At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in their recovery journey using your lived experience of mental health challenges.
- Company: Join a compassionate team at NIHCSS dedicated to empowering others.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, additional pay for sleep-in shifts, and permanent contract.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by inspiring hope and fostering connections in the community.
- Qualifications: Personal lived experience of mental health challenges and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30616 - 37420 £ per year.
£24,968.26 per annum (Basic Salary) plus £1,066.65 per annum (Recruitment and Retention Allowance). Basic Salary = £24,968.26 + £RRA 1,066.65 = £26,034.91 for a 37.5 hour week. Additional £72.85 for each sleep-in shift covered. Permanent contract, shift work.
Do you have lived experience of mental health challenges, recovery and using mental health services? Are you passionate about using your experience to inspire hope, empower others and demonstrate that recovery is possible? Do you believe in working alongside people as equals, recognising their strengths and supporting them to achieve the things that matter most to them? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Join Us as a Peer Support Worker within our East team! At NIHCSS, we believe that lived experience is a powerful asset. By bringing together professional expertise and personal experience, we place co-production, inclusion and human connection at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating services that are person-centred, strengths-based and focused on enabling people to live fulfilling lives within their communities.
Due to the promotion of the current postholder, we are currently looking for a Peer Support Worker to join our dedicated team supporting people across Norwich and East Norfolk. In this role, you will use your own experiences of recovery to build trusting and authentic relationships with people accessing our services. Through empathy, active listening and shared understanding, you will support individuals to identify their strengths, build confidence, develop self-management skills and pursue their own personal recovery goals.
You will work alongside a specialist multidisciplinary team, with guidance and support from our Peer Support Co-ordinator, delivering both one-to-one and group-based peer support. By sharing hope, fostering connection and promoting choice and independence, you will play a vital role in helping people shape their own recovery journey.
Key Responsibilities
What You'll Bring:
- Personal lived experience of mental health challenges, recovery and accessing support services.
- A belief in people's ability to recover, grow and live meaningful lives.
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- The ability to use your lived experience safely and appropriately to support others.
- A commitment to equality, inclusion and reducing stigma and discrimination.
- A compassionate, collaborative and strengths-based approach.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Essential:
- Personal lived experience of mental health distress/using mental health services.
- An understanding of the difference between peer support and professional care in mental health.
- Understanding the importance of leadership of those accessing the service and the benefits of peer support.
- Knowledge and experience of supporting people individually or as part of groups to achieve goals relating to their mental and/or physical health.
- Ability to draw on your own experiences of mental distress in an appropriate way.
- Ability to establish and develop empathetic, service user-led relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to deal tactfully and sensitively with a range of people experiencing mental distress, including individuals who may be in crisis.
- Ability to respond to individuals’ needs promptly, in a flexible, consistent and appropriate way.
- Ability to develop, maintain and facilitate positive working relationships with individuals, staff, volunteers and health professionals.
- Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office, shared calendars and the internet.
- Ability to manage a busy workload, work on own initiative, prioritise work, meet deadlines and make autonomous decisions where needed.
- Willing and able to engage with IT systems, including a client record management system, on a daily basis and accurately and efficiently maintain appropriate records.
Desirable:
- At least one year full-time equivalent experience of working in mental health, paid or unpaid.
PEER SUPPORT WORKER - GREAT YARMOUTH in Norwich employer: Together for Mental Wellbeing
Together for Mental Wellbeing is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and service users. Located in a vibrant community, we offer extensive professional development opportunities, enabling our staff to grow in their roles while making a meaningful impact on women's mental health and justice. Join us to be part of a passionate team committed to empowering individuals and promoting safer outcomes through collaboration with key partners.
Contact Details:
Together for Mental Wellbeing Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land PEER SUPPORT WORKER - GREAT YARMOUTH in Norwich
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Together for Mental Wellbeing.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Together for Mental Wellbeing!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Together for Mental Wellbeing, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Together for Mental Wellbeing or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace PEER SUPPORT WORKER - GREAT YARMOUTH in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Together for Mental Wellbeing:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Together for Mental Wellbeing! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Together for Mental Wellbeing
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
