Peer Support Worker

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Peer Support Worker to play a pivotal role in our Harrow MHCA Service.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role involves managing a caseload of service users who require early intervention or preventative support for their mental health, helping them to achieve positive outcomes and greater independence. You will work collaboratively with individuals to clearly explain the service model, pathways, aims and objectives, enabling them to actively participate in and co-produce their support plans. The role includes delivering group activities and programmes, developing peer support networks and community-based opportunities, and encouraging service users to engage with activities that support their goals and aspirations. You will empower individuals to effectively engage with a range of professionals and services, including community mental health teams, social workers, housing providers, healthcare professionals and Job Centre Plus. Working as part of a flexible and supportive team, you will contribute to ensuring service coverage and the achievement of contractual requirements. You will actively monitor the health, wellbeing, safety and security of the service and its users, responding promptly to any concerns in line with organisational procedures. Strong administration skills are essential, as you will be responsible for maintaining accurate and confidential records, completing referrals, assessments and reviews in a timely manner, and supporting the wider service through day-to-day operational tasks. You will also participate in regular supervision, appraisals and professional development activities, demonstrating a proactive and collaborative approach to delivering high-quality support.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Candidates will bring lived experience of mental health care pathways, such as emergency department attendance, acute admissions or engagement with community mental health services, alongside a strong understanding of the challenges faced by people with a range of mental health conditions. You will be able to communicate effectively and provide support with dignity, empathy and respect, building and maintaining trusting relationships with service users, carers, colleagues and professional partners. Strong listening and verbal communication skills are essential, enabling you to engage confidently with individuals who may be experiencing crisis, as well as with statutory and voluntary agencies both in person and over the telephone. You will have knowledge of recovery-focused approaches, mental health and wellbeing support services available within the local community, and the ability to assess needs, risks and aspirations while identifying appropriate support and signposting opportunities. The role requires excellent organisational, prioritisation and time management skills, with the ability to work dynamically and remain effective under pressure. Good IT skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook and internet-based systems, are important, as are strong literacy and numeracy skills to produce accurate and professional written correspondence. A sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities is essential, together with the ability to respond appropriately to concerns. You will be a collaborative team player who can work independently when required, support the induction of new peer staff and volunteers, and build positive partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for service users.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.