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Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitators / Peer Support Workers x 3
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Job Summary
Post Title: Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitator / Peer Support Worker x 3
Service: General Practice Integrated Mental Health Service (GPimhs) Surrey Heartlands
Employers: Community Connections Surrey – Mary Frances Trust or Catalyst Support
Location: Various locations in Surrey
Starting salary: £26,000
Hours of work: 37 hours per week – occasional evening and or/weekend work may be required.
Length of contract: 12-month Fixed term Contract (may extend depending on funding)
Reporting to: Head of Operations, Mary Frances Trust
Deadline for application: 12 August 2020
We’re looking for three new Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitators / Peer Support Workers in Surrey – two will be based with Catalyst Support in Guildford and one with Mary Frances Trust in Leatherhead. The roles will involve travelling within Surrey to deliver groups.
These roles are fixed term 12-month contracts, which may be extended depending on funding.
Please note: Interviews will be held on 19 and 20 August 2020.
Background to role
NHS England recently announced a new transformation fund to be allocated to pilot sites within 12 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships / Integrated Care Systems across the country to test new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care. Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership is one of these successful pilot sites.
One of the elements of this new approach to supporting people in their communities is focused on people with some of the difficulties associated with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and includes close partnership working between Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a specialist mental health third sector organisation.
The Peer Support Worker will be working closely with a mental health practitioner to deliver regular Service User Network (SUN) groups in different community-based locations across Surrey.
The SUN (Service User Network) is an initiative aimed at improving services for people with personality disorders.
The SUN provides community-based, open access peer support groups and aims to help people develop effective ways of coping, reduce emergencies, and improve access to appropriate services.
Those accessing the SUN may or may not have a formal diagnosis of personality disorder however, all members will have experienced longstanding emotional difficulties, isolation and are very likely to demonstrate unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
Fundamental to creating empowerment and engagement in the SUN Project is the therapeutic community principle, that the effectiveness of the service depends upon engaging group members in the task of running, delivery, development, and evaluation of the service. The utilisation of SUN members’ own resources and expertise is integral to the model of peer support upon which the SUN groups are based.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To work alongside a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) and deliver regular SUN groups in the community.
- To work in collaboration with the MHP and the SUN members to promote peer support and reduce isolation;
improve coping skills of its members; - To reduce the number of crises that require urgent and unplanned responses from services;
facilitate access to other services and sources of support. - To use own wisdom of lived experience of mental health problems to support the development and knowledge of people using the service.
- To follow the protocols and guidelines for effective working.
- To take full responsibility for understanding and applying professional boundaries.
- To ensure that any potential risk is being constantly assessed within a culture of positive risk taking.
- To contribute information regarding the safety and wellbeing of the people who access the service.
- To assist people in understanding their rights and choices within the service.
- To encourage and motivate people to take an active role in their own recovery.
- To positively promote and support independence for people in the community.
- To actively contribute towards the evaluation of the service.
- To keep up-to-date documentation and take on all the necessary administrative duties.
- To report any areas of concern to the senior team, in line with Risk Management Policy.
- To actively engage in clinical and managerial supervisions.
- To undertake all the required training in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the manager.
- To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to Personality Disorder, peer support and mental health.
- To attend clinical, business and service development meetings as required.
- To assist in the promotion of the service through active liaison, meetings, and presentations with people who access services, staff and other organisations.
- To comply with all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines.
- To undertake any relevant duties as requested.
- To attend any relevant training as and when required.
Person Specifications
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential: Commitment to undertake training on THE SUN protocols and methods and obtain knowledge regarding mental health with specific focus on Personality Disorder (PD) and the recovery approach.
Desirable: Completed an accredited peer support training or coaching.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Essential:
- Personal lived experience of mental health issues.
- Previous experience of voluntary or paid employment.
- Knowledge of Personality Disorder, mental health issues and recovery approach.
- Willingness to positively share your own life experiences and personal experiences of mental ill health as part of the coaching role.
- Ability to guide others in taking charge of their own recovery.
Desirable:
- Paid or unpaid experience of support worker/training/teaching or coaching others.
- Good understanding of mental health services.
SKILLS
Essential:
- Ability to understand and create healthy boundaries.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to form peer relationships with people accessing services.
- Excellent communication and listening skills.
- Ability to be non-judgemental, demonstrate empathy, compassion and patience.
- Practical experience in facilitating / co-facilitating groups
- Ability to remain calm and respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance and unpredictability.
- Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice and equal-opportunities.
- Ability to work co-operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary) from different locations and to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis.
- Ability to engage effectively in supervision and to be able to raise concerns or personal difficulties which may affect the work being undertaken
ADDITIONAL
Essential:
- A full driving licence and insurance for business use.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic excel skills.
- Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service.
How to apply
To apply for one of these roles, click on the Apply Now link below and fill in our Online Application Form by 12 August 2020. Thank you!
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