Peer Support Specialist

RECONNECT is a new care after custody service that seeks to improve the continuity of care of people leaving prison with an identified health need. This involves working with them before they leave to support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison.

RECONNECT services aim to improve the wellbeing of people leaving prison, reduce inequalities and address health-related drivers of offending behaviours. Whilst not a clinical service, RECONNECT offers liaison, advocacy, signposting, and support to facilitate engagement with community-based health and support services.

**RECONNECT services also aims to**:

- Increase access to and uptake up of healthcare or relevant support services for individuals who have identified health needs upon release from prison or IRCs who would otherwise struggle to engage.
- Ensure that the health needs of individuals who are leaving prison are met.
- Ensure a safe transition from prison to community-based healthcare and support services in England.

Provide follow-up to ensure engagement is maintained

The purpose and scope of this role is to encourage referred individuals, including those with multiple needs, to engage with RECONNECT and/or Enhanced RECONNECT services, other health agencies and referral pathways. Providing engagement, emotional support and advocacy, is essential to the role, as the Peer Support Worker will need to support the opinion of the individual receiving support. The role will involve supporting individuals to navigate through release from the criminal justice system and immigration removal centres to access support for mental and physical health needs as well as other identified health needs, including substance misuse (alcohol and drugs), homelessness, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviour. The role requires a high level of empathy and compassion, as it provides emotional, and where appropriate, practical support to individuals. This will include working with Practitioners to support a pathway of support for individuals, working with their families and friends, supporting them to access other agencies. A key component of the role will be providing information, advice, and guidance, requiring resilience and diplomacy, with the ability to encourage and motivate people

**About the Trust**:
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex.

**Working in Sussex**:

- Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there’s always new experiences to be enjoyed
- Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
- With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the Care Quality Commission. Our staff agree, with 82% of people in our recent staff survey telling us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

**Other key staff survey results include**:

- 70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
- 79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team
- 77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles

The role is Monday to Friday from 0800-1600hrs

Essential Qualifications
- Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification
- A recognised Peer Support qualification
- Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning

It is essential that applicants have lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties or other vulnerabilities and has had experience of the criminal justice system and / or immigration removal centres.
- Peer Support Specialists engage with people with a range of vulnerabilities to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting individuals to gain and maintain independence in the community
- Peer Support Specialists are part of the Sussex Liaison and Diversion/Reconnect Team. The role is to focus on the holistic support needs of service users. Self-managed care is essential to this: the supported person is encouraged to assess their own needs and to engage with support/careplans
- Using your lived experience and peer support skills you will work alongside individuals to understand their experiences of mental health and recovery, and to maximise their strengths, resources and skills.
- Peer support is delivered through promoting empowerment and choice and giving the opportunity for the exploration of meaning and purpose, learning from shared experiences and strategies.
- Work is guided by the Reconnect Team Leader. Supervision will be used to continuously reflect on, evaluate and develop Peer practic