Peer Support Worker

Have you had lived experience of mental ill health and services? Would you like to support other people who are currently experiencing mental health issues? Have you got experience of accessing secondary mental health services? Do you feel you could make a positive difference to people who are currently accessing services? if so, have you considered becoming a peer support worker in our Individual Placement and Support service?

We are an award-winning Trust and have recently been ranked by HSJ awards as top in the Midlands for Mental Health, Learning and Development and Community Trusts as Best Place to work recommended by employees. When you come to work with us, we will help you reach your full potential. Not only that, we will actively seek opportunities to share the great things you are doing, with others locally, regionally, and nationally.
- To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, sharing own narratives to raise aspirations to access employment opportunities.
- 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 to consider employment opportunities and identify their own achievable and meaningful recovery goals.
- To actively, practically and creatively support an individual to progress towards becoming ‘work ready’ through co-facilitating pre-vocational interventions on a 1:1 and group basis.
- To support service users in developing other areas of pre-vocational skills.
- 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.

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by:

- Supporting your career development and progression.
- Excellent NHS Pension scheme
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption leave
- Options for flexible working
- Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave.
- Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
- If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients.
- Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
- Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
- Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
- Free car parking at all trust sites
- Free flu vaccination every year
- Attractive relocation package
- Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Check out the videos below showcasing why you should grow your career here with us at MPFT:
Why Work for Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

Development and Progression Within Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

What is it like to be a Healthcare Support Worker within Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

The Peer Support Worker will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. The Peer Support Worker will come alongside a service user through their recovery journey, and assist them when aspiring and considering the initial steps into employment.

Peer Support Workers work as part of the community mental health team and work in collaboration with Employment Specialists and other colleagues within the team. Peer Support Workers engage with mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting service users to gain and maintain independence in the community. The role of the Peer Support Worker is focused around supporting an individual to become work ready. The Peer Support Worker will assist service users in raising aspirations and developing personal goals, with the aim to be supported into employment, by an Employment Specialists within Step On.

The role will include 1:1 and group work and Peer Support Workers will support service users in developing pre-vocational skills. Pre-vocational interventions will be delivered by the Peer Support Worker and these will support service users to increase their confidence and work ability, develop a daily routine and engage in other opportunities that will enable them to become ‘work ready’.

Due to the need to travel across a large geographical area access to suitable transport is essential for this role.