Peer support worker

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated individual who has personal experience with the Criminal Justice System or prison custody. The position is perfect for someone eager to use their lived experience in prison and the Criminal Justice Service to assist others who have faced similar challenges. You will help them connect with support networks. The outreach service covers Worcestershire, with its base located in Kidderminster. Training will be given and experience of support work is desirable but not required as the role depends more upon your ability to use your personal experience to support others and your desire to do so while being part of an NHS team that is supportive, approachable, and dedicated to the role. The ability to commute independently across the Worcestershire area is essential.

Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. We actively seek peers who have lived experience of both the Criminal Justice System and have a desire to use their own experiences to help others. As a Peer Support Worker, you would be working across the area with people who have come into contact with Liaison & Diversion and then referred over to our Outreach service, building a good working relationship with them and helping them identify their needs alongside a senior Team Member. You will be working with a caseload of these clients to support them in accessing health and support services for up to three months. You will be working as part of a larger team and under the supervision of the Team Lead and Senior Peer Support Worker. You will also be working alongside our Navigators and Support Time Recovery Workers and participate in the client’s journey from referral to discharge.

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by:

• Supporting your career development and progression
• Excellent NHS Pension scheme
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Options for flexible working
• Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
• If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
• Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
• Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
• Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
• Free car parking at all trust sites
• Free flu vaccinations every year
• Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one-off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)
• And more.

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people. Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working in the Outreach service in West Mercia, with the flexibility of working across the locality Liaison & Diversion Services, dependent on skill and service need.
• To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, sharing own narratives to raise aspirations of life.
• To work primarily in direct work with service users on a 1:1 and in group settings as agreed with team supervisor and team manager.
• To help individuals identify strengths, interests, and their own achievable and meaningful recovery goals.
• To support the implementation of groups.
• To support service users in developing other areas of interest.
• Draw upon own lived experience to inspire hope, model self-awareness and facilitate service users in developing their own resourcefulness for managing their health and wellbeing.
• Facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable participation in activities, to maximise service user’s opportunities for socially valued roles and positive identity.
• Ensure that service user’s peer recovery goals are integrated into a Resettlement plan.
• To actively engage with colleagues and other professionals to ensure the needs of the client group are met through promoting recovery-oriented, strengths-based practice.
• To attend and participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• To work under the regular supervision of the team supervisor and guidance of other professional colleagues within the team.
• To participate within Trust peer training and peer working networks.
• To have an awareness of the IOH model and pathways.
• To ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the work area.
• Adapt practice to meet the individual’s circumstances, including regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• Work collaboratively with members of the Health and Justice Team, HMPP, Health care Professionals and all relevant agencies involved within the role.
• To make records of work undertaken according to Trust documentation standards.
• To actively take responsibility for own health and wellbeing discussing/reviewing within supervision as necessary.
• To be willing to develop self through specialist training opportunities, relevant to your role, as agreed with team supervisor and team manager.
• To ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the work area.
• To remain up to date and compliant with mandatory training requirements.
• To undertake other duties as may be required suitable to the banding of the post.