HIV Peer Support Worker

Job Overview

Do you have your own personal lived experience of an HIV diagnosis?

The role of HIV Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of recovery after their own HIV diagnosis. It is essential that Peer Support workers demonstrate a willingness to professionally use their lived experience to support the recovery journey of others and as such should be comfortable to share their status with clients, colleagues and external agencies.

Main duties of the job

HIV Peer Support Workers (PSWs) provide structured peer support, practical advice and referral for our diverse population of service users, enabling them to understand and manage their condition in order to regain control over their own unique recovery journey. By sharing their own recovery journeys, HIV PSWs inspire hope and belief that a good and long life is possible after HIV diagnosis.

As an essential member of the Surrey multi-disciplinary team, the HIV PSW will collaborate with colleagues and third-party service providers to develop and deliver a varied range of peer support activities, including meeting with Surrey clinic service users on a drop-in basis, one to one peer support sessions and co-facilitation of educational sessions, workshops and support groups. The HIV PSW will support clients to identify their own goals and develop their unique recovery/self-management plans.

Working for our organisation

This is a fixed term contract of 20 months.

You will be fully supported in your personal and professional development through training, as well as regular 1:1 supervision within the line management structure, along with peer supervision and involvement in Trustwide PSW development events.

Please note only candidates who have personal experience of living with a diagnosis of HIV can apply.

Please refer to your recovery journey and experiences of living with this diagnosis within your application. You will also be asked to give a short presentation on your recovery story at interview, should you be invited.

Please note there are new visa changes in place from 9th April 2025, the eligibility for a sponsorship has changed. Before submitting your application, please check out below link for further information regarding the qualifications or salary requirement to qualify for a skilled worker sponsorship: New rules to prioritise recruiting care workers in England – GOV.UK

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For further information about the advertised role, please refer to the job description & person specification included in the documents section of this advert.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• To provide emotional and practical peer support to service users in order to motivate engagement, build self-esteem and confidence.
• To support newly diagnosed and existing patients regarding adjustment to HIV diagnosis including, but not limited to, issues around confidentiality and disclosure.
• To refer patients with more complex needs such as suicidal ideation or enduring mental health issues to the MDT.
• To provide a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, respecting their personal beliefs, uniqueness and identity.
• To assume a ‘coaching’ role supporting service users in developing personal wellbeing plans; this can be delivered individually or in groups to assist individuals in managing their physical and mental wellbeing.
• To model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate self-management skills and techniques, using own experience of recovery to illustrate a life beyond an HIV diagnosis.
• To encourage the individual to be involved in care plans and risk/safety management plans.
• To skilfully utilise personal experience of recovery and act as a role model for service users inspiring hope, sharing personal life experience and lessons learned as a person in ongoing recovery.
• To assist service users in identifying their own strengths, personal interests and goals; providing opportunities for service users to direct their own recovery process.
• To collaborate closely with the MDT to appropriately link service users with the most appropriate support. Including signposting patients in need of emergency financial support, immigration issues, benefits and housing to appropriate agencies and charities.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Willingness to undertake or completed peer support worker training (preferably accredited)
• Evidence of further training in relation to personal recovery principles
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
• GCSE or equivalent in verbal and written English and maths

Desirable criteria

• Accredited certificate in Life Coaching or Counselling Skills
• NVQ3 or equivalent with relevance to post.

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to travel between locations using own or public transport

Experience

Essential criteria

• Own personal experience of living with HIV
• Experience of having established effective self-management in relation to living with HIV
• Experience of working with people in a peer-led role or role which required professional use of lived experience.
• Experience of working in health/social care/voluntary sector team delivering services
• Experience of working both independently as well as providing group and 1:1 activities

Desirable criteria

• Undertaking evaluations, audit and research
• Experience of facilitating groups

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people living with HIV diagnosis and other health challenges and disabilities

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