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.

At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.

Nearly 3,800 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 1,400+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, catering, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.

We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us

JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

YOUR APPLICATION

**Job overview**:
Are you passionate about helping others thrive? We are seeking a compassionate Peer Support Worker to join our Occupational Therapy service In this vital role, you'll empower individuals on their recovery journey by sharing your own experiences and providing valuable support.

Key Responsibilities:

- Foster a supportive environment for clients
- Facilitate group discussions and activities
- Collaborate with occupational therapists to enhance client care

Qualifications:

- Lived experience with mental ill health or recovery
- 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 S