Peer Support Worker

Job overview

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated individual who has personal experience with the Criminal Justice System or prison custody.

This role is ideally suited to someone motivated to draw on their lived experience of the Criminal Justice System to support others facing similar challenges. You will play a key role in helping individuals access and engage with appropriate support networks.

The outreach Service covers Black Country, with its base being in Bilston. Training will be given and Experience of support work is desirable but not required as the role depends more upon your ability to use your personal experience to support others and your desire to do so whilst being part of a NHS team that is supportive, approachable and dedicated to the role.

The ability to commute independently across the Black Country area is essential.

Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. We actively seek peers who have lived experience of both the Criminal Justice System who have a desire to use their own experiences to help others.

Main duties of the job

As a Peer Support Worker, you would be working across the area with people who have come into contact with Liaison & Diversion and then referred over to our Outreach service, building a good working relationship with them and helping them identify their needs alongside a senior Team Member.

You will be then working with a caseload of these clients to support them in accessing health and support services for up to three months. You will be working as part of a larger team and under the supervision of Team lead and Senior Peer Support Worker, you will also be working alongside our Navigators and Support Time Recovery Workers and participate in the client’s journey from referral to discharge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Working in the Outreach service in Black Country, with the flexibility of working across the locality Liaison & Diversion Services, dependent on skill and service need. •    To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, sharing own narratives to raise aspirations of life. •    To work primarily in direct work with service users on a 1:1 and in group settings as agreed with team supervisor and team manager. •    To help individuals identify strengths, interests and their own achievable and meaningful recovery goals. •    To support the implementation of groups •    To support service users in developing other areas of interest. •    Draw upon own lived experience to inspire hope, model self-awareness and facilitate service users in developing their own resourcefulness for managing their health and wellbeing. •    Facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable participation in activities, to maximise service user's opportunities for socially valued roles and positive identity. •    Ensure that service user’s peer recovery goals are integrated into a Resettlement plan •    To actively engage with colleagues and other professionals to ensure the needs of the client group are met through promoting recovery orientated, strengths based practice. •    To attend and participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings.