Job summary Touchstone is part of thePrimary Care Mental Health Service for Leeds the Leeds Mental WellbeingService (LMWS). An exciting developmentopportunity for a Peer Support Worker post has arisen within LMWS; this post isfor applicants with lived experience of mental health difficulties who arecommitted 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 amulti-award winning mental health and wellbeing charity operating incommunities across Yorkshire. Touchstoneunderstands that we can only deliver excellence to the people we serve if thepeople we recruit are happy, empowered, supported to reach their potential andtrusted to lead. Job description Job responsibilities PURPOSEOF THE JOB Touchstone is part of the Primary Care Mental HealthService (PCMHS) for Leeds and the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). We deliver an integrated service to offerprimary care based mental health support for people with mild to moderatecommon mental health problems. Together,our partnership help thousands of people in Leeds to increase their resilienceand live their best lives within their community. ROLE DESCRIPTION 1.Workalongside volunteers to deliver peer support to clients facing additionalbarriers in accessing the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). 2.Developskills in working with service users with a variety of social, physical andmental health support needs. 3.Builda relationship of trust with service users and understand the importance ofempowering them. 4.Assistservice users to enable them to achieve their personalised support outcomes. 5.Workin a person centred accessible and inclusive way. 6.Workas part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a high standard of support toour service users. 7.Beprepared to share own experiences and role model recovery. 8.Identifybarriers and gaps in services, state how they could be improved and identifygood practice. 9.Identifyand attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required. 10.Workin partnership with the Peer and Volunteer Development Worker and Peer SupportCoordinator to access personal support each week in order to improve ownself-confidence to do the job and manage personal wellbeing. KEY RESPONSIBILITES 1.To share your own lived experiences of mental healthdifficulties with clients accessing LMWS. 2.To support volunteers to work with clients on a1-2-1 basis, by communicating best practice for delivering peer support. 3.To share your knowledge of providing peer support tovolunteers, to improve their understanding and skills. 4.To develop and maintain positive and professionalrelationships with service users, and volunteers. 5.To provide emotional and practical support andadvice to enable clients to improve their quality of life, develop their skillsand make decisions about their future. 6.To encourage and motivate clients to engage withappropriate services. 7.To work alongside all staff in the LMWS to assessservice users needs, and implement individual Signs of Safety plans. 8.To accompany service users to other projects andexternal appointments. 9.To encourage and support service users toparticipate in meaningful activities. 10.To respond appropriately to all service user needsto safeguard the wellbeing of all service users and staff. 11.To maintain accurate records of work undertaken byyourself, or volunteers, with service users around their support, and any otherrecords as required by the Peer Support Coordinator. 12.To attend and participate in team meetings and otherteam events. 13.To liaise with external agencies as required. 14.To work to actively combat mental healthinequalities, applying your knowledge of the social determinants of mentalhealth in Leeds, and how some communities are at greater risk of poorer mentalhealth. GENERAL 1. To provide information and advice aboutTouchstones services to managers, teams, and other people/agencies with aninterest in the organisation's work. 2.Toundertake out of hours work as required by the service. 3.Tobe inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with theorganisations performance management policies and procedures. 4.Tobe responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate andundertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skillsand awareness. 5.Tobe aware of and implement the general practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstones Health, Safety and Security policiesand 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 staffwelfare. 6.Tooperate within the aims, policies and practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstone at all times and to be committed toand promote the organisations equal opportunities and anti-discriminatorypolicies. 7.Toensure information is dealt with in accordance with LMWS Partnership / Touchstones policies around Confidentiality,Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken toensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data. 8.Toundertake any other duties as directed by the Peer Support Coordinator, in linewith the responsibilities of this post. 9.To visit relevant external agencies who work withLMWS. 10. To attendregular support sessions, reflective practice, supervision and performancereviews with the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the organisationsperformance management policies and procedures. 11. To work at alltimes as part of a team. This includes working with other staff, attending teamand staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of theorganisations work. 12. To be able totravel across Leeds to meet clients in community settings 13. To ensure thatData Protection, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling and CorporateGovernance requirements are met. 14. To keep thePeer Support Coordinator Worker informed about any serious and untowardincidents, safeguarding, health and safety, and/or financial issues. 15. To undertake any other duties asdirected by your Line Manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of thepost. January 2025 Job description Job responsibilities PURPOSEOF THE JOB Touchstone is part of the Primary Care Mental HealthService (PCMHS) for Leeds and the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). We deliver an integrated service to offerprimary care based mental health support for people with mild to moderatecommon mental health problems. Together,our partnership help thousands of people in Leeds to increase their resilienceand live their best lives within their community. ROLE DESCRIPTION 1.Workalongside volunteers to deliver peer support to clients facing additionalbarriers in accessing the Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS). 2.Developskills in working with service users with a variety of social, physical andmental health support needs. 3.Builda relationship of trust with service users and understand the importance ofempowering them. 4.Assistservice users to enable them to achieve their personalised support outcomes. 5.Workin a person centred accessible and inclusive way. 6.Workas part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a high standard of support toour service users. 7.Beprepared to share own experiences and role model recovery. 8.Identifybarriers and gaps in services, state how they could be improved and identifygood practice. 9.Identifyand attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required. 10.Workin partnership with the Peer and Volunteer Development Worker and Peer SupportCoordinator to access personal support each week in order to improve ownself-confidence to do the job and manage personal wellbeing. KEY RESPONSIBILITES 1.To share your own lived experiences of mental healthdifficulties with clients accessing LMWS. 2.To support volunteers to work with clients on a1-2-1 basis, by communicating best practice for delivering peer support. 3.To share your knowledge of providing peer support tovolunteers, to improve their understanding and skills. 4.To develop and maintain positive and professionalrelationships with service users, and volunteers. 5.To provide emotional and practical support andadvice to enable clients to improve their quality of life, develop their skillsand make decisions about their future. 6.To encourage and motivate clients to engage withappropriate services. 7.To work alongside all staff in the LMWS to assessservice users needs, and implement individual Signs of Safety plans. 8.To accompany service users to other projects andexternal appointments. 9.To encourage and support service users toparticipate in meaningful activities. 10.To respond appropriately to all service user needsto safeguard the wellbeing of all service users and staff. 11.To maintain accurate records of work undertaken byyourself, or volunteers, with service users around their support, and any otherrecords as required by the Peer Support Coordinator. 12.To attend and participate in team meetings and otherteam events. 13.To liaise with external agencies as required. 14.To work to actively combat mental healthinequalities, applying your knowledge of the social determinants of mentalhealth in Leeds, and how some communities are at greater risk of poorer mentalhealth. GENERAL 1. To provide information and advice aboutTouchstones services to managers, teams, and other people/agencies with aninterest in the organisation's work. 2.Toundertake out of hours work as required by the service. 3.Tobe inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with theorganisations performance management policies and procedures. 4.Tobe responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate andundertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skillsand awareness. 5.Tobe aware of and implement the general practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstones Health, Safety and Security policiesand 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 staffwelfare. 6.Tooperate within the aims, policies and practices of LMWS Partnership / Touchstone at all times and to be committed toand promote the organisations equal opportunities and anti-discriminatorypolicies. 7.Toensure information is dealt with in accordance with LMWS Partnership / Touchstones policies around Confidentiality,Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken toensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data. 8.Toundertake any other duties as directed by the Peer Support Coordinator, in linewith the responsibilities of this post. 9.To visit relevant external agencies who work withLMWS. 10. To attendregular support sessions, reflective practice, supervision and performancereviews with the Peer Support Coordinator, in line with the organisationsperformance management policies and procedures. 11. To work at alltimes as part of a team. This includes working with other staff, attending teamand staff meetings and developing a teamwork approach to all aspects of theorganisations work. 12. To be able totravel across Leeds to meet clients in community settings 13. To ensure thatData Protection, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling and CorporateGovernance requirements are met. 14. To keep thePeer Support Coordinator Worker informed about any serious and untowardincidents, safeguarding, health and safety, and/or financial issues. 15. To undertake any other duties asdirected by your Line Manager that may reasonably fall within the scope of thepost. 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