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Peer Support Worker

Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Location
Eastbourne
Salary
£20,330 - £21,777 pro rata
Closing date
25 May 2022

View more

Sector
Healthcare
Function
Administration
Contract Type
Fixed term
Hours
Part Time

Job Details

Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

This Peer Support Worker role is based at Eastbourne Police Custody suite, but will include working with service users in the community. The role involves travelling independently and promptly around the area, and will involve safely implementing the Trust's lone working policies.

As a Peer Support Worker you will be managed by an experienced liaison and diversion practitioner and will often work alongside and have additional support from an STR worker. You will have access to peer group supervision, training, and ongoing development opportunities in the Trust, which is strongly committed to developing Peer Support roles at all levels.

Peer Support work can be demanding. You will need to be confident in talking safely and appropriately about your own experience, sensitively using this to help others and the service move forward. You will be supported in this with a comprehensive local service induction, training, individual supervision, and team reflective practice.

This post is subject to additional vetting by Sussex Police at NPPV L2 (abbreviated). Sussex Police are supportive of this post and the potential positive impact of Peer Support Workers. It will, however, be helpful to be open about your experiences of arrest and any convictions at an early stage in recruitment in order to avoid delays to employment processes.

This post is fixed term for 6 months with the possibility of being extended

Main duties of the job

You will spend your time in the police custody suite, and supporting clients in the community. When in police custody you will use your strong communication skills to support the team with assessments. Appropriately and openly using your personal experience of vulnerability and of being in police custody may make all the difference to how someone engages with the service.

You will also take referrals for community follow-up from the Eastbourne custody team; you may well have met and connected with some of the people referred to you whilst working in police custody. You will provide short-term (6-8 week) community follow-up. This will include working under the guidance of the STR worker and the liaison and diversion practitioner to develop and deliver appropriate support plans. Plans will typically include helping people to engage with other community services, including local social care agencies, charities and voluntary agencies, and primary care GP services. You may also support people to make sure they attend court and get the best possible outcome from the justice system.

You will need to be well organised, able to record your work, and be confident using (or learning to use) common office software packages. You will establish and maintain positive working relationships with your NHS and Sussex Police colleagues, as well as establishing an awareness of Local Authority, third-sector, and other support agencies in your geographical area.

Working for our organisation

About the Trust:

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex. SPFT is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by CQC. In our staff survey:
  • 82% agree that care for patients is our top priority
  • 70% highlight flexible working opportunities as key to satisfaction at work
  • 79% report feeling able to make improvement to improve the work within their team
  • 77% identify opportunities to show initiative in their roles

About Sussex:
  • Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed
  • Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
  • With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

Covid-19 full vaccination may be a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This post will be 2- 3 shifts per week (9-5) on set days which can be negotiable for the successful candidate.

In your role you will participate in SLDS team meetings, reflective practice and individual supervision sessions with your line manager in the team but also with the wider Trust peer support workers.

Peer Support Workers engage with SL&D service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting individuals to gain and maintain independence in the community.
  • Peer Support Workers are part of the Liaison and Diversion Team. The role is to focus on the day-to-day holistic support needs of service users. Self-managed care is essential to this: the supported person is encouraged to assess their own needs and to develop and implement a self-management plan
  • Peer Support is delivered through promoting empowerment and choice and giving the opportunity for the exploration of meaning and purpose
  • Work is directed by a Liaison and Diversion Practitioner
  • Supervision will be used to continuously reflect on, evaluate and develop peer approaches
  • To be a positive role model for other people overcoming vulnerabilities, other workers and members of the public
  • To use parts of your recovery story to inspire hope in others where appropriate

To use appropriate skills in engaging with individuals with mental health and other challenges, e.g. asking open-ended questions, validating strengths and experiences and using empowering language to overcome negative self-talk

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria
  • Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification
  • A recognised Peer Support qualification
  • Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
  • Experience of offering peer support with individuals in a statutory or voluntary setting
  • Lived experience of mental health issues/criminal justice system
  • Managing personal mental health and wellbeing
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work
  • Experience of working as part of a team

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.

Company

SPFT Banner

Who we are

We provide specialist NHS mental health and learning disability services in south east England. People receive care, treatment and support from us in hospital, at home and from a range of community services. Our services are rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission and ‘outstanding’ for caring.

Where we are

We provide services for people of all ages across Sussex and services for children and young people in Hampshire. There’s something for everyone in our local area, whether that’s the hustle and bustle of Brighton, the scenic South Downs or our wonderful coastline where you can chill out to the sound of the surf.

What we can offer you

When you join us, you’ll be coming to work in an organisation that puts people first. We’ll do everything we can to make you feel valued, respected and included. You will be given plenty of opportunities here for your career to flourish. We’re an organisation which is strong on innovation, research and learning, and we will support your development and help you learn new skills in whichever team or service you work in.

Check out the links below to view our key areas of recruitment

Nursing

Medical

Allied Health Professions

Phychology & PsychologicalTherapies

Social Work

Healthcare Support Workers 

Support Services

Check out our latest video below where we hear from our inspiring nurses why Sussex Partnership is such a great place to work.

Company info
Website
Telephone
01903843000
Location
Trust HQ
Swandean
Arundel Road
Worthing
BN13 3EP
GB

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