Peer Support Worker Job Description and Person Specification Peer Support Worker - Service Hours 25 hours per week Leeds Mind Grade Contract Location Grade 2 Permanent Clarence House, Horsforth with travel and work also undertaken in West Leeds, HATCH, The Light, across Leeds with the possibility of home visits. Annual Leave 28 days a year plus 8 Statutory holidays, rising to 31 days after 3 years Pension 3% employer contribution, 5% employee contribution, enhanced by salary exchange Probationary Period Reporting to 6 months Line Manager DBS Check Level Enhanced Introduction We have faith and optimism in the people who access our services and so delivery is built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds West Yorkshire to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health difficulties. Our values of Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected and Resourceful are pivotal to the work we do. The Community Mental Health Transformation programme is an established approach to supporting adults and older adults with ongoing and complex mental health needs. This way of working enables more people to access the support they need, when they need it. Support is provided at a local level, with access to help and advice for a range of related issues such as housing, benefits, employment, and physical health all in one place. People with ongoing and complex mental health needs are sometimes referred to as having Severe Mental Illness (SMI). This includes a wide range of needs and complexities, which may also coexist with frailty, cognitive impairments, neurodiversity, or substance use. Visit this page to find out more about Community Mental Health Transformation The Peer Support delivery under CMH Transformation is a partnership with Leeds Mind, Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service and MESMAC, with Leeds Mind as the lead partner. The service sits under the Leeds Community Mental Health Provider Alliance, in partnership with Touchstone, BARCA & Northpoint. Belonging at Leeds Mind Leeds Mind is committed to creating an inclusive environment – equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do. We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, volunteers and people who access our services feel a sense of belonging at Leeds Mind that gives them the confidence to share their unique perspectives and experience. By creating an inclusive environment that fosters belonging, we aspire to attract colleagues and volunteers who offer diversity of experience and thought. We believe this will ultimately improve the service we provide as well as the employee and volunteer experience. To find out more about how we are developing this you can click here. Purpose of the role To promote and role model the peer support principles while building safe, trusting relationships with people using services based on non-judgmental listening and shared lived experience. To use your personal experiences of using mental health services – sometimes called ‘lived experience’ – in your work and to support people to make use of their own strengths and build connections with their peers and wider communities. The post holder will support a range of people from across Leeds, in a non-judgemental, person-centred way, while holding cultural sensitivity at the heart of their approach. Team Structure Peer Support Worker (Grade 2) Senior Peer Support Worker (Grade 4) Team Leader (Grade 4) Operations Manager (Grade 6) Operations Director (Grade 8) CEO (Grade 9) Main Tasks and Responsibilities • To provide non-directive, empowering support that helps individuals recognise their strengths and build meaningful connections with peers and communities. • To respect and value diverse experiences, supporting people to access resources and relationships within their chosen communities. • To support individuals in developing personal recovery or wellbeing plans, or offer informal guidance through active listening and sharing lived experience. • Maintaining and monitoring accurate recording of participation, progress and outcomes. • To facilitate some group work, workshops and courses with a focus around mental health. • To work as part of a wider mental health team along side the community mental health team (secondary care), medics and GPs (primary care) and other third sector organisations such as community wellbeing connectors. This will include attending multi- disciplinary team meetings and anchor days. • To actively connect with wider community support including grassroots organisations, linking people in with community assets to support their recovery long-term. • To support and supervise a volunteer at Leeds Mind. Organisation • Participate in 1:1s, performance and development, including your employing organisations compulsory training programme • Attend and participate in service/team meetings • Work within the framework of your employing organisations policies and procedures • Promote the values, behaviours and ethos of your employing organisation • Respond and report on safeguarding concerns in line with your employing organisations safeguarding policy and procedure • Undertake any other reasonable duties as and when required Person Specification Knowledge/ Qualifications Essential Desirable • Personal experience of • GCSE level English and Maths managing mental health and wellbeing (e.g. recovery or wellbeing plan). • Understanding of peer support principles, recovery concepts, and trauma-informed approaches. grade C or above • Mental health Awareness Training, Mental Health First Aid Training or other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health. • Awareness of local mental health services and the impact of stigma, discrimination, and social issues (including those affecting LGBT+ communities). • Knowledge of local community resources, including LGBT+ and culturally diverse grassroots organisations and charities. • Knowledge of the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults • Knowledge of Mental Health Legislation. Skills/Ability • Able to reflect on and • Ability to speak additional appropriately share lived experience to support others. languages. • Strong communication skills (verbal, written, digital) with active listening and a non- judgemental approach. • Organised and accurate in record-keeping; able to manage workload and maintain wellbeing. • Confident using digital tools and open to supervision and personal development. • Computer literate in software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, search engines, Outlook etc. Experience • Lived experience of emotional distress or mental health challenges and able to share these with others. • Personal experience using mental health services and applying self-management or recovery tools. • Experience supporting others in personal, voluntary, or professional settings. • Experience in peer support, mentoring, or co-production roles. • Background in public or third sector work, with an understanding of service environments. • Ability to build community connections and support diverse individuals in a culturally sensitive way. • Comfortable working in partnership with multidisciplinary teams and third sector organisations. • Understands the impact of social issues, including LGBT+ specific oppression, on mental health (essential for MESMCA post). Behavioural • Demonstrates emotional maturity, self-awareness, and readiness to take on a demanding and responsible role. • Flexible, reliable, and adaptable to changing needs and environments. • Compassionate, respectful, and professional in all interactions. • Ability to work as a team and contribute positively to service delivery. • Committed to Leeds Mind’s values: Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected, Resourceful. • Willing and able to travel across Leeds and accompany service users to community activities. • Flexible to work some evenings and weekends by arrangement. • Understanding of or willingness to learn about different cultures, faiths, and identities. • Enhanced DBS check required. Other Requirements