Job overview
Peer Support Worker - Early Intervention Service
Following promotion, we are recruiting a Peer Support Worker for our Early Intervention Service in Newham.
The Newham Early Intervention Service (NEIS) assesses and works with people who are experiencing first episode psychosis, or are at risk of developing early-onset psychosis. For this reason, it is essential to have lived experience of using mental health services - specifically with lived experience of psychosis. You must also have completed Peer support worker training. Please note you will NOT be shortlisted without meeting these requirements.
This is a face-to-face role, with the need to work in the Newham community as part of the Early Intervention Service. You must be able to use your personal recovery journey to inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in the people and their families that you are supporting.
The 13 hours can be spread over 2 or 3 days.
Main duties of the job
-To provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users, working flexibly to meet individual needs.
-To assist service users to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals and support them to access and participate in activities which meet these whilst demonstrating acceptance of and respect towards service users' personal beliefs, uniqueness and identity.
-To positively support living within their community through developing and maintain extensive knowledge and links with local areas and/or in the area the individual service users wish to return to and actively supporting them to access these resources including acting as an escort, e.g., in relation to vocation, education and leisure.
-To act as a role model and mentor for Recovery using own experience to inspire hope in others; demonstrating coping skills, sharing life experiences and lessons learned where appropriate.
(Please see JD for full outline of role.)
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.
Person specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential criteria
1. ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker Training or equivalent.
Desirable criteria
2. NVQ3 in health and social care or equivalent experience
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
3. A sound knowledge of Peer Support Work (through training)
4. Ability to work with service users on an individual or group basis to support them in their personal recovery.
5. Be able to respond with compassion towards clients when they present in a way that is considered aggressive, maladaptive or socially immature or unacceptable.
6. Good spoken and written English
Desirable criteria
7. Demonstrate knowledge of personal Recovery To demonstrate broad understanding of the principles of recovery
8. Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers.
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Lived experience of using mental health services
10. Lived experience of Psychosis
Desirable criteria
11. Prior experience (paid or unpaid) working in the health and social care sector or prior experience working with vulnerable adults.