Peer Engagement Lead - Somerset, United Kingdom - Chard Watch CIC

Description

2 x Peer Engagement Leads

An amazing opportunity to gain experience working within the Open

Mental Health Network.

(Each position is to cover two of the OMH locality areas of South

Somerset, Taunton & West Somerset, Mendip and Sedgemoor)
Hours 30 hours a week over 5 days (6 hours per day)

Base Home based working with a requirement to work from locality offices or hubs and WATCH office or project hub and to travel anywhere in Somerset for work meetings, training etc.

Remuneration Starting salary £25,350 per annum pro-rata.
Benefits Pro rata: 31 days annual leave including 8 days bank holiday.
Access to a pension scheme
Personal development training and external supervision as agreed with your line manager


What we're about.
We are a local charity with big ambitions to end isolation for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

We know how connecting people with shared experiences of mental health challenges can empower each of us, which is why peer support is at the heart of everything we do.

It all started when our CEO, with a small peer group in 2007 came together to support one another in navigating challenging times with their mental health.

The benefits of being amongst people who understood without explaining were so profound that this small group went on to form a community project now officially known as Chard Watch.

Fast forward 15 years and the Watch is now over 30 team members strong, delivering a wide range of peer development courses across the whole of
Somerset for a variety of Organisations. Watch is the peer lead organisation for Open Mental
Health (OMH) and now are developing a training team with tutors and adults with lived experience

That's where you come in

Main Duties & Responsibilities


Background:

Chard Watch is part of the Open Mental Health (OMH) network, which is a collection of organisations offering mental health support in Somerset.

As part of this network, we have been awarded funding to develop an innovative peer support service that prepares individuals with lived experience of mental ill-health to become Peer Support Volunteers.

These volunteers connect with individuals wanting help, supporting them to access services within the OMH network. With more peer support volunteers, we can reach more people sooner and find the right help when it matters.

If you are passionate about mental health like we are, we'd love to hear from you


Role and responsibilities
This is an exciting role with the opportunity to develop new skills. We don't expect you to have experience in every area of this role, but if you are great with people, have peer support experience, love variety, and would like the chance to develop, read on


Peer Development

• Develop an understanding of and engage peer groups in the local area.
• Engage people with mental health lived experiences in the Peer Volunteer Pathway.
• Assist in recruiting target numbers of people onto the pathway.
• Raise awareness of the peer pathway with partner organisations

Raise awareness of the Peer Volunteer approach in the community

• Act as the main point of contact for peer support pathway queries.
• Promote Chard Watch as a peer support specialist within our localities.
• Attend meetings and events across the OMH network.
• Develop relationships with key volunteer organisations and services to channel OMH vacancies and promote workshops.

Pastoral supervision and support

• Provide pastoral support to volunteers supporting their wellbeing and development
• Through 11 phone calls, nurture mental health peers to become Peer Volunteers.
• Support emerging peer groups to become independent groups with the Peer Group

Worker


Assist with Training and Group Facilitation

• Support the Lead Tutor in facilitating training/workshops.
• Help to share best practices amongst peers by taking the lead on activities such as; facilitating online forums, and onetoone coaching.
• Work with the team to contribute to continual improvement of packages provided

General tasks

• Act on the 'No wrong door' approach of OMH
• Refer individuals to opportunities within the OMH to their wellbeing plan
• Work with OMH organisations and support the implementation of peer group strategy
• Assist with OMH projects that are Peer Support related when needed.
• Liaise with our IT lead to ensure website info reflects our latest service offering.
• Be able to lead and develop new Peer Supportrelated initiatives with OMH as requested.
• Gain a good understanding of Watch, ensuring cohesion in the organisation.
• Undertake any other duties deemed reasonable by the Manager/Supervisor in order to work together towards our mission and vision.
• Experience/knowledge of mental health and an understanding of working with vulnerable adults.
• Good awareness and understanding of confidentiality, maintaining boundaries, safeguarding and H&S risk assessments.
• Recognised experience/knowledge of P