Job summary We are excited to share this opportunity for a Band 4 Senior Peer Support Worker to join the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) team as part of the Inpatient Transformation Programme for a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role is available as 0.5 WTE or up to 20 hours per week. This role is an excellent opportunity if you are a current Peer Support Worker with related lived experience. As an established Peer Support Worker, you will build supportive relationships built on empathy, offer the advantages of shared experiences, and successfully integrate this with your skills and interest in research and quality improvement. Interviews will be in Exeter on Wednesday 26th March. Main duties of the job You will support the band 7 clinician with the testing and evaluating different supportive approaches for individuals experiencing Complex Emotional Needs in inpatient services, such as the SAFTI programme (Self Accessed Flexible Treatment Intervention), the 52-hour protocol and the Trusted Assessor Approach. Working alongside the band 7 clinician, you will support with research and the implementation of therapy in an in-patient environment and support individuals during their stay. Through sharing your own lived experiences, you will offer guidance to people using mental health services based on the core principles of peer support (mutuality, reciprocity, strengths-focused, safe, progressive, non-directive, recovery-focused and inclusive). As part of the Inpatient Transformation Programme, you will work closely with the newly appointed Discharge Lead and other Senior Peer Support Workers. Whilst we can accommodate hybrid and flexible working arrangements, your base will be Exeter, working on acute wards and other clinical areas. Travelling to other wards/clinical/office areas in Exeter, North and South Devon will be expected. Internal applicants interested in this opportunity as a secondment must have prior approval from their manager before applying. This role is for candidates with relevant lived experience of Complex Emotional Needs, which you will be asked to discuss at interview. About us About Devon Partnership Trust We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery. We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do Our values We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas. We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader. Date posted 19 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working Reference number C9369-25-0146 Job locations Wonford House Dryden Road Exeter Devon EX2 5AF Job description Job responsibilities The post-holder will support people before, during and after discharge from DPT Acute Mental Health wards and will: - Understand the difficulties associated with having complex emotional needs and being in hospital - Confidently draw on your own lived experience of complex emotional needs using peer support principles to support others in their recovery - Build a relationship with the person using services based on empathy, reciprocity, mutuality and respect. - Work alongside the Band 7 clinical Complex Emotional Needs change practitioner to support clinical protocols and evaluate the success of these including the patient experience. - Support any other psychological intervention training/ therapy provision by ensuring the lived experience voice is integrated into design, delivery and evaluation. - Work alongside the person you are working with to help them feel supported, safe and connected to community resources/other networks of their choice. - Build connections with chosen carers as agreed with person you are working with and support and signpost chosen carers as set out in the discharge programme. - As a new Trust initiative, the Senior Peer Support Worker will be expected to use their own judgement, in planning the delivery and evaluation of the Complex Emotional Needs project. Job description Job responsibilities The post-holder will support people before, during and after discharge from DPT Acute Mental Health wards and will: - Understand the difficulties associated with having complex emotional needs and being in hospital - Confidently draw on your own lived experience of complex emotional needs using peer support principles to support others in their recovery - Build a relationship with the person using services based on empathy, reciprocity, mutuality and respect. - Work alongside the Band 7 clinical Complex Emotional Needs change practitioner to support clinical protocols and evaluate the success of these including the patient experience. - Support any other psychological intervention training/ therapy provision by ensuring the lived experience voice is integrated into design, delivery and evaluation. - Work alongside the person you are working with to help them feel supported, safe and connected to community resources/other networks of their choice. - Build connections with chosen carers as agreed with person you are working with and support and signpost chosen carers as set out in the discharge programme. - As a new Trust initiative, the Senior Peer Support Worker will be expected to use their own judgement, in planning the delivery and evaluation of the Complex Emotional Needs project. Person Specification Knowledge Essential Demonstrated knowledge of peer support history and values Ability Essential Ability to work with people as a group or on an individual basis and unsupervised in a range of settings. Ability to make and sustain professional therapeutic relationships. Ability to recognise and appropriately challenge stigma and discrimination. Qualifications Essential Diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. foundation degree; or NVQ3 level qualification Peer Support Training (DPT in-house training/HEE Peer Training/eq) GCSE or Level 2 Qualification in Maths and English Care Certificate or equivalent Desirable Peer Worker Apprenticeship Experience Essential Lived experience of Complex Emotional Needs and an understanding of the difficulties associated with having complex emotional needs and being in the hospital. Significant experience working as a peer support worker or equivalent lived experience in the NHS/relevant setting. Experience in using quality improvement measures and research and evaluation methodologies. Desirable Experience in co-facilitating training Skills Essential Proficient in using MS Office and is computer literate. Ability to share lived experience effectively in various settings. Skilled in demonstrating the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others. Good analytical and critical thinking skills Desirable Ability to use internal clinical systems Person Specification Knowledge Essential Demonstrated knowledge of peer support history and values Ability Essential Ability to work with people as a group or on an individual basis and unsupervised in a range of settings. Ability to make and sustain professional therapeutic relationships. Ability to recognise and appropriately challenge stigma and discrimination. Qualifications Essential Diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. foundation degree; or NVQ3 level qualification Peer Support Training (DPT in-house training/HEE Peer Training/eq) GCSE or Level 2 Qualification in Maths and English Care Certificate or equivalent Desirable Peer Worker Apprenticeship Experience Essential Lived experience of Complex Emotional Needs and an understanding of the difficulties associated with having complex emotional needs and being in the hospital. Significant experience working as a peer support worker or equivalent lived experience in the NHS/relevant setting. Experience in using quality improvement measures and research and evaluation methodologies. Desirable Experience in co-facilitating training Skills Essential Proficient in using MS Office and is computer literate. Ability to share lived experience effectively in various settings. Skilled in demonstrating the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others. Good analytical and critical thinking skills Desirable Ability to use internal clinical systems 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 Devon Partnership NHS Trust Address Wonford House Dryden Road Exeter Devon EX2 5AF Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)