Young Adult Peer Support Worker

Job overview

We are excited to offer two Young Adult Peer Support Worker (YA PSW) roles for people who have personal lived experience of mental health difficulties during their adolescence years or early adulthood. This role is also open to individuals who have been in local authority care. These Role will be based in Hillingdon and Harrow CNWL services (please note one role is full time and the part time 4 days a week)

As a YA PSW, you will use your own experience to support young adults’ aged 16–25 who are accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or making the transition to Adult Mental Health Services.

• Inspire hope in young people (aged 16–25) who are receiving support through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) or transitioning to Adult Mental Health Services.
• Work 1:1 and in groups with young adults to support them in their recovery and personal goals.
• Share experiences in a way that respects their uniqueness, and helps them feel understood and empowered.

The two successful candidates will work either in Harrow or Hillingdon, and contribute to the trust wide young adult transformation plan. and be part of  the new CNWL Discovery college offer (Discover Together).

Essential Requirement: To apply for this role, you must have personal lived experience of mental health challenges during adolescence or young adulthood, and have made progress in your own recovery journey.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities – Young Adult Peer Support Worker

As a Young Adult Peer Support Worker, you will use your own experiences of mental health and recovery to support other young adults. Your role is to offer hope, guidance, and practical help as they access CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) or move into adult mental health services.

Working with the Team and Young Adults

• Work alongside the mental health team to support young adults in CAMHS transitioning to adult services.
• Help young adults create and follow their own recovery plans, either one-to-one or in group settings.
• Support young adults to discover their strengths, interests, and goals for the future.
• Encourage young adults to take the lead in their recovery, while also working with their families/carers and the wider care team.
• Help young adults feel confident as they move through or leave CAMHS.
• Use your own experience of moving from CAMHS to adult services to support others during this transition and ensure they are fully informed along the way.

Discovery college:

• support the delivery of the CNWL discovery college (Discovery together )
• co-produce recovery focused workshops deigned for young adult 16-25
• co-deliver workshop with course expertise to young adults within CNWL local community
• Work as a member of the peer support team to ensure we  included young adult voice in the development of the discovery college.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Providing Peer Support and Hope           Support young adults in understanding their mental and emotional health and what recovery means for them personally.          Share your own recovery journey in a respectful and helpful way, showing that recovery is possible.           Be a positive role model, demonstrating coping skills and offering hope through your lived experience. Involvement in Care Planning          Take part in creating, reviewing, and updating care plans with the young adult and the care team.          Help young adults and their carers actively participate in planning their support and setting goals.           Support young adults with everyday challenges like looking after themselves, attending education or training, or joining in leisure activities. Encouraging Community and Social Connections           Help young adults stay connected to their communities, education, and hobbies by knowing what’s available and supporting them to get involved.          Support the running of group sessions or peer-led activities that promote learning, recovery, and connection
• Support young adults in understanding their mental and emotional health and what recovery means for them personally.
• Share your own recovery journey in a respectful and helpful way, showing that recovery is possible.
• Be a positive role model, demonstrating coping skills and offering hope through your lived experience.
• Take part in creating, reviewing, and updating care plans with the young adult and the care team.
• Help young adults and their carers actively participate in planning their support and setting goals.
• Support young adults with everyday challenges like looking after themselves, attending education or training, or joining in leisure activities.
• Help young adults stay connected to their communities, education, and hobbies by knowing what’s available and supporting them to get involved.
• Support the running of group sessions or peer-led activities that promote learning, recovery, and connection
• #Be committed to professional development through independent learning, keeping up to date with the latest research, and building connections with local and national peer networks.

• Promote development of best practices in peer support and lived experience practice across the service through active participation in internal and external training and development programmes.

• Supervision requirements- 1:1 lived experience supervision and mandatory group supervision