Job summary Touchstone is part of the Primary Care Mental Health Service for Leeds the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). An exciting development opportunity for a Peer Support Worker post has arisen within LMWS; this post is for applicants with lived experience of mental health difficulties who are committed to developing the Peer Support Team, as part of the Inclusion Team. Main duties of the job We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated applicants with the skills, experience, and resilience to: Support the development of volunteers with lived experience Deliver 1-2-1 peer support sessions to clients entering the service Integrate peer support across the wider service with a range of colleagues About us Touchstone is a multi-award winning mental health and wellbeing charity operating in communities across Yorkshire. Touchstone understands that we can only deliver excellence to the people we serve if the people we recruit are happy, empowered, supported to reach their potential and trusted to lead. Date posted 10 January 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience NJC Scale Points 7 – 11, starting at £25,584 pa / pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number B0284-25-0000 Job locations Touchstone I A P T 179 Haslewood Drive Leeds LS9 7RE Job description Job responsibilities PURPOSE OF THE JOB Touchstone is part of the Primary Care Mental Health Service (PCMHS) for Leeds and the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). We deliver an integrated service to offer primary care based mental health support for people with mild to moderate common mental health problems. Together, our partnership help thousands of people in Leeds to increase their resilience and live their best lives within their community. ROLE DESCRIPTION 1. Work alongside volunteers to deliver peer support to clients facing additional barriers in accessing the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). 2. Develop skills in working with service users with a variety of social, physical and mental health support needs. 3. Build a relationship of trust with service users and understand the importance of empowering them. 4. Assist service users to enable them to achieve their personalised support outcomes. 5. Work in a person centred accessible and inclusive way. 6. Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a high standard of support to our service users. 7. Be prepared to share own experiences and role model recovery. 8. Identify barriers and gaps in services, state how they could be improved and identify good practice. 9. Identify and attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required. 10. Work in partnership with the Peer and Volunteer Development Worker and Peer Support Coordinator to access personal support each week in order to improve own self-confidence to do the job and manage personal wellbeing. KEY RESPONSIBILITES 1. To share your own lived experiences of mental health difficulties with clients accessing LMWS. 2. To support volunteers to work with clients on a 1-2-1 basis, by communicating best practice for delivering peer support. 3. To share your knowledge of providing peer support to volunteers, to improve their understanding and skills. 4. To develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with service users, and volunteers. 5. To provide emotional and practical support and advice to enable clients to improve their quality of life, develop their skills and make decisions about their future. 6. To encourage and motivate clients to engage with appropriate services. 7. To work alongside all staff in the LMWS to assess service users needs, and implement individual Signs of Safety plans. 8. To accompany service users to other projects and external appointments. 9. To encourage and support service users to participate in meaningful activities. 10. To respond appropriately to all service user needs to safeguard the wellbeing of all service users and staff. 11. To maintain accurate records of work undertaken by yourself, or volunteers, with service users around their support, and any other records as required by the Peer Support Coordinator. 12. To attend and participate in team meetings and other team events. 13. To liaise with external agencies as required. 14. To work to actively combat mental health inequalities, applying your knowledge of the social determinants of mental health in Leeds, and how some communities are at greater risk of poorer mental health. GENERAL 1. To provide information and advice about Touchstones services to managers, teams, and other people/agencies with an interest in the organisation's work. 2. To undertake out of hours work as required by the service. 3. To be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisations performance management policies and procedures. 4. To be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness. 5. To be aware of and implement the general practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstones Health, Safety and Security policies and ensure these are adhered to at all times, and keep Managers informed about any serious and untoward incidents, safeguarding issues, health & safety concerns, financial issues and staff welfare. 6. To operate within the aims, policies and practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstone at all times and to be committed to and promote the organisations equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies. 7. To ensure information is dealt with in accordance with LMWS Partnership / Touchstones policies around Confidentiality, Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data. 8. To undertake any other duties as directed by the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the responsibilities of this post. 9. To visit relevant external agencies who work with LMWS. 10. To attend regular support sessions, reflective practice, supervision and performance reviews with the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the organisations performance management policies and procedures. 11. To work at all times as part of a team. This includes working with other staff, attending team and staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of the organisations work. 12. To be able to travel across Leeds to meet clients in community settings 13. To ensure that Data Protection, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling and Corporate Governance requirements are met. 14. To keep the Peer Support Coordinator Worker informed about any serious and untoward incidents, safeguarding, health and safety, and/or financial issues. 15. To undertake any other duties as directed by your Line Manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of the post. January 2025 Job description Job responsibilities PURPOSE OF THE JOB Touchstone is part of the Primary Care Mental Health Service (PCMHS) for Leeds and the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). We deliver an integrated service to offer primary care based mental health support for people with mild to moderate common mental health problems. Together, our partnership help thousands of people in Leeds to increase their resilience and live their best lives within their community. ROLE DESCRIPTION 1. Work alongside volunteers to deliver peer support to clients facing additional barriers in accessing the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). 2. Develop skills in working with service users with a variety of social, physical and mental health support needs. 3. Build a relationship of trust with service users and understand the importance of empowering them. 4. Assist service users to enable them to achieve their personalised support outcomes. 5. Work in a person centred accessible and inclusive way. 6. Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a high standard of support to our service users. 7. Be prepared to share own experiences and role model recovery. 8. Identify barriers and gaps in services, state how they could be improved and identify good practice. 9. Identify and attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required. 10. Work in partnership with the Peer and Volunteer Development Worker and Peer Support Coordinator to access personal support each week in order to improve own self-confidence to do the job and manage personal wellbeing. KEY RESPONSIBILITES 1. To share your own lived experiences of mental health difficulties with clients accessing LMWS. 2. To support volunteers to work with clients on a 1-2-1 basis, by communicating best practice for delivering peer support. 3. To share your knowledge of providing peer support to volunteers, to improve their understanding and skills. 4. To develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with service users, and volunteers. 5. To provide emotional and practical support and advice to enable clients to improve their quality of life, develop their skills and make decisions about their future. 6. To encourage and motivate clients to engage with appropriate services. 7. To work alongside all staff in the LMWS to assess service users needs, and implement individual Signs of Safety plans. 8. To accompany service users to other projects and external appointments. 9. To encourage and support service users to participate in meaningful activities. 10. To respond appropriately to all service user needs to safeguard the wellbeing of all service users and staff. 11. To maintain accurate records of work undertaken by yourself, or volunteers, with service users around their support, and any other records as required by the Peer Support Coordinator. 12. To attend and participate in team meetings and other team events. 13. To liaise with external agencies as required. 14. To work to actively combat mental health inequalities, applying your knowledge of the social determinants of mental health in Leeds, and how some communities are at greater risk of poorer mental health. GENERAL 1. To provide information and advice about Touchstones services to managers, teams, and other people/agencies with an interest in the organisation's work. 2. To undertake out of hours work as required by the service. 3. To be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisations performance management policies and procedures. 4. To be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness. 5. To be aware of and implement the general practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstones Health, Safety and Security policies and ensure these are adhered to at all times, and keep Managers informed about any serious and untoward incidents, safeguarding issues, health & safety concerns, financial issues and staff welfare. 6. To operate within the aims, policies and practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstone at all times and to be committed to and promote the organisations equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies. 7. To ensure information is dealt with in accordance with LMWS Partnership / Touchstones policies around Confidentiality, Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data. 8. To undertake any other duties as directed by the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the responsibilities of this post. 9. To visit relevant external agencies who work with LMWS. 10. To attend regular support sessions, reflective practice, supervision and performance reviews with the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the organisations performance management policies and procedures. 11. To work at all times as part of a team. This includes working with other staff, attending team and staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of the organisations work. 12. To be able to travel across Leeds to meet clients in community settings 13. To ensure that Data Protection, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling and Corporate Governance requirements are met. 14. To keep the Peer Support Coordinator Worker informed about any serious and untoward incidents, safeguarding, health and safety, and/or financial issues. 15. To undertake any other duties as directed by your Line Manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of the post. January 2025 Person Specification Qualifications Desirable GCSE English or experience to this standard Peer Support or Mentoring qualification Experience Essential Lived experience of one or more of the following support needs: mental health issues, substance use, learning disability or learning difficulty (Austism, ADHD). Personal experience of recovery and support services. Desirable Experience of delivering or receiving peer support. Experience of completing records and writing notes. Experience of using a Primary Care Mental Health Service Equal Opportunities Essential Confidently recognise discrimination in its many forms and willing to put into practice Touchstones Equality Policies. Values the work associated to promote diversity and social inclusion. Must be sensitive to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the planning and delivery of services. Skills Essential Strong communication skills, verbal and written. Basic IT skills (typing and email). Effectively build rapport and interact sensitively with team members, volunteers, service users, members of the public and representatives from other organisations. Support and empower vulnerable people and other volunteers Successfully work alongside other agencies and organisations in a professional manner. Able to prioritise work, meet deadlines and negotiate timescales. Effective organisational skills. Desirable Good level of ICT skills, e.g. Microsoft Office, (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). Attitudes and Disposition Essential Passionate about supporting people in an empowering way. Commitment to Touchstone and LMWS aims and values. Commitment to personal responsibility, development, learning and reflective practice. To at all times promote a positive image and the good reputation of Touchstone and LMWS Service A commitment to working in partnership with service users and services. Commitment to the principles of coproduction and supporting others to deliver according to these principles. Must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the planning and delivery of services and interventions Can work on own initiative and under general guidance. Open to feedback and willingness to be managed and supervised. Commitment to team working. Open to change/working flexibly in line with the needs of the service/organisation. Ability to manage emotion in challenging situations. Resilient and motivated. Desirable Self-motivated and confident Knowledge Desirable Basic knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and boundaries, and ability to work within these guidelines. Person Specification Qualifications Desirable GCSE English or experience to this standard Peer Support or Mentoring qualification Experience Essential Lived experience of one or more of the following support needs: mental health issues, substance use, learning disability or learning difficulty (Austism, ADHD). Personal experience of recovery and support services. Desirable Experience of delivering or receiving peer support. Experience of completing records and writing notes. Experience of using a Primary Care Mental Health Service Equal Opportunities Essential Confidently recognise discrimination in its many forms and willing to put into practice Touchstones Equality Policies. Values the work associated to promote diversity and social inclusion. Must be sensitive to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the planning and delivery of services. Skills Essential Strong communication skills, verbal and written. Basic IT skills (typing and email). Effectively build rapport and interact sensitively with team members, volunteers, service users, members of the public and representatives from other organisations. Support and empower vulnerable people and other volunteers Successfully work alongside other agencies and organisations in a professional manner. Able to prioritise work, meet deadlines and negotiate timescales. Effective organisational skills. Desirable Good level of ICT skills, e.g. Microsoft Office, (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). Attitudes and Disposition Essential Passionate about supporting people in an empowering way. Commitment to Touchstone and LMWS aims and values. Commitment to personal responsibility, development, learning and reflective practice. To at all times promote a positive image and the good reputation of Touchstone and LMWS Service A commitment to working in partnership with service users and services. Commitment to the principles of coproduction and supporting others to deliver according to these principles. Must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the planning and delivery of services and interventions Can work on own initiative and under general guidance. Open to feedback and willingness to be managed and supervised. Commitment to team working. Open to change/working flexibly in line with the needs of the service/organisation. Ability to manage emotion in challenging situations. Resilient and motivated. Desirable Self-motivated and confident Knowledge Desirable Basic knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and boundaries, and ability to work within these guidelines. 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 Touchstone Address Touchstone I A P T 179 Haslewood Drive Leeds LS9 7RE Employer's website https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)