We are looking for compassionate, empathetic people with lived experience of mental distress with an interest in supporting others struggling with their wellbeing.
As a Peer Supporter, your lived experience of mental distress will be at the heart of your role. You will use your own experiences to empathise with and support people who are experiencing mental distress, sharing your lived experience in an appropriate way to express empathy and hopefulness. This will involve sharing skills and techniques to help people identify their own self-management tools and ways of moving forward with life.
With guidance from your Peer Support Co-Ordinator, you will support people in a way that is led by them and suits your strengths and skills. All of what you do will draw on your lived experience in an appropriate way and this will include:
- Co-facilitating our Open Peer Support Group on Tuesdays at 11:30am – 12:45pm at our Peckham office
- Supporting clients to develop coping strategies and their own goals to improve wellbeing
- Facilitating open safe and non-judgemental discussions on topics such as stress management, relationships, sleep, anxiety, depression and more
- Identifying local services and activities that someone might want to access, researching relevant resources to bring to the group
- Supporting less experienced peer supporters in their role
- Attending and contributing to regular supervision and Peer Supporter team meetings
- Working alongside service users, others peers and staff to develop peer support in the services
We welcome your suggestions of ways to provide peer support. The important thing is that you are drawing on your own experiences of mental distress and/or using mental health services to support others. Training and support will be provided to help you in your role as a Peer Supporter.
You will be part of a friendly and experienced team of Support Workers and Coordinators. You will have regular supervision, opportunity for social events and development opportunties.
As a peer support volunteer you will have access to regular supervision and ongoing support and guidance from your Peer Support Co-Ordinator. You can go to them with any issues or questions about peer support and you will work with them to develop and use your skills as a Peer Support Volunteer in a way that benefits you and the people you are supporting.
This role is a good opportunity to gain experience supporting people in a group setting, build confidence and learn new skills all the while giving back to the community. There will be training and on-going learning and development opportunities available to you through on-line and/or classroom learning.
Any reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred within your role will be reimbursed.
- Personal experience of mental distress and/or using mental health services, past or present
- Ability to share personal experiences of mental distress and coping strategies as/when appropriate
- Passionate about empowering people experiencing mental distress, peer support and service user leaderships.
- Good ability to communicate and engage in a respectful and non-judgemental way with a range of people who use mental health services
- Excellent active listening and interpersonal skills; empathy, kindness and patience
- Ability to problem solve, be proactive and resourceful when supporting people
- Ability to deal with all enquiries tactfully, sensitively and on a confidential basis
- A willingness to engage in learning and development and an ability to self-reflect.
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