An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Peer Support Worker to join the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Early Intervention in Psychosis service (STEP).
As integral and valued members of the multi-disciplinary team, the PSW provides peer support, engagement and practical assistance to service users in order to help them access treatment, regain control over their lives and start their own personal recovery process.
Through sharing wisdom acquired from their own lived experience, the PSW will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible. Support information sharing to promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.
PSWs will be actively involved in the ongoing development of peer roles within the Trust, including the Peer Support Training Programme, Peer service evaluations and Peer Support Networks. As a core member of the multi-disciplinary team, the PSW will work alongside an agreed number of service users on a 1-1 and/or group basis for at least 60% of their time. They will also have the opportunity to co-work with other colleagues. The PSW will be responsible for the delivery of peer support interventions as agreed and feeding into the care planning process as required by the service.
Main duties of the job
1. To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users.
2. Help individuals identify their own achievable and meaningful recovery goals and set recovery objectives, drawing on your mutual resources as peers and utilising a range of recovery tools, techniques and experience.
3. Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hope by appropriate sharing of own recovery story to inspire and instill confidence in service users.
Job responsibilities
Service Specific
1. Assist service users in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) if used, and advanced directives to feed into the care planning process.
2. Share or teach coping, self-help and self-management techniques within the peer relationship.
3. Support service users to identify and overcome fears and within a relationship of empathy, trust and honesty, challenge negative self-talk.
4. Facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable service users to participate in community activities, in order to maximise opportunities for taking on socially valued roles and positive identity.
5. Accompany service users, if appropriate, to appointments/meetings of their choice and perform a range of practical tasks, aligned to recovery goals.
6. Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multi-disciplinary team members, service users and carers.
7. Ensure that service user recovery goals are integrated into the Trust care planning processes and are reviewed on a regular basis, liaising closely with care coordinators as necessary.
8. Work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of the individual.
9. Use own initiative, personal experience and job-related training in deciding on the approach and interventions required when working with a service user in delivering peer support, in line with supervision, mentor and other peer networks.
10. Ensure notes are written accordingly into RiO, within the policy of the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Good level of secondary education to GCSE level, or equivalent.
* Level of educational attainment to NVQ 3 / AS Level or equivalent.
Experience
* Lived experience of mental health problems.
* Wide range of life experiences to bring an enabling and positive view of opportunities for others.
* Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role.
* Experience of working in a team or a group environment.
* Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques.
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.
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