Peer Support Worker

The Merton Peer Support service is an exciting new service which Together for Mental Wellbeing has just launched in the borough of Merton and we are looking for a brand new team.

Mental Health Peer Support gives emotional support and promotes access to information and practical advice for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is working with Together for Mental Wellbeing and Talk Off the Record to deliver the Merton Peer Support Service for people living in the Merton borough. The Merton Peer Support service will form a part of the Integrated Recovery Hub (IRH) to support with the delivery of increased timely access to a wider range of holistic mental health and wellbeing interventions. The service will work closely with service users, the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and partner organisations to facilitate access to and deliver appropriate peer support when such needs are identified.

The key aim of the service is to deliver 1-2-1 and group peer support to people experiencing emotional distress and who would benefit from and want to engage with peer support interventions to aid their recovery goals and longer-term wellbeing. A key component is that these staff use their own direct lived experience of mental health difficulties to support other people. They will work collaboratively with people within their service, focusing on the person’s strengths and personal resources to offer educational, emotional and practical support towards goals that are defined by the person.

People using the service will have access to 1-2-1 support for up to 12 weeks whilst meeting people in the community in Merton or providing phone and online sessions. There will also be a group programme themed around wellbeing, developing coping strategies, self-management and facilitating peer support.

**Where is this service located?**

People using the service are able to choose how they access support and whether that is in person, online via video chat, or on the phone. It should be noted though that this does not extend to meeting people in their homes. Together staff will meet people in the community in Merton in public places such as libraries or coffee shops and those meetings will be specifically to provide one to one support.

**Job Purpose**:

- To draw on your own lived experience of mental distress to empathise with and support people using the service on their journey to better mental wellbeing
- To use experiential knowledge to support those accessing the service to manage their own mental health, build support networks and work alongside services
- To deliver peer support that is aligned to Together’s peer support model, principles and organisational values

To demonstrate commitment to service user leadership through empowering people who are experiencing mental distress to lead their own journey to wellbeing

**Functional Responsibilities**
- Deliver peer support that is grounded in Together’s peer support model and principles, working closely with the Peer Support Co-ordinator to support best practice
- Promote the benefits of peer support across the service
- Support individuals to work alongside the service, identify what they need, how they would like to progress supporting service users to exercise choice and control
- Draw on your lived experience of mental distress to empower people to recognise their strengths and potential, whilst building hope and empowerment
- Support individuals to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation through 1:1 and group peer support
- Support people to develop coping and self-management techniques through 1:1 sessions and group based peer support, drawing on your own lived experience of mental distress
- Access specialist advice, guidance and mentoring from the Service User Leadership Team to support best practice
- Support service users accessing peer support to develop safety plans
- Support people to connect with others, including within their communities, supporting the voice of lived experience to be amplified
- Work closely with the Peer Support Co-ordinator, service users and the Service User Leadership Team to develop peer support within the service, including supporting the recording and monitoring of the impact of peer support
- Access regular support and supervision to reflect on own mental wellbeing given the potential emotional demands of this role, whilst having a space to acknowledge the mutual benefits gained from the peer relationship
- Attend mandatory peer support training and work collaboratively with the Service User Leadership Team as and when requested to support the development of Together’s peer support model and training
- Keep up to date with Peer Support on Together’s intranet to ensure consistency in practice and use of resources
- Promote Together’s unique approach to peer support at external events, as required
- Develop links with local services and suppor