Valley
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team are looking for a Lead Peer Support Worker who would like to use their lived experience to support others.
Do you have the lived experience of the criminal justice system?
Have you faced life challenges such as mental health or substance misuse problems and are focussed on recovery?
Do you have some practical experience of working in a health, social care or other support organisations, in a paid or voluntary role?
Recognised with a number of awards, including a Gold Award from the Lived Experience Charter, Thames Valley Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.
Main duties of the job
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You will be a positive role model helping to understand, inspire, motivate,guideand support our service users to engage with services and work on their recovery. You will evidence and show visible recovery; showing that change is possible.
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Working flexibly, visiting custody suites, magistrates' courts, and other locations in the community, you will enjoy travelling across multiple sites and have access to your own car.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Must have lived experience of the criminal justice system
- Must have an awareness of modelling appropriate behaviours, having the capacity to cope when unsupervised; setting clear boundaries and seeking support and guidance to support and protect own recovery, health and wellbeing
- Must have good listening skills and effective communication skills; to be able to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, and partnership agencies.
- NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at band 3 level.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Lucy Bashir on 07584 556882 or email: Lucy.Bashir@Berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Must have lived experience of the criminal justice system
- Must have an awareness of modelling appropriate behaviours, having the capacity to cope when unsupervised; setting clear boundaries and seeking support and guidance to support and protect own recovery, health and wellbeing
- Must have good listening skills and effective communication skills; to be able to engage appropriately with service users, carers, and colleagues, and partnership agencies.
- NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at band 3 level.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Lucy Bashir on 07584 556882 or email: Lucy.Bashir@Berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- NVQLevel 3 in Health &Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at Band 3 level within a health and social care or voluntary sector
Desirable
- Significant work experience in supporting vulnerable clients within a health and social care or voluntary sector
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Experience of working in a health and social care setting.
- Evidence of attendance at relevant conferences/training courses
- Completed Care Certificate or willingness undertake Care Certificate training
Desirable
- Experience of teaching/training individuals and groups.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of the criminal justice system, mental health / or drug and alcohol services
- Having recent lived experience and demonstratable recovery of 3-5 years of no longer being in contact with criminal justice system.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in Liaison and Diversion or criminal justice services.
- Experience of supervising staff, volunteers or peer mentors.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service
- Well-developed IT skills including competent use of Microsoft Office, and the use of electronic record keeping systems.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Required to demonstrate a recovery capital and period of desistance 3yrs+ from misusing substance (inc alcohol) and a minimum of 2+ year completing any licence conditions/requirements.
- Full driving license and access to a car.
- Able to travel freely and flexibly across the local area in order to work effectively with service users and peer mentors
- Two professional/character checkable references.
- Ability to deal sensitively and decisively with conflict management.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- NVQLevel 3 in Health &Social Care or equivalent and relevant health related training to diploma level equivalent or equivalent work experience at Band 3 level within a health and social care or voluntary sector
Desirable
- Significant work experience in supporting vulnerable clients within a health and social care or voluntary sector
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Experience of working in a health and social care setting.
- Evidence of attendance at relevant conferences/training courses
- Completed Care Certificate or willingness undertake Care Certificate training
Desirable
- Experience of teaching/training individuals and groups.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of the criminal justice system, mental health / or drug and alcohol services
- Having recent lived experience and demonstratable recovery of 3-5 years of no longer being in contact with criminal justice system.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in Liaison and Diversion or criminal justice services.
- Experience of supervising staff, volunteers or peer mentors.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards people within the criminal justice service
- Well-developed IT skills including competent use of Microsoft Office, and the use of electronic record keeping systems.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Required to demonstrate a recovery capital and period of desistance 3yrs+ from misusing substance (inc alcohol) and a minimum of 2+ year completing any licence conditions/requirements.
- Full driving license and access to a car.
- Able to travel freely and flexibly across the local area in order to work effectively with service users and peer mentors
- Two professional/character checkable references.
- Ability to deal sensitively and decisively with conflict management.
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.
