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Job summary

Main area
support worker
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday service.)
Job ref
246-GYW6417673
Employer
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Northgate Hospital
Town
Great Yarmouth
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 Gross per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/07/2024 08:00

Employer heading

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

Peer Support Worker- Community

Band 3

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.

Nearly 3,800 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 1,400+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, catering, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams.  We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.

We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us!

We will consider flexible working arrangements for our roles, please indicate in your application if this is something you require

JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION
Please read the job description/person specification carefully and ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience needed.

YOUR APPLICATION
It is important that you complete a formal application form as CV’s alone will not be accepted.

We can provide all our job application materials in alternative formats so that these are accessible to everyone. Should you require any documents within this job pack in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE: If you use a hotmail, msn or yahoo e-mail account, you will need to check your "junk" mail regularly as these email providers will divert any communication from this Trust/NHS JOBS straight into your " junk" inbox.

Job overview

We are looking to recruit a full-time Peer Support Worker (PSW) to join our established Community Mental Health Team  for adults with severe and enduring mental illness. The PSW role has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health problems. Therefore if you have lived experience of  mental health problems, ideally including experience of secondary mental health services, either as a service user or carer, then this role could be for you. 

You’ll be based in Great Yarmouth and the surrounding area. The ability to independently travel to, at times, remote locations is essential.

The PSW role includes:

  • working one to one with service users or patients
  • helping people with mental health problems to develop goals and recovery plans
  • supporting people in care planning
  • helping people engage with activities
  • supporting group work

Main duties of the job

As a PSW, your time will involve direct contact with service users on a one-to-one basis as well as in group settings. You will be a valued member of our multidisciplinary team, attend our regular team meetings and be provided with supervision and training.

 You will be acting as a role model by using your own lived experience of recovering from mental health issues, to inspire hope and help service users regain control over their own lives. You will work with service users to help them to develop a belief in their own abilities to deal with various situations; the confidence to have control over their own motivation, behaviour, and social environment; and the ability to successfully achieve their goals in life.

We do not ask for candidates to have experience of being a trained Peer Support Worker in advance of applying for a role as we provide full training once in post. If you are not already an accredited PSW you will be required to complete and pass the NSFT Peer Support Training Programme.

This six-month programme requires self-study and attending weekly workshops and incorporates a variety of training styles from presentations and videos to group work, role play, and work in pairs, and will require you to complete several assignments including written pieces.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established nursing networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.
Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Benefits included in this role:

  • Generous NHS pension
  • Comprehensive in house and external training programmes
  • Career progression
  • Starting annual leave of 27 days per annum, plus paid bank holidays.
  • Access to a variety of discounts for restaurants & shops via the 'Blue Light Card'
  • Lease car schemes
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Free parking

It is essential that applicants read the full job description and person specification in advance. Please note completion of the NHS Care Certificate and Peer Support Worker Training Programme are mandatory for the role. You are urged to demonstrate within your supporting statement a combination of evidence that reflects your competence to meet the person specification and provide examples of how NSFT Values are an integral part of the way you have and will continue to deliver service.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • PSW Level 3 Accreditation or commitment to completing the NSFT Peer Support Training Programme
  • Completed Care Certificate (or completion with 12 weeks of start date)
Desirable criteria
  • Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/ experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Lived experience of personal recovery from mental health difficulties or carer (indirect) lived experience supporting someone through their recovery
  • Has own wellness plan including self-management techniques for personal wellbeing
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of receiving care, or being a carer of someone receiving care, from acute secondary mental health services

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Comfortable to share lived experience of their own recovery

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthWomens Staff Network

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mark Nichols
Job title
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01493337973
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