Peer Support Volunteer

Peer Support Volunteer

Posted for Havant and East Hants Mind

Posted by Volunteer First

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The Mindful Connections peer support group meets weekly to bring together people with similar mental health experiences to connect and support each other. Led by a Peer Support Worker with their own mental health lived experience, the sessions offer a calm and welcoming space where people can slow down, get creative, and connectthrough gentle conversation whilst engaging in weekly mindfulness, journaling or art & crafts activities 

The roleof Peer Support Volunteer will support the Peer Support Worker with the smooth running of the group and activities.As a Peer Support volunteer, you will be using your own experiences and understanding to support, encourage and inspire other people experiencing a mental health issueand to help raise their confidence, self-belief and aid long term recovery. 

Main Responsibilities: 

• Assist the Peer Support Worker torun group sessions in line with the needs of the participants. 
• Provide a warm welcome to anyone attending the group and promote inclusivity by breaking down barriers to participation. 
• Support and encourage participants to develop coping strategies and mechanisms and to identify their own strengths and life goals and how to take steps to achieve them. 
• Act as a role model for participants and promote recovery through your own personal experiences and life journey. 
• Recognise, record and escalate safeguarding concerns immediately in line with Havant and East Hants Mind policy and local multi-agency procedures; seek advice from the Team Leader/Designated Safeguarding Leads as required.  
• Assist with room set-up and report and resolve any hazards/issues.  

What skills do I need?

Requirements: 

• Friendly and approachable. 
• Skills in managing your own health and wellbeing. 
• Ability to understand and communicate effectively. 
• To be confident in working with a group and facilitation skills. 
• An enhanced DBS will be required and the cost will be covered by us. 
• To have own transport or be able to get to venues. 
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently. 
• Enthusiasm for supporting Havant and East Hants Mind’s purpose and objectives. 
• Demonstrate dependability on agreed role commitments, providing sufficient notice and open communication regarding any changes (e.g. your availability). 
• That you are at a point in your own mental health journey to feel comfortable and in a position to safely support others and without impact to your own mental health.

What’s in it for you?  

• Develop confidence, new skillsand work experience in a friendly and supportive team.  
• The opportunity to play a valuable role in helping to inspire and support people with mental health issues, and to help break the associated stigma and isolation 
• We will offer a clearly defined voluntary role within the organisation with volunteer support, communication and feedback opportunities. 
• We will provide induction, information and training to enable you to carry out your role effectively.  

The opportunity for personal development both within the role and through additional training opportunities. 

Why we want you:  

• To support Havant and East Mind in continuing to providehigh-quality mental health services to our local community. 
• To enable us to provide consistency and reliability for our service users in a supportive and welcoming environment. 
• We believe that those with first-hand experience are best placed to understand and empathise with people who are currently experiencing a mental health issue, and that by working with people who have their own lived experience, we can inspire participants and show that there is life after a mental health diagnosis. 
• We want to recognise and celebrate your recovery journey and use your experiences to help others and develop our own understanding of the needs of participants. 

Additional Notes: 

This role requires two references in line with our safer recruitment policy as well as an enhanced DBS check which we will provide. Due to the training, we ask for a minimum commitment of 6 months for this volunteering role and a weekly commitment.