About this role
Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Peer Support Worker within the South Hams Core Adult Community Mental Health Team, based at Leatside Surgery in Totnes. This is a part-time role working 22.5 hours per week, with ability to travel required to meet the needs of the role.
You will join a motivated and skilled team working closely with local GP surgeries and the Primary Care Network to support people accessing community mental health services.
This role is designed for someone with personal lived experience of accessing and navigating secondary mental health services (a Community Mental Health Team) and of being significantly impacted by mental illness and recovery.
Using the core principles of peer support, you will build supportive relationships with people, offering hope, understanding and practical support alongside the wider multidisciplinary team. You will receive regular supervision, training and support to develop your confidence in the peer role.
This is not a healthcare support worker role - it is a peer support opportunity for people with relevant lived experience.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked at interview to share details of their own lived experience of accessing a Community Mental Health Team and their recovery to demonstrate their ability to support others effectively.
Main duties of the job
The role involves building supportive relationships with people accessing community mental health services, using the core principles of peer support. You will work alongside the wider multidisciplinary team, offering hope, understanding and practical support through appropriate use of your own lived experience of mental health recovery.
You will receive training, supervision and reflective support to help you share your experiences safely and meaningfully, develop confidence in the peer role, and maintain clear boundaries.
Providing one-to-one and group peer support.Offering emotional support, encouragement and reassurance based on shared lived experience.Supporting people to identify recovery goals and connect with community and wellbeing resources.Working in a trauma-informed, non-judgemental way that respects each persons background and circumstances.Taking part in training, supervision and reflective spaces to support your development and wellbeing.Working closely with the wider team, escalating concerns appropriately, and working within clear boundaries, with clinical responsibility and decision-making held by clinical colleagues.
This role may be emotionally challenging at times, but you will be supported by colleagues in the Community Mental Health Team, the Peer Support Leadership Team and the wider organisation.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description Job responsibilities
For more details about this position, please see the attached Job and Person Description word document.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
To complete Care Certificate training within the first 3-6 months of joining unless already obtained NHSE Peer Support Worker Competence Framework Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of joining.
Desirable
NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience/ equivalent working experience using lived experience. Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).
Experience Essential
Personal lived experience of accessing a community mental health team (CMHT) and of being significantly impacted by mental illness and recovery. Ability and willingness to draw on and share first-person lived experience with the sole intention of supporting others.
Desirable
Experience paid or unpaid, in actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards their self-defined recovery goals.
Knowledge & Skills Essential
Ability to communicate effectively with people using services taking into account any communication difficulties they may have and responding appropriately (written and verbal) Basic IT skills, including use of Outlook and the ability to use electronic record systems confidently and accurately. An ability to act calmly and to respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance and unpredictability. The ability to work with people in a group and individual basis. To demonstrate an understanding about how and why we need to maintain personal, professional boundaries. The ability to take direction and guidance from the team while also working independently on unsupervised tasks and providing accurate feedback to relevant parties. Mobility throughout the area covered by service to meet the demands of the role
Desirable
The ability to share lived experience appropriately and effectively across a variety of settings to support and engage others. The ability to judge appropriateness when sharing lived experience with patients/service users and other staff.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address Leatside Surgery
Babbage Road
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5JA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)