WELLBEING WORKER: PEER SUPPORT
Hours: 18 Hours Per Week (Part Time)
Salary: £25,000-£26,906 Pro rata. Salary dependent on skills, experience and knowledge.
Contract: Fixed Term
Base: Waterford House, The Courthouse Erfstadt Court, Wokingham, Berkshire, with travel around Wokingham
Who we are, and what we do
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We’re Oxfordshire Mind, the mental health charity, operating across Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.
- Our passionate employees and dedicated volunteers are helping people with mental health issues find somewhere to turn for advice, information, and support.
- We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health issue gets both support and respect.
- Find out more about our vision, mission and values here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/about-2/what-we-do/
- Find out more about our services here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/support-for-you/our-services/
Why work for us?
- We offer a friendly working environment and are committed to staff wellbeing.
- We are devoted to equity, diversity, inclusion, and equality, with staff working groups and support groups.
Here is a taste of what we offer:
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Generous holiday allowance, 28 days plus 8 bank holidays, increasing after 5 years
- Contribute to pension scheme
- Flexible working including; hybrid working, part time, compressed hours
- Ensuring growth and development of our staff along their career journey
- Free support package from Health Assured for you and your family
- Great discounts and cash back card schemes
To find out more click here: https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/jobs-2/benefits/
What will you do?
To provide support to service-users around their mental health through building positive relationships and empowering service users to achieve their wellbeing goals through the facilitation of peer support groups.
The role will be responsible for informing, developing and delivering peer support sessions; in person and via remote/online delivery. The Peer support workers will engage with the local community to identify need and will support volunteers to enhance the support available to service users. Peer support workers will also make contact with people who have used the service to gain feedback that will inform the development of the service.
Key responsibilities
- Develop, maintain and facilitate a broad range of engaging and responsive wellbeing peer support groups.
- Support service users to improve or maintain their mental health and wellbeing
- Collect and accurately record service user data onto a secure database in a timely manner.
- Liaise with colleagues, partner organisations and professional agencies to support service user needs.
- Keep up to date with the various services offered by Mind in Berkshire, local mental health services and other providers to enable appropriate information and signposting.
- Conduct regular dynamic risk assessment and take appropriate and timely actions to manage the risks in relation to staff, service users and buildings.
- Support volunteers to enhance the service and support groups
- Contact service users to gain feedback and complete outcome measures to inform future service development and evidence effective of service.
We expect all our employees to:
- Understand and implement all safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to working with children, young people and adults at risk of harm
- Enhance equity, diversity, inclusion and equality within our work
- Involve people with lived experience of mental health problems in every aspect of our work
- Support and supervise volunteers and peer supporters as agreed with your line manager
- Attend regular meetings and supervision as required
This is not an exhaustive list and employees may be required to perform activities not listed here.
Who you are
Open - Are you open to help people realise their potential?
Together, partnership - Are you a team player?
Responsive - Are you a good listener?
Independent - Do you have the confidence to speak out fearlessly?
Unstoppable – Do you have a positive, never give up attitude?
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
Applicants should respond explicitly to each of the points listed in the Person Specification / Selection Criteria below. The shortlisting panel make their decisions based on this information and no assumptions about your skills or experience will be made.
Essential Experience
a) Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, and the needs of people living with mental health problems
b) An understanding of good practice in safeguarding Children and Adults
c) Experience of working within mental health, wellbeing or similar services
d) Experience of working in a demanding environment
e) Experience of working as part of a team and communicating effectively
f)Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
g) Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
h)Ability to confidently use IT systems and software at a basic level
i) Good planning and organisational skills
k) Knowledge/Understanding of our values
- Striving to make mental health services more human
- Working alongside people to help them realise their potential
- Raising awareness, promoting understanding and challenging stigma
- The importance of community and the benefits of mutual support
Desirable
a) Working knowledge of the range of services offered by Mind in Berkshire and relevant local/national organisations
b) Knowledge of a range of tools or approaches to mental health support
c) A good understanding of the importance of confidentiality and GDPR and knowledge of how to work appropriately in this regard
d) Understanding purpose of project and how their work meets the overall aims
e) Experience of identifying and managing a risk, with the support of a manager
f) Experience of supporting people with multiple/diverse needs
g) Experience of working in a co-productive environment
h) Experience of facilitating groups to enable people to learn and/or connect.
i) Experience of data collection and succinct, timely and accurate data entry to enable the measuring of outcomes and service impact
j)Experience of representing an organisation at external events
k)Experience of supporting/training staff or volunteers
l) Ability to utilise a range of tools and approaches to empower service users
m) Ability to effectively use safety planning tools in line with prevention of suicide and self-harm
n) Taking responsibility for own health and wellbeing to cope effectively with the pressures of the post and to use the support and supervision provided
o) Effective organisational, planning, administrative and IT skills
p) Demonstrating professional approach and boundaries in all situations
Ability to travel between sites when required
Oxfordshire Mind is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We therefore require a Disclosure and Barring Service check, for all our roles. The level of which will vary depending on the nature of the role.
Closing date: Tuesday 2nd May
Shortlisting date: Wednesday 3rd May
Interview date: TBC
Interview location: Waterford House, The Courthouse Erfstadt Court Denmark St Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2YF
We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.