RAMH
Role Title:Social ReportingPeer Volunteer
Responsible to:ACUMEN – Rachel McLean Development Manager
Location:East Renfrewshire &Renfrewshire
Hours:A minimum of 2/3 hours weekly
Role type: Temporary opportunity lasting maximum 1 year
Expenses:Will be reimbursed as and when required
Main Purpose of Role:
As a self-management social reporting peer volunteer, you would be using your lived experience of self-managing mental health to promote the development of knowledge and skills in self-management. You will be responsible for supporting ACUMEN in promoting the use of self-management with service users, promoting and attending self-management events andin a variety of mediums including Community radio.
This role will require the peer volunteer to attend and report on eventsorganised by ACUMEN network. This role will also involve being out in the community to liaise with service users which will be mutually agreed with supervisor.
ACUMEN
ACUMEN is a service user and carer lead network which operates across Argyll & Bute, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire. It aims to bring service users and carers together to support development and positive change in mental health services.
Roles and responsibilities:
As a Peer Volunteer, you would be responsible for:
- Being enthusiastic, motivating and interacting socially with service users, carers and the public.
- Meeting with the ACUMEN team regularly to help achieve aims and goals for events and communication with service users and the public.
- Attend ACUMEN events to act as a self-management champion.
- Produce material which enhances knowledge and skills in self-management to present in a variety of mediums such as writing for newsletters and websites, and public speaking.
- Sharing when appropriate your positive experience of managing Mental Health issues, being enthusiastic, motivating and interacting positively with the service users, carers and the public.
- Developing knowledge and understanding of mental health issues to reduce stigma and promote self-management.
- Supporting service users to develop their own positive Mental Health strategies.
Skills required
The main skills we require from our Peer Volunteer are clearly demonstrated enthusiasm, and an awareness of challenges that people who experience poor mental health may face when trying new experiences.
Other skills requirements:
- Friendly, welcoming and empowering with good communication skills
- Observant and sensitive to the needs of service users
- An ability and willingness to share your positive skills in managing your Mental Health
- Reliable, punctual, honest and well organised
- Able to work independently but with guidance and support
- Confident at speaking in front of groupsabout your experience of self-managing mental health.
- Confident in writing about your ideas about and experience of positively managing mental health
- Comfortable to travel on public transport
- Able to support and plan activities in advance with the ACUMEN team.
Level of commitment
- A minimum of 2/3 hours per week with opportunity to attend venues at convenient times
- Occasional meetings and training and supervision
- Attendance at peer volunteer meetings
- The ACUMEN social reportingpeer volunteer role will be reviewed after a period of 6 months, from start dateand role will exceed no longer than a 12 month period
Peer Volunteer support
The Peer volunteer can expect to be supported by a network of support including
- An identified peer volunteer supervisor
- Support and training with ACUMEN Team
- Peer volunteer group support
- Reimbursement of volunteer expenses
Training
- Appropriate training, including induction, will be given, as well as “on the job” training and feedback
- SRN Peer 2 Peer Training
- RAMH Core Training
This volunteer opportunity will offer the chance for the individual to improve and develop their own skills and increase employability skills.Peer Support also has benefits for peer support workers themselves, increasing levels of self-esteem, confidence and positive feelings that they are doing good.
Social Reporting Peer Volunteer
ACUMEN
Person Specification
EXPERIENCE
Understand the power of sharing experiences. /
Working/Voluntary experience /
Understanding of Experts by Experience /
Awareness of self-management resources /
SKILLS
Ability to share personal experiences of mental health and recovery in a way that supports ,empowers and brings hope /
Good listening, written and verbal communication /
Maintain appropriate boundaries /
Ability to form trusting relationships /
Computer/ IT skills /
Ability to work as part of a team /
Taking initiative to develop ideas /
VALUES AND ATTITUDES
Believe in possibility of recovery for all /
Commitment to peer principles and values /
Belief that individuals have internal resources to lead their own recovery /