Job summary
Are you someone with personal experience of personality disorder or significant mental health challenges who wants to make a real difference by supporting others who have been through similar struggles? If so, we have an exciting part time opportunity based out of Erlegh House, Reading, for you to join our team as a Lived Experience Lead within the Service User Network (SUN).
SUN is a community-based initiative designed to provide support for people living with complex emotional difficulties or personality disorders. The SUN service offers peer support groups where members can both give and receive support, creating a space where lived experience is valued, whether or not they are currently in touch with mental health services or have a formal diagnosis.
In this role, your own lived experience will be one of your greatest assets. You'll help shape and lead the SUN team working with clinicians and lived experience facilitators as part of an MDT team. Your role will also involve deputising for the service manager when required. Together, you'll create a supportive, compassionate environment where members feel heard, understood, and empowered.
If you're interested in applying, we'd love to chat with you first! Please reach out to Charlie Thomas on 0300 365 8000 to learn more about the role.
Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.
Main duties of the job
Some of your key responsibilities will include:
1. Group Co-Facilitation : Working alongside others to lead peer support groups, sharing insights from your own journey.
2. Supporting Facilitators : Providing guidance, supervision, and encouragement to our team of lived experience facilitators.
3. Collaboration : Working closely with the SUN Team Manager to ensure the service runs smoothly and meets the needs of our members.
4. Line Management : Helping manage and support the SUN Lived Experience workforce.
5. Flexibility : You'll need to travel to other locations across Berkshire whilst also having an option to work from home when appropriate.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust isa 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.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you'll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:
6. Caring for and about you is our top priority
7. Committed to providing good quality, safe services
8. Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Benefits of working for us include:
9. Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
10. 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
11. Generous NHS pension scheme
12. Excellent learning and career development opportunities
13. 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme
14. Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
15. Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
16. Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities and armed forces community to support equality
17. Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
18. Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
19. Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience.
20. Lived experience, as a service user, of difficulties associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
21. Experience of leadership, managing, mentoring, and/or supervision of junior colleagues.
22. Experience or strong working knowledge of mental health services, peer support and co-production.
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: Charlie Thomas on 0300 365 8000 or email wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, 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
23. Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience
24. Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable
25. Mentorship or Supervision Training
Previous Experience
Essential
26. Lived experience, as a service user of difficulties associated with personality disorder
27. Experience of accessing mental health services or strong working knowledge of mental health services
28. Experience of peer support or co-production
29. Experience of leadership, managing, mentoring, and/or supervision of junior colleagues
30. Experience of facilitating focus groups, meetings, or workshops
31. Experience of relationship building and partnership working including liaising and working with colleagues from other disciplines
Desirable
32. Previous experience of working in the NHS
33. Group facilitation skills for people with mental health difficulties
34. Experience of developing and delivering services
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
35. Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of challenges associated with 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs
36. Demonstrable skills in effective leadership
37. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others
38. Working knowledge of staff groups dynamics - including the ability to tolerate and contain the anxiety of colleagues
39. Skilled in understanding and responding to emotional content of sessions
40. Awareness of the importance of service user input including knowledge and commitment to service users' rights, involvement and service-user led initiatives
41. Understanding of the issues and concerns of mental health service users
42. Ability to manage own workload, prioritise, delegate as appropriate and seek creative solutions to problem solve
43. Demonstrable communication skills including interpersonal and presentation skills
44. Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach, which considers the needs of the whole person.
45. Good IT skills
Desirable
46. Understanding and practical knowledge of a variety of recovery approaches including knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice
47. Awareness of community resources and service user groups related to 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs
Additional Requirements
Essential
48. Declared medically fit by the Occupational Health department to perform the duties of the post.
49. Ability to travel to locations across the Trust