WATCH is a member led community group that was set up to reach out and engage with adults who are socially isolated, disadvantaged and facing barriers within their community. The members consist of adults from 18 upwards (no upper age limit) and we cover Mental Health, Adults recovering from Alcohol and Substance use, Ethnic Minority Groups, Disabled, Elderly, and the Homeless etc.
Chard WATCH is a Community Interest Company and has a cooperative membership, so the focus is on the members and peer support being central to the vision of the organisation.
| Main Duties & Responsibilities |
| Background: A new approach to supporting people affected by mental illness in Somerset, so they have the right support at the right time. There is the opportunity to transform treatment and support. Voluntary and community organisations will be working in partnership – together with each other, and together with the NHS and council – so that people experience joined up help in their community that meets their needs. Known as Open Mental Health Network (OMH). Through transformation partnership funding, Chard WATCH CIC is to provide specialist services in Peer Support, countywide peer model expertise, training, coaching, peer volunteer coordination and peer group development connecting mental health peers together and to groups. A team of four Peer Support Connections Coordinators who work within each OMH locality. Each PSCC will also have a county wide brief and act as the lead PSCC for specific responsibilities such as; Suicide prevention working group, Peer group steering group. The purpose and tasks of the role are: · To provide high level Peer Support development services and advice that enhances the services offered to aid the vision of mental health wellbeing. · To connect peer groups, support groups/activities and peer relationships with the goal of providing support by building peer relationships that improve the experience and quality of support for service users, carers and families · Support the Open Mental Health Network locality teams to connect individuals to new/existing peer groups, engaging with the local community, voluntary sector groups and organisations or volunteer peer workers to support ways in maintaining wellbeing · To be the main point of contact for the locality teams to provide advice and guidance about Peer Support, the peer volunteer role and the training packages on offer for all locality alliance peer volunteers, experts by experience and other Peer Support workers. · Attend relevant Network locality hub team meetings to engage with the hub activities where peer volunteers are required, working through the volunteer level of responsibility and risk assessing the role for the individual volunteer. · Supervise the Network Peer volunteers via monthly contact, group contact face to face at the locality hub or activity base or zoom meeting. Supervision can be provided 1-1 via monthly phone calls. · Support the establishment of new peer relationships, new small peer groups, providing advice and guidance especially where there is a risk of the relationship or group breaking. · Provide 1-1 bespoke support/mentoring, for groups to develop and build on core structures that will enable them to be independent, self-managing and sustainable. · Provide online forum services for groups where there is a need for ongoing communications around the group being independent and resilient. This would complement the one-off training workshops. · For the peer groups that can link into the development and sustainability training package provide a pre and post training review of group/individual needs · Provide support for individuals/groups when peer relationships are at risk of breaking down due to lack of boundaries, inappropriate peer behaviours or where peer model/values are not fully understood. · On request by Peer group to act as mediator for service users in groups, where complex emotional mental health concerns demand specific expertise to handle concern · Assist with developing relationships with external agencies and mental health networking groups · Link groups and individual into community training activities, such as self-management & peer support programme provided by SMWS, Somerset Wellbeing Community College, SSL- Community Learning and educational courses etc. Raise awareness and understanding of Mental Health within local community groups and support them where needed to accommodate people with mental health needs, enabling equality of participation. What skills, knowledge and experience do I need? · A good level of understanding of mental health and the needs of people and their family/ carers – in Somerset · Recognised and extensive experience of peer support, peer relationships, peer groups and community activity-based run groups · Knowledge of safeguarding, boundaries and safe working practices · Experience of collaborative working and engaging people in the community · Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as good IT skills · Working as part of wide and disparate team · Facilitator/Tutor experience in peer support, self-management and innate wellbeing · Experience of recruiting, managing and supervising volunteers · Knowledge of the health and care system in Somerset · Training and Education provider experience Health & Safety · To comply with information sharing procedures and legislation · To maintain confidentiality and to ensure that professional boundaries are observed when working with service users, staff and external bodies. · To have current knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessments and lone working Personal Development activities include: 1. To attend relevant meetings or training. 2. To take part in monthly group supervision. 3. To take part in personal supervision if/when required. 4. To be an ambassador for WATCH, working in partnership with other agencies to challenge stigmas about mental health. |
| Important Note This post is to commence as soon as possible after March 2021. To apply for this position please complete the application form and return to Leonie Girling leoniegirling@watchproject.org.uk no later than deadline of 18th March. Interviews will be arranged to take place week commencing 22nd March. If you wish to discuss anything about the role you would like to apply for, before making the application please contact Ruth Crooks ruthcrooks@watchproject.org.uk |
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