Peer Support Worker

Job overview

• We are looking for a person who is passionate about working with a range of patients who experience eating disorders (some of whom are difficult to engage). The post is part-time (22.5 hours per week). The role involves a range of supportive tasks including direct clinical contact with service users; co-facilitating groups; offering support and motivation to patients on their recovery journey. The role will require good organisation skills, creative thinking and problem solving, as well as teamwork and passion. It is essential that you have personal lived experience of a clinically diagnosed eating disorder from which you have recovered and you are no longer in active treatment for. (If you are unsure whether your personal lived experience meets the criteria for this job role, please contact the recruiting managers and we will be happy to speak with you)

Main duties of the job

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To work with the multi-disciplinary team to provide additional support to patients with eating disorders using the principles and values of peer support. To deliver time-limited, outcome focused interventions individually or via groups that build on peoples existing resources and personal resiliencies. To assume a ‘coaching’ role supporting patients in developing personal recovery and/or Crisis & Contingency plans and to assist them to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals. To provide opportunities for patients to direct their own recovery process and to act as a role model to them to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person and after recovery. To facilitate the individual to move through and beyond mental health services, and to model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate coping skills, using your own experience of recovery. To work independently following all lone-working, safeguarding and other relevant policies in order to maintain personal safety and safety of people accessing services, their carers, friends and families and the public. To raise the profile of the lived experience workforce at SWLStG. To develop and maintain effective monitoring and reporting processes that clarify the value of peer support alongside clinical roles and the impact of delivered interventions. To continue the development and implementation of existing peer support interventions or to plan and deliver new peer support work both in theory and practice.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.