Band 4 Peer Support Worker (Complex Emotional Needs) - Bristol

Job overview

We have a part time vacancy for a Peer Support Workers (PSW) within the Complex Emotional Needs Service (CEN) . This role is for people who have personal lived experience of mental health challenges that have been understood or diagnosed as a ‘personality disorder’ and of accessing secondary mental health services.

Through sharing wisdom and insight from their own experiences, PSWs will effectively and positively use their own lived experience to inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

Within a relationship of reciprocity and mutuality, the PSW will journey with service users to promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of individually identified goals. The PSW will work with people towards gaining greater independence and self-agency in managing their own health and wellbeing and will help them to build a sense of belonging within their communities.

This post is suitable for someone who is empathetic, compassionate and patient with a calm and professional response to distress, disturbance and unpredictability.

The post holder will  be based at Petherton Resource Centre, South Bristol.

Please only apply if you meet the essential criteria above of lived experience to become a Peer Support Worker. You need to demonstrate in your application how this will support the role

This role requires the post holder to work on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Main duties of the job

As an integral and valued member of the multidisciplinary community team, PSWs will be responsible for the delivery of peer support including but not limited to 1:1 peer work, co-delivering therapeutic groups, co-delivering training and attending supervision groups to embed the lived experience perspective within the team.

The post holder will contribute to the ongoing assessment, planning delivery and review of activities and interventions against identified health, social and well being needs, for an allocated group of service users.

The post holder will also be actively participating in service user and carers involvement work, such as gathering feedback as well as feeding back, encouraging service user involvement and leading on co-creating within service developments.

See attached job description for more details.

Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake the role of peer support worker for an allocated caseload of service users organising and participating in the ongoing assessment, planning, delivering and review of care to meet identified physical and mental health social and well being needs. This will include:

• Explaining the role of peer support worker.
• Organising and participating in defined assessment methods/activities.
• Contributing to Personal Wellbeing plans, identifying and organising other resources as appropriate.
• Completing relevant paper and electronic documentation in line with the peer support worker role.

Developing, planning and undertaking defined interventions to enable the individual to meet and develop their ongoing daily living skills, to increase confidence and independence in line with agreed personal recovery plans. This might include:

• Preparing for and delivering defined self-help groups.
• Therapeutic activities to improve and individuals coping skills e.g. mindfulness and relaxation.
• Co-facilitating therapeutic group work.

Planning and undertaking activities to enable the individual to meet and develop their daily living skills, to increase confidence and independence in line with agreed personal recovery plans. This might include helping individuals to:

• Complete forms or letter e.g. housing benefits.
• Contact employment advisors or education facilities.

Or it might include providing any of the following:

• Emotional support to individual focusing on motivation and encouragement.
• Information and advice to maintain good physical health.
• Information on rights under the mental health act.

Effectively build hope, inspiring relationships which acknowledge the personal journey of each person, and focus on strengths and aspirations to allow the creation of meaningful personal recovery plan

Communicate effectively with a wide range of people in order to build and sustain effective, and positive relationships with individuals, and carers, team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.

To work collaboratively with service users and their carers to understand and manage their mental health needs in line with their personal recovery plan and relapse prevention strategies.

To work within the AWP peer support practice values model and AWP PSWLXP Code of conduct.

To undertake specific activities and interventions in the support of carers including engagement and involvement, assessment and provision of support or services.

Participate in the development of risk assessments and crisis management plans, rapid access plans, within the appropriate framework, ensuring that when trigger points are reached, these are reported appropriately to a registered practitioner, and that immediate or direct action is taken in line with these, or in the event of a crisis.

Respond to the needs of individual with sensitivity with regard to their age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, social class or disability, modifying behaviour to optimise the helping relationship.

Promote the rights of individual by recognising differences and acting in accordance with the relevant legislation, recognising and reporting discriminatory behaviour, and taking appropriate action.

Work collaboratively and sensitively with individuals, to develop skills to manage their own health, in accordance with their personal recovery plan, by actively promoting and using approaches which are affirming, build on strengths, identify past positive experience and success, and use small steps to move towards the persons goal.

Promoting independence and increasing confidence by providing appropriate self-help materials, information about available resources/services, facilitating identified group work and educational workshops and peer support groups.

To be responsible for maintaining own caseload on a day to day basis, ensuring that time is prioritised effectively.

Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures, by recognising and reporting any signs that may indicate an individual is at risk of neglecting or harming themselves, or at risk from others, and by participating in processes with other agencies to keep the individual safe.

Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.

Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, taking appropriate action where required.

Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters, utilising electronic record and other systems available within the organisation.

Report and record within agreed timeframes, all activity relating to information reporting and performance requirements.

To participate in local arrangements in order to ensure consistent care to service users across the local geography.

See attached job description for more details.