Senior Peer Specialist

SOLENT MIND

27,895.95 per year (pro rata)

Southampton

Full-time

Listed today

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Peer Specialist
(Crisis Support)

Reports To:

Peer Support Team Leader

Direct Reports:

Peer Specialist

Location:

Southampton

Hours:

30 Hours per week – (4 shifts)
(Working evenings on a rota basis, 4pm to Midnight shifts, with

weekend/bank holiday working essential)

Salary Range:

£27,895.95 - £30,048.65 (£34,405 to £37,060 full-time equivalent) - Solent

Mind Crisis Services Band C (includes unsocial hours enhancements)

Purpose:

Peer Support is recognised as a key component of modern mental health and wellbeing provision. Peer
support roles are specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health problems and have
been through the recovery journey. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, peer support
staff and volunteers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. They will work in
support of Solent Mind’s vision, ‘‘We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem
gets both support and respect”.

The Lighthouse offers support to people experiencing or at risk of a crisis, delivered in partnership between
Solent Mind and Hampshire and IOW NHS Foundation Trust. As a well established Crisis service supporting
our community over the last 6 years, we are recruiting for a Senior Peer Specialist for our every expanding
team. The Lighthouse offers face to face support at our Southampton centres in Bitterne and Shirley
alongside a remote service using text and telephone, through an integrated team of peer and nursing
staff.

As a Senior Peer Support Specialist, you will be using your own mental health experiences to support,
encourage and inspire others. This work will include the following elements:

• Offering support, co-ordination and supervision to a small team of peer workers.

• Taking a lead role in the delivery of face to face support to people who are in distress, by providing a
safe space for them to talk and make sense of their experiences and sharing your own experiences in
an appropriate way where helpful.

• Contributing to the ongoing development of the service and partnership.

Principal Accountabilities:

• To support and supervise peer specialists within the service, including identifying support and training

needs and carrying out regular supervision sessions.

• To work with stakeholders to identify opportunities for the development of the service, to improve

service user experiences and outcomes.

• To work with the service manager and NHS colleagues to monitor and take a lead on day to day face
to face operations and adapt delivery according to localised needs and feedback from staff and service
users.

• To work directly with adults with mental health issues to offer support, validation and encouragement,

through a range of methods include telephone, text and face to face.

• To model and support peer workers to maintain their own wellbeing and balance this with the role

requirements.

• To work with the team lead and service manager to monitor day to day operations and staffing.

• To carry out annual appraisal of direct report/s in conjunction with the service manager.

• To work closely with colleagues from Solent Mind and Hampshire and IOW Foundation Trust to ensure

safety and appropriate support for people using the crisis support service.

• To support and encourage service users to identify their own strengths, triggers and life goals and

how they can be achieved.

• To work with service users to identify longer term support needs and potential barriers, including

referrals to and negotiation with other agencies where appropriate.

• To provide service users with tools and coping strategies to maintain their wellbeing.

• To share and use your lived experience in an appropriate way, to offer understanding, support and

hope to service users.

• Work with service users to plan group activities.

• Participate in service monitoring, evaluation and reflection in line with the project guidelines, and

support service users to take part.

• To ensure attendance at relevant meetings.

• To help adhere to and support the development of relevant procedures and guidelines as they relate

to peer support and the service

• To develop relationships and partnership working with key local organisations and providers.

• To work in partnership with others to identify and assess the nature, location and seriousness of the

particular risks.

• To recognise potential crisis situations and act responsively and responsibly to resolve the situation,

seeking assistance if required.

• To be aware of the potential for vulnerability and abuse amongst the service users/families and raise
any concerns with SHFT colleagues in line with safeguarding vulnerable adults and children Policies.

General

• Adhere to the aims, values, policies and procedures of Solent Mind, particularly safeguarding and

health & safety.

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This list is non exhaustive and other duties may be required to be undertaken to meet the needs of
Solent Mind

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Senior Peer Specialist
(Crisis Support)

Requirement

Qualifications/Education/Training:

Basic education including GCSE English and Maths or equivalent.

Relevant training in peer support and/or mental health.

Experience:

Have lived experience of mental health problems and using mental health services or own
recovery tools.

Experience of working with people with mental health needs, in a paid or voluntary capacity.

Essential
or
Desirable

Essential

Experience of providing support and/or guidance to people with mental health issues.

Essential

Experiencing of supervising and supporting staff.

An understanding of the role of peer support within mental health.

An understanding of key concepts of recovery.

An understanding of the key difficulties and challenges faced by people on their recovery
journey.

Experience of partnership/multi-disciplinary working.

Experience of helping people identify their own goals and the ability to support people in
pursuing these.

Experience/knowledge of the local services.

Experience of supporting people in crisis or severe emotional distress.

Essential

Desirable

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Service Delivery Knowledge/Skills/Competencies:

Demonstrate an understanding of the role and impact of peer support in people’s lives.

Essential

Demonstrate the knowledge, confidence and skills to work with people with a range of
needs.

Essential

Demonstrate the confidence and aptitude to calmly and effectively support people who are
distressed and/or in crisis.

Essential

Demonstrate an understanding of mental health crisis and suicide prevention.

Demonstrate the skills and understanding to support staff members with lived experience.

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to work successfully in partnership with other
agencies to achieve a common aim.

Essential

Demonstrate a knowledge of local support services, organisations and groups and the skills
and confidence to engage with them, including making and receiving referrals.

Essential

Skills to work with change and to support service users through the process.

Requirement

The ability to manage time and competing priorities and take responsibility for your own
work and accountabilities.

Good team working skills including listening, constructive feedback, respect and dignity and
skill sharing.

Excellent communication and organisational skills including written and I.T., including use of
Microsoft Office packages.

The ability to maintain and monitor accurate recording of attendance, progress and
outcomes.

Other:

Demonstrate skills in managing your own health and wellbeing.

Demonstrate a solid understanding of the importance of confidentiality, boundaries, risk
management and safeguarding.

Commitment to Solent Mind’s values.

Commitment to Solent Mind’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies.

Willingness to undergo a relevant DBS check if required.

Willingness to work flexible hours to meet project needs.

Ability and willingness to travel within the Southampton/Hampshire area.

Essential

Essential
or
Desirable

Essential

Date job originated: January 2022
Date job reviewed: February 2026
Reviewing Manager: Ellie Colman

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Senior Peer Specialist