Peer Support Worker

A wonderful opportunity has arisen, led by Coventry and Warwickshire VCSE Mental Health Alliance in Partnership with CWPT, Rethink Mental Illness, Valley House, Coventry CAB and Artyfolks for people with lived experience of mental health struggles to join our, lived experience workforce in our new innovative REACH (Realising Everyone’s Access to Community Help) Service This new service was designed as a response to a gap in current services for people who fall between Primary and Secondary Care and those who are stepping down from Community Mental Health Services. By using your own lived experience of recovery, you will be supporting people who have been referred into the NHS Mental Health Service or those stepping down from services to access support in the community.  Due to your own lived experience, you will show visible recovery is a possibility, that change is possible and give a strong message of hope and understanding. You will be a positive role model helping to inspire, motivate, guide and support those you work with to engage with services and work on their recovery. Using your lived experience, you will offer emotional and practical support, helping people move to a positive, meaningful and fulfilled future. The role of a Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental distress and are able to use their experience to offer empathy and understanding to others, inspiring hope and recovery. The Peer Support Worker will work alongside practical support networks, in order to help people feel in control of their lives and identify their individual recovery pathway. As a Peer Support Worker, you will be part of a cross Organisational Service working with Rethink Mental Illness, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Artyfolks, Valley House, Coventry Citizens Advice and Organisations from The Cultural Inclusion Network Applicants must have lived experience of mental illness and will ideally have received support within secondary care mental health services. Qualifications & Experience Lived experience of mental illness and be prepared to use this as a tool within the role, where it will be helpful to the person, being supported, whilst maintaining strong boundaries. Experience of providing support to people with a mental illness; either in a personal capacity or have experience of providing care and/or support services within another social care setting in either a paid or voluntary capacity. Knowledge & Understanding Knowledge and understanding of the difficulties faced by survivors of domestic abuse Understanding and passion for the work of Valley House Knowledge of safeguarding Skills and Abilities Good IT skills Good time management and organisational skills Good standard of written and verbal communication skills Ability to engage and motivate individuals to the service Ability to maintain strong boundaries whilst sharing own personal experience Ability to reflect on own journey Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with partner organisations Ability to maintain confidentiality Additional Requirements Flexible approach to working evenings and weekends as needed Car owner and use of a vehicle This post requires a satisfactory DBS check. This is a 12 month fixed term contract, possible extension if future funding is secured.  The hours of work are 37.5 hours per week. The closing date is 12 noon on Monday 7 April 2025 and interviews will be held on Friday 11 April 2025. For more information about Valley House please see our website (url removed)