Perinatal Peer Support Worker

Perinatal Peer Support Worker

Band 3

Main area


Perinatal Mental Health


Grade


Band 3


Contract


Permanent


Hours

• Full time


• Job share


• Flexible working


• Home or remote working

37.5 hours per week


Job ref


201-22-1008






Site


Room F028 Truro Health Park


Town


Truro


Salary


£20,330 - £21,777 Per annum


Salary period


Yearly


Closing


10/08/2022 23:59

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

Great Care
We will deliver safe, high quality, consistent and personalised care based on best practice. We are working to be a responsive organisation that listens and learns.

Great Organisation
We work to be a green organisation, and our sustainability plan will deliver NHS net zero targets. We will support quality care, research and innovation. All our work will be underpinned by clear and transparent principles and systems.

Great People
We will work together with our staff to create an organisation that supports our collective health and wellbeing. We will attract, retain and develop great people, and embed a caring, open, inclusive and restorative just culture that supports us to deliver quality care.

Great Partner
With our partners we will deliver health care that improves people’s quality of life, prevents ill health and reduces inequalities. We will spend our money wisely to achieve high quality outcomes that matter to local people.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

The successful applicant will be an NHS employee and may therefore have contact with vulnerable service users. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff, service users and those attending our sites. Unless exempt, we encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.

Job overview

Have you had lived experience of perinatal mental ill health and services? Would you like to support other women who are currently experiencing perinatal mental health issues? If so, we would like to hear from you as we have an exciting opportunity to become a perinatal peer support worker in the perinatal mental health team.

Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. The role of Peer Support Worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for those who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing your wisdom from your own experiences you will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

As an integral and highly valued member of the Perinatal Mental Health Team you provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process.

The postholder will be required to travel to various locations across the County and visit women in their homes. Therefore a UK drivers licence and access to a vehicle which could be used for work purposes would be required to fulfil the role. This job is a full time position although job share may be considered.

If this is you then please do apply – we would love to meet you.

Main duties of the job

Peer support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. The role of Peer Support Worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, peer support workers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

As an integral and highly valued member of the Perinatal Mental Health Team the PSW will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process.

The PSW will engage with perinatal mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting service users to gain and maintain independence in the community.

PSW will work as part of the specialist community perinatal mental health team. The Perinatal team will take the lead in providing solutions to more complex non-routine issues arising and amend procedures in support of the PSW. The PSW will work under the supervision of the Perinatal Mental health team and collaboration of other key stakeholders involved in the delivery of care in the community.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Just over 532,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

• Required to be educated to NVQ level 3 or similar level of qualification.


• English language literacy and numeracy skills to the standard necessary to provide clear understandable records on computerised system (RiO) and fulfil job description.


• Completion of own Health and Wellbeing/Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and/or Advanced Statement.

Desirable criteria

• Skill or ability which will contribute to the skill mix of the Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Team (for instance: arts, sports, hobby skill)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Personal lived experience of perinatal mental health problems


• Experience of recovering a meaningful life


• Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role


• Experience of supporting others


• Experience of using range of self-management approaches


• Experience of working flexibly and creatively

Desirable criteria

• Psychiatric hospital admission


• Experience of team working


• Experience of working in the public sector

Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to relate to a wide range of people, with excellent interpersonal skills


• Basic key board skills and the ability to learn IT and literacy skills to the standard required for basic clinical record keeping.


• Able to manage conflict and to help others do so


• Able to relate to a wide range of people, with excellent interpersonal skills


• Able to take personal responsibility for own healthcare, willing to discuss, review and seek support appropriately


• Self-awareness and ability to question self and effectively reflect on practice


• Able to manage stress and to plan and prioritise workload


• Able to use own lived experience to the benefit of those using the service and the advancement of the team


• Able to acknowledge service users' unique experience and to support them finding their own recovery path


• Able to use supervision and guidance from colleagues appropriately


• Ability to effectively appraise where they need to seek advice and guidance and willingness and ability to do so.


• Capability to travel as appropriate in working with service users

Qualities

Essential criteria

• Range of life experiences

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management


• Protected CPD time for registered staff


• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff


• Leadership and Management development programmes


• Coaching and mentoring opportunities


• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills


• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff


• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff


• Individual professional development programmes

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health


• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff


• Free DBS checks where required


• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions


• NHS Pension Scheme


• Salary sacrifice car scheme


• Cycle to work scheme


• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

We are committed to diversity and equality of employment including the employment of current and former service users.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.