Peer Support Worker

Job Introduction

Do you have personal experience of street homelessness, substance use or mental health challenges and a passion for supporting others? If so, this is a fantastic opportunity to help shape an innovative new service in Staffordshire, designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness (including street homelessness) to engage with essential services such as mental health support, healthcare, substance misuse services and long-term housing options.

You will be a part of a team whose aim is to help people remain safe, access, and remain engaged with treatment and recovery initiatives. Fundamental to the success of the model is the employment of individuals with lived experience. You will be shaping service delivery and providing meaningful differences in everything that you do.

The role will help build a continually developing community, not just a service, with true power-sharing at its core.

The service has a dual focus:

• Proactive outreach support to people experiencing street homelessness
• Provision of a bespoke 6 bedroomed accommodation service for people with experience of homelessness and complex needs which may include mental health, substance misuse and physical health needs.

At Turning Point, we support people across the UK with mental health issues. You will make a real difference to their lives as you work closely with them to help them achieve their potential. Turning Point has several well-established services within Staffordshire. You will form part of a wider supportive team within the region and there is the opportunity for growth in the future.

Role Responsibility

Your role will focus on initiating, communicating and developing a vision of genuine co-production; this will be achieved through understanding service needs, establishing values and approaches within the service, sharing feedback and implementing necessary changes.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will be expected to engage with the guests who reside at the service on a daily basis, keeping client records up to date, sharing concerns with the wider team to ensure continuity in service delivery, and contributing to fortnightly formulation meetings. You will provide formalized peer support and practical assistance to individuals who access the service, enabling them to regain control of their lives and achieve the outcomes that resonate with their values.

No matter how complex a person’s needs, whether they’ve tried support services or not in the past, we can provide person-centered support that helps individuals decrease isolation, increase independence, learn new skills, integrate into the community, and make the most of every new opportunity.

What these opportunities look like will depend on individual need and assessment and your support will be guided by the recommendations made at assessment in the service. Your place of work may vary, and you may have to work out of normal working hours during set up.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have relevant lived experience through directly using health and social care services. Our ideal candidate will have the Level 2 award in Peer Mentoring or can demonstrate experience of providing face to face support & guidance to diverse populations and have extensive history or knowledge of homelessness and rough sleeping.

You will be motivated to empower people who often don’t have the opportunity for their voice to be heard and be able to demonstrate passion, energy, enthusiasm, and empathy. You must be resourceful and innovative in your approach to working with individuals experiencing homelessness, and be confident and resilient, with the ability to work with and lead on aspects of the service development.

Having good written and verbal communication skills and knowledge of IT and digital systems is important as well.

About us

As a leading health and social care provider with more than 300 locations across England, we take real pride in the services we offer. We run all of our services on a not-for-profit basis; instead, we invest every penny back into our services and people. We never stop believing in change for the better, and we work constantly to improve the lives of the people we support.

Our people bring our vision to life. So, if you are enthusiastic, motivated and committed to support others to fulfilling their potential, here at Turning Point, we don’t just offer you a job – we offer you a career.

What benefits will I receive?

We know reward looks different to each person and so whether its ways to make your money go further, a culture supporting recognition and celebration, or opportunities to boost your career – we want to support you in every way we can with our total reward package that includes:

• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities so we can invest in your future – we’re proud to have a silver accreditation from Investors in People.Choose from our range of courses to gain recognised qualifications
• 28 days’ paid holiday a year, increasing with each year of service up to 30 days. Plus the option to buy or sell additional holidays and spread the cost
• An exclusive discounts hub for TP colleagues, to help make your money go further – including high street shopping, pubs and restaurants, mobile phones, gym memberships, and much more. You’ll also have access to the Blue Light Card, for even more discounts and savings!
• Flexible working solutions to support your work-life balance
• Life Assurance of up to 3x annual salary and a competitive Pension Scheme to support your savings and security
• Access to our Rightsteps Therapy service – free, confidential telephone based counselling sessions, access to an online wellbeing platform, and a Financial Education hub to support your total wellbeing
• A 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme including a Digital GP, legal advice and more – all free to you and your immediate family
• Recognition awards to recognise colleagues’ inspirational work and dedication, as well as Long Service bonuses to celebrate your commitment to us
• Flexible benefit options including a Cycle to Work scheme and interest-free Season Ticket Loans
• A £300 bonus if you successfully refer a friend as a new colleague through our Refer a Friend scheme, as a thanks from us!

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Turning Point

Attached documents

• MH - Peer Support Worker JD Stafford.pdf