Wellbeing

Peer Support Group and Development Worker:

LGBT+ communities and young people (16-25)

Part time

Temporary to 31st March 2018 (may be extended subject to funding)

Key Terms and Conditions of Employment

Job Title:Peer Support Group and Development Worker

Service:Wellbeing service

Hours:30 hours per week including some evening work

Salary scale:NJC Scale 5 point 22 to 25

Salary Range:£20,661 to £22,658 (pro rata)

Location:Office base at Clarence House, 11 Clarence Rd
Horsforth, LS18 4LBwith delivery of groups at a range of venues across the city

Responsible to:Peer Support Team Leader

Annual leave:28 days + 8 statutory (pro rata)

Pension:Pension based on 3% contributory pension enhanced by salary exchange

Probationary Period:All posts are subject to a six month probationary period.

June 2017

Leeds Mind Job Description

Peer Support Group and Development Worker:

LGBT+ communities and young people

Leeds Mind is a progressive mental health organisation that supports people experiencing mental health difficulties to flourish. We are committed to developing services that are sensitive to individual need and of measurable benefit to the people who use them.

Background Information

Leeds Mind has recently secured grants from TheLeeds Fund, Mind and the Leeds CCG (Children’s and Maternity Services) for the development and delivery of our peer support provision for:

  • people aged 18+ from LGBT+ communities(Prism)
  • 16-25 year olds (THRU)

This funding will enable us work with these groups to develop and adapt our existing peer support model.

Purpose of the post

We have a vacancy for a Peer Support Group and DevelopmentWorker, who will be responsible for developing and facilitating a range of peer led groups for LGBT+ communities and young people. They will take a lead on the Prism project as well as working closely with the existing Group Workerleading on THRU,to ensure the successful delivery of both projects. They will also develop and deliver LGBT+ awareness training to community organisations and statutory service providers in Leeds, and mental health awareness training to LGBT+organisations and groups.

Main duties and responsibilities

Group work

1.Facilitation of Prism courses and workshops at locations across the city.

2.Facilitation of THRU courses, workshops and/or support groups when required.

3.Facilitation of courses, workshops and/or support groups on the core Leeds Mind Peer Support programme.

4.Collection of evaluation and monitoring information from the groups.

5.Attending, actively participating in and occasionally facilitating group supervision.

Development work

1.To identify new opportunities for delivery of Prism groups.

2.To liaise with existing organisation and groups to maximise the reach and impact of Prism groups.

3.To work with group members to design the course and workshop content.

4.To promote the projects to other organisations across Leeds.

5.To recruit, mentor and supervise Prism volunteers.

6.To maintain accurate records for the project.

Training

  1. Develop and deliver LGBT+ and mental health awareness training.
  2. Identify appropriate places to deliver the training.

Admin/record keeping

  1. Maintaining appropriate and accurate monitoring records.
  2. Monitoring and evaluating outcomes using a range of tools including questionnaires, case studies and direct contact with group members.
  3. Collecting, collating and returning monitoring data in a timely manner.
  4. Contributing to reports by providing output and outcome data, analysis and evaluation of the impact of your work, as required.

Training & Development

  1. Participating in performance management and development.
  2. Undertaking any staff development and training which is required to enable the job to be performed in the best possible way.

Organisation

  1. Working within the framework of Leeds Mind’s policies and procedures at all times.
  2. Working within Leeds Mind Health and Safety Policies to ensure a safe working environment for staff, volunteers and students.
  3. Promoting the values, ethos and philosophy of Leeds Mind at all times.
  4. Promoting possibilities for empowerment where possible.
  5. Ensuring information is dealt with in accordance with policies around Confidentiality, Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure.
  6. Any other duties commensurate to the effective running of the service.

It is our policy to make reasonable adjustments to enable workers with disabilities to undertake the above tasks.

June 2017

Person specification

Peer Support Group and Development Worker:

young people and LGBT+ communities

E = Essential D = Desirable

Training

  1. Training in peer support from a recognised body / organisationD

Experience

  1. Lived (own) experience of mental health difficulties E
  2. Identifying as LGBT+E
  3. Working with young peopleE
  4. Facilitation of peer-led groupsE
  5. Supervision and support of volunteers E
  6. Undertaking outreach and liaison work to promote a serviceE
  7. Developing and delivering trainingE
  8. Monitoring and evaluating a project’s effectivenessE

Skills and abilities

  1. Active listening skillsE
  2. Managing difficulties in groups E
  3. A calm and thoughtful approach to riskE
  4. A non-judgemental, person centred approach to group membersE
  5. Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills E
  6. Ability to identify project development opportunitiesE
  7. Good administration, record keeping and IT skillsE
  8. Working with people from diverse communities and with differing needsE
  9. Working effectively both within a team and independentlyE
  10. Fluency in languages other than EnglishD

Knowledge and understanding of:

  1. The value of peer support as practiced in groups E
  2. Service development and what can and can’t be offered and deliveredE
  3. The relationship between gender and/or sexual orientation and mental health E
  4. The challenges faced by young people in accessing mental health servicesE
  5. Your own support needsE
  6. Anti-discriminatory practice and promoting diversityE

Other/personal attributes

  1. A flexible and positive approach; open to new ideas and change E
  2. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusionE
  3. Resourceful, creative, innovative and able to use own initiativeE
  4. Able to motivate and encourage others with mental health difficulties E

June 2017

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