Peer Support Worker

Would you like to work for a leading mental health charity? Do you want a rewarding career where you can really make a difference? If yes, join us here at Rethink Mental Illness. We have an exciting opportunity for a Peer Support Worker to join our inspiring and friendly team at Dover and Folkestone Peer Support Service. Your role will be a Permanent position, working part time, 22.75 hours per week based in Dover & Folkestone. The Support you deliver will be a mixture of face to face and remotely via one to one online groups. The role will be primarily covering either Dover or Folkestone but you will work with your team to deliver the service across the two areas Rethink Mental Illness Dover and Folkestone Peer Support Service provides support for people aged 17 years and over who have common or severe mental illness. The service provides 121 & group-based support delivered through a blended model to a minimum of 70 people per year (35 people in each area and a minimum of 2 groups a quarter) Who are we? We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.” **In everything we do, we seek to demonstrate our values**: Passion, Commitment, Openness, Hope, Expertise, Equity and Understanding. If these values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. What will you be doing? Share my own personal experiences of recovery and coping with mental illness to build connection and provide support to service users Provide key worker support to a specified number of service users, including one to one individual support and liaison with other mental health agencies on behalf of people who use our services Identify and co-facilitate group based support alongside volunteer Peer Leaders and to provide support the volunteers to increase service provision Enable and encourage service users to find out about local services and facilities within their community and facilitate access to alternative services where specific needs are identified Familiar with individual Care/Recovery Plans and support people who use our services in achieving their goals Encourage service users to recognise, understand and manage factors that affect their mental wellbeing and physical health Do you have what we are looking for? Ability to make a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s situation and needs; to develop, implement and review risk management plans and devise support plans and activities to meet these needs Own lived experience of mental illness and am prepared to use this openly in my role whilst maintaining strong boundaries Experience of providing support to people with a mental illness; or experience of providing care and/or support services within another social care setting in either a paid or voluntary capacity Strong working knowledge of mental health and appropriate intervention methods# QCF Diploma or NVQ level 3 in Care or Certificate in Community Mental Healthcare (or working towards) or an equivalent qualification The safety and wellbeing of our service users and colleagues is our priority. It is a condition of employment for anyone joining us in a front-line role that they have either had the recommended Covid-19 vaccine or agree to have it when offered by the NHS. We also require all staff to undertake regular testing to ensure the safety of service users and staff. You can find more information on our approach and why we have made this decision in our attached Covid-19 vaccination information document. This includes information for pregnant women and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. What will you receive? You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities with the opportunity to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development and a range e-learning courses. You will also receive: Salary of £18,090.52 - £19,860.99 (pro rata) Annual increments up to the top of the band Contributory pension scheme Life assurance and employee assistance programme 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days plus bank holidays Your "Rethink Day" - 1 day’s additional leave (pro rata) on your Birthday Eyecare vouchers Flexible working Don’t just change jobs, change lives