Peer Support Worker - MH Intensive Support team, Birkenhead

The Peer Support Worker will be integral to the team using an approach called Peer Support Open Dialogue. This is where decisions about mental health care are facilitated through 'network meetings'. These meetings focus on enabling a person, their family and networks (i.e whoever the person considers to be important in their life) to take more control and work together to support recovery.

The PSW role has been developed for people who have significant personal, lived experience of mental ill health and receiving care in a mental health service, either using services yourself or as a family member.

You must be willing to positively share your own life experiences, including your experience of mental health and assist people, through the Open Dialogue approach, to raise their aspirations and develop personal goals.

A Peer Support Worker may work alongside the mental health team colleagues or work without direct supervision. We are looking to appoint someone for 25 hour posts to be based at Birkenhead.

Flexible working options available., Through the provision of formalised peer support & practical assistance, a Peer Support Worker will model positive peer support & use parts of their recovery story to empower individuals to achieve their recovery hopes, dreams & goals

Establish supportive, empathetic, non-directive & respectful relationships, that allow individuals using mental health services to recognise their own strengths & abilities

Facilitate access to information & education that can inform an individual about their decisions.

Liaise with other professionals & individuals to plan delivery of care & support including voluntary & community organisations, education, Recovery College, work & leisure.

Establish & maintain effective & appropriate communication & working relationships that respects everyone's views, autonomy, & culture.

Establish supportive, empathic &respectful relationships.

Have excellent communication skills.

Be able to work on your own as well as with others.

We ask that you have a good general education or other relevant vocational training or knowledge gained through experience & be willing to contribute to the development & promotion of the peer support role.

Participate in comprehensive training in Peer Support and Open Dialogue, ongoing learning, development & network meetings with peer support colleagues.

It is important that you include in your application form your personal experience of mental health, use of mental health services and recovery. You will be shortlisted for interview in accordance with your description of how you meet the Essential Criteria.

CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care - including the provision of three GP surgeries.

Our aim is to help people to be the best they can be, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We were recently rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission with a Good rating overall.

We offer a variety of roles at all levels, so whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, CWP is the right employer for you.

CWP are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences.

To support this, we offer up to three weeks induction, dependent on role, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This programme welcomes you to CWP and provides you with information and training to support you in your role.

We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.