Peer Support Worker

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.

YOUR APPLICATION

**Job overview**:
Are you passionate about helping others thrive? We are seeking a compassionate Peer Support Worker to join our Forensic Community Team In this vital role, you'll empower individuals on their recovery journey by sharing your own experiences and providing valuable support on a 1:1 basis with some group work.

Key Responsibilities:

- Foster a supportive environment for clients
- Facilitate 1:1 discussions and activities, with some group work
- Collaborate with occupational therapists and MDT to enhance client care

Qualifications:

- Lived experience with mental ill health and recovery relevant to the specific service.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- A commitment to promoting wellness and recovery

**Main duties of the job**:
**Providing Emotional Support**
- **Listening and validating experiences**: Peer Support Workers offer empathetic listening, providing a safe space for individuals to express their feelings, experiences, and challenges without judgment.
- **Offering encouragement**: They provide positive reinforcement and encouragement, helping individuals build self-esteem and motivation for recovery.
- **Sharing personal experience**: Peer Support Workers often share their own lived experiences, which can help clients feel understood and less isolated, fostering hope and a sense of possibility.

**Assisting with Goal Setting and Recovery Planning**
- **Supporting clients in setting recovery goals**: They help individuals identify their personal recovery goals and assist in creating action plans to achieve them.
- **Collaborating with clients**: Peer Support Workers work alongside clients to identify strengths and barriers to recovery, offering practical advice and support in navigating challenges.

**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 professional 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**:
**Facilitating Peer Support Groups**
- **Leading or co-facilitating peer support groups**: In some settings, Peer Support Workers may help facilitate support groups where clients can share experiences, learn from each other, and build social connections.
- **Promoting peer relationships**: They foster a sense of community and belonging among clients by promoting peer connections and encouraging individuals to support each other.

**Providing Information and Education**
- **Sharing relevant information**: Peer Support Workers help educate clients about mental health, recovery, and available services or resources.
- **Offering practical advice on navigating services**: They guide clients in accessing and making use of various services, such as therapy, housing support, or employment assistance.

**Advocacy and Empowerment**
- **Supporting clients in self-advocacy**: Peer Support Workers help clients develop the confidence and skills to advocate for their own needs, whether within healthcare systems, the workplace, or social settings.
- **Empowering clients**: They encourage individuals to take control of their recovery and make decisions that align with their values and goals, fostering autonomy and self-determination.

**Collaboration with the Multi-Disciplinary Team**
- **Working alongside other professionals**: Peer Support Workers often collaborate with therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers to ensure that clients are receiving comprehensive support.
- **Providing feedback**: They may share insights from a lived experience perspective that can help inform treatment plans or improve service delivery.

**Role Modelling and Mentorship**
- **Demonstrating recovery**: By modelling how they manage their own recovery, Peer Support Workers provide hope and inspiration for clients.
- **Mentorin