Peer Supporter Volunteer

Role:  Peer Supporter Volunteer

Project:  Welcome To All, Displaced People Project

Supervisor:  Judith Moore

Location:  Somerset wide

Hours required:  We run multiple groups across the county on/at different days/time. Specifics to be discussed at interview stage.

Main Purpose of role:

 As a Peer Support Volunteer, you will be working with individuals who require support from someone who understands. This role will be assisting staff in a Peer Support Group or assisting a client to attend another local activity group e.g ESOL (English) classes or Women’s conversation groups.

Bringing your lived experience, you will have the desire to support and encourage others on their individual recovery journeys. You will be able to clearly draw upon and share, your own experiences of mental health challenge and services in order to inspire, model, and inform others in similar situations and support them in finding their own path to recovery.

We are running Peer Support Activity Groups in the Welcome Hubs and providing a 1:1 mental health service that will support individuals with their emotional wellbeing but also with practical challenges such as joining groups and social opportunities, exploring their interests and finding ways to make those accessible for them. This may include helping them to join other support groups in their community. We want everyone to feel welcome and supported by the group whatever their first language or situation.

Part of the role also involves working collaboratively with and building positive professional relationships with various agencies and services in Somerset.

Key Tasks:

In this role you will be:

• Offering listening, assistance and encouragement to Clients attending the Peer Support Groups, helping them to take part and meet other group members.
• Providing practical information and signposting to other agencies as appropriate
• Helping to access community facilities and resources
• Working and recording information in line with Mind in Somerset procedures 
•  Role modelling and providing positive examples of hope and possibility where appropriate
• Showing understanding, acceptance and empathy based on shared experience, using your active listening skills.
• On occasions to help with putting information packs /Publicity resources together 
• Listening, sharing and valuing the process of those you work with
• Supporting individuals to develop ideas for coping strategies and problem-solving skills
• Helping individuals identify their own hopes, dreams and aspirations and to explore opportunities and ways to realise them

Person Specification

We are looking for Peer Supporters who have:

• personal experience of recovery from mental health challenge
• the desire and ability to share personal experiences of mental health and recovery to support, empower and bring hope to others
• the confidence to work with individuals
• the capacity to manage their own mental health needs
• an ability to empathise with others and form trusting relationships
• a non-judgemental approach and an ability to maintain appropriate boundaries
• good listening and communication skills, reliability and good time keeping
• an ability to take responsibility for your own self-care and willingness to utilise the support and supervision provided by the WTA Displaced People Project Coordinator

Values:

Mind in Somerset have the expectation that all who Volunteer for us always live our organisation's values at all times. We ask that you be:

·       Collaborative – work better together

·       Respectful – treat people how we like to be treated

·       Accountable – are responsible for own actions

·       Inclusive – respect everyone’s uniqueness

·       Compassionate – empathise, care and support

Equal Opportunities: 

Mind in Somerset is fully committed to the principle of equal opportunities in employment and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination, direct or indirect. All employees and volunteers are expected to promote and work fully in line with the company’s Equal Opportunities Policy. Mind in Somerset is a Disability Confident employer and welcomes applications from disabled people. If disabled applicants meet the minimum criteria for the job, they can request and will be offered a guaranteed interview. Should applicants require reasonable adjustment support for the interview/Volunteer meeting, please contact Mind in Somerset.

Criminal Record:

Due to the safeguarding nature of our work, the successful candidate/volunteer may need to complete a fully funded disclosure and barring check (DBS) prior to starting with us. A criminal record will not automatically mean withdrawal of an offer, however, to safeguard our staff, volunteers and clients, further discussion or investigation may be required so that an informed decision can be made as to your suitability to work with vulnerable people to ensure that we are not putting service users at risk. For volunteers there are occasions when a DBS will not be required; however, a risk assessment will be conducted and the form completed and placed within the Volunteer’s electronic file.

All new volunteers will be required to complete 5 essential online training courses as part of their induction into the Charity. Dependant on the type of volunteer role undertaken, additional training may be also required to meet service expectations.