Job summary
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is a trailblazer for the NHS Homeless and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service and Community Mental Health Framework and as such we are dismantling the traditional barriers to accessing interventions, treatment and support. We have expanded our Homeless and Rough Sleepers Nursing service to include our own in house Mental health posts, working within community settings through to specialist NHS mental health settings, to enable people to access the right interventions, at the right time and in the right place.
We are advertising for 1 peer support worker, who will be an integral part of delivering care and supporting referrals to homeless and rough sleeping adults who are struggled with their mental health/substance misuse, through sharing wisdom from their own lived experience. The Peer Support Worker will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible.
Main duties of the job
What sets MH PSWs apart is their unique ability to draw directly from their own experiences of mental health difficulties, showcasing a skilled approach to interpersonal boundaries.
In this role, you won't replace other mental health service roles but rather bring a distinct skill set. MH PSWs collaborate with individuals experiencing similar mental health difficulties, offering both emotional and practical support. This approach differs from traditional organisational help, as it emphasises the value of self-reflection and validation.
As an MH PSW, you'll contribute to personal recovery by understanding and validating people's stories. Instead of giving advice, you'll actively listen, explore, and suggest alternative interpretations, empowering individuals to find their own solutions that work for them.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression, and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Proven experience of providing Peer Support or Peer Mentoring.
- A good standard of English and Maths.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Lived experience of mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties.
- Experience of drawing directly on own lived experiences of mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties.
- Experience of using mental health services and/or substance misuse such as being a hospital inpatient, housing, and community services.
Other
Essential
- To be able to drive and have the use of a car.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
Employer details
Employer name
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
All
Taunton/Sedgemoor
BA20 2BN