Peer Support Worker Application Deadline: 28 February 2025 Department: Operations Employment Type: Permanent - Part Time Location: West Norfolk Reporting To: Joanne Jones Compensation: GBP 18,261.05 per year plus GBP 853.32 recruitment and retention allowance Description Do you have your own, personal lived experience of mental health issues, using services and are in recovery? Can you offer empathy and understanding to people who have been referred to NIHCSS for support and be the living example of the recovery that is possible? If you can answer yes, all you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to NIHCSS as a Peer Support Worker NIHCSS value lived experience within our staffing teams, as it brings co-production of services to the heart of all we do. You will help build understanding, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve the quality, relevance and knowledge which can bring development and creation of new ways of working. Right now, we are looking for a Peer Support Worker to join our amazing, dedicated team in Kings Lynn. You will support people who are going through a difficult time, drawing on your unique knowledge and personal insight to connect with others, by sharing your experiences and helping them discover the strengths and developing skills that will lead to wellness. This is only possible with the help of people like you You'll be working as part of a specialist team (with background support from our Peer Support Co-ordinator) to offer both individual and group support and working towards helping others on their own recovery journey. So what can we offer you in return? NIHCSS is an organisation which puts people first. We know that a healthy culture is vital for success. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We recognise employee success, we'll help you learn, acquire new skills and nurture you to enable you to gain further experience to support you to develop a clear career path. And with our open style of communication, we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving; enabling you to grow with us. This role is for 30 hours a week. Key Responsibilities 1. Act as a navigator supporting individuals to engage in the service, identify what they need and how they would like to progress 2. Develop specialist expertise to support individuals in areas such as: building hope and empowerment, developing self-management techniques, developing social connections, problem-solving and navigating / accessing services including statutory services, whilst drawing on your own lived experience where appropriate 3. Support individuals to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation and promote progress in their journey to recovery through one to ones and group work, drawing on own lived experience to help you do this 4. Support people to develop coping and self-management techniques by facilitating group based peer support 5. Empower individuals to exercise choice and control, offering a person-centred service led by the wishes of the individuals you are working with. 6. Promote engagement within the community as a key factor in recovery and self management 7. Provide advice, guidance and support to individuals during drop-in sessions, drawing on own lived experience where appropriate 8. Communicate effectively with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and maintain positive and effective relationships with individuals, staff, the staff of other agencies and the local community 9. Be an expert navigator of local services and opportunities, helping to build and sustain relationships with agencies and professionals, promoting the service, sharing peer support and recovery principles and the Psychologically Informed Environment approach, and supporting individuals to access local services /opportunities as appropriate 10. Extend the range of community opportunities for people by supporting community resources to improve accessibility and using peer support and lived experience of mental health to break down mental health stigma 11. Support the maintenance of a database of community resources, used by staff and individuals to identify and access a range of opportunities to promote wellbeing and independence 12. Work within set targets and manage time effectively on own initiative and as part of a team 13. Promote service user leadership and the principles of peer support across the service 14. Contribute to the aims and continuous improvement of the service, including the commitment to delivering within a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) framework 15. Share knowledge, skills and experience within the team, while observing confidentiality, and participate in team meetings and reflective practice groups 16. Make a positive contribution to and work constructively within the team, including developing your own abilities to enhance team performance 17. Work flexibly and remotely as part of a geographically-spread team, including daily local travel within the service locality and, where appropriate, working within wider localities across Norfolk to support the demand and capacity requirements of the Norfolk-wide Integrated Housing and Community Support Service 18. Ability and willingness to work flexibly and cover shifts in the mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends 19. Work flexibly across the whole service pathway, including supported living and community based support 20. Promote leadership and the principles of peer support 21. Work in a way that ensures the service is delivered in compliance with relevant legislation, the service values, policies and practices and contractual requirements 22. Carry out any other reasonable duties within the scope of the role as required Skills, Knowledge & Expertise Essential 1. Personal lived experience of mental health and/or using services 2. At least one year full-time equivalent experience of working in mental health, paid or unpaid 3. Commitment to the empowerment of individuals and a belief in user involvement and promoting people's rights 4. Commitment to equal opportunities and awareness of issues surrounding BME, LGBT and other minority groups 5. Actively seeks opportunities for own development and to share skills / knowledge 6. Commitment to delivering outcome and recovery focussed services within a Psychologically Informed Environment framework 7. Passionate about and committed to the empowerment of people who are experiencing mental distress 8. Ability to use own experiences of mental distress appropriately 9. Ability to establish and develop empathetic relationships based on mutual respect and trust 10. Ability to support individuals to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation and promote progress in their journey to recovery. An understanding of the principles of recovery 11. An understanding of a person-centred approach and able to work with individuals in a user led, calm confident and sensitive manner 12. Ability to share personal story of recovery as and when appropriate 13. A real belief that people can recover and lead their own recovery with appropriate support 14. Experience of supporting others one-to-one in a person-centred, confidential and empathic 15. Understanding of issues surrounding mental health and issues likely to affect those experiencing or recovering from periods of mental illness manner 16. Ability to respond to individuals' needs (including those in crisis) promptly, in a flexible, consistent and appropriate way 17. Ability and experience of working in an outcome focused way 18. Excellent communication skills and the ability to deal tactfully and sensitively with a range of people, including being assertive when necessary Desirable 1. Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans 2. Knowledge and experience of supporting individuals to achieve goals relating to their mental and/or physical health 3. Experience of organising and facilitating meetings and groups 4. Experience of working within and supporting the development of a Psychologically Informed Environment Job Benefits Download the PDF to find out more about what you can get out of working for us. Benefits of Working for Together At Together we value and encourage diversity and inclusion within our workforce. We are committed to creating a workplace where you can be your authentic self, welcoming applications from people from diverse communities and backgrounds who share our values. As an employer, we are committed to making any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Successful candidates will require an enhanced DBS check. To find out more, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service. Together is committed to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices. Charity No. 211091