Peer Practitioner - WELL Aberdeen - Full Time Position

Job description

Job Title: Peer Practitioner

Responsible To: Senior Practitioner

Salary: £21,358 - £22,509 per annum pro rata (£10.95 - £11.54/hr equivalent)

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Working on a rota basis to support seven day a week delivery, with out of hours support until 02:00 Thursday to Sunday. This will be reviewed and will be flexible according to service need.

Location: Aberdeen City. Operational settings will include community hubs, GP Practices, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Police Scotland custody suite at Kittybrewster.

Closing Date: Monday 31st January at 19:00

Interview Date: Monday 7th February via video conferencing

Special Conditions: Driving license and access to car desirable. Will involve lone working and local travel. Appointment dependent on successful completion of Police Scotland vetting procedures.

We value our people above all else. We want Penumbra to be a great place to work, where people achieve their full potential.

Our people tell us that their job gives them a strong sense of personal satisfaction, that they are treated with respect and are proud to work for Penumbra.

Our mission

We will deliver exceptional mental health and wellbeing support and activities, guided by people’s own lived experience, their recovery journeys and their hopes and aspirations.

Our values

• Courage
• Compassion
• Curiosity
• Collaboration

Job summary

If you are looking for a rewarding career and to work within an inspirational team that really does make a difference, this is your opportunity to join us as we continue to grow and develop an innovative new service in Aberdeen City.

Aberdeen WELL (Well Empowered Linked Locally) will provide direct access to a community-based team of Practitioners and volunteers. The team will work with Partners to provide short-term support and will connect people to appropriate support agencies and community resources. The team will also develop peer networks so that people have access to support within their local areas from people with lived experience.

The role of Peer Practitioner has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health problems. Through sharing learning from their own experience, Practitioners will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible. Within a relationship of mutuality and information sharing, Practitioners will promote self-management and opportunities for improved health and wellbeing.

Demonstrating a commitment to values-base practice and as part of a wider locality team, you will support the successful implementation and delivery of high-quality services that make a positive difference to people.

We will support you on your own career path; developing new skills, accessing formal and informal learning experiences and providing opportunities to put your continual progress into practice.

Penumbra is one of Scotland’s leading mental health charities, providing a wide range of community based, recovery focused mental health services. We’re proud pioneers in the peer movement, with 20% of our colleagues employed in peer support roles. Our forward-thinking approach to mental health recovery has earned us the reputation as a key influencer in public campaigning, policy and practice, and a highly respected provider of high quality and innovative mental health recovery services.

We can offer you:

• Up to 38 days per annum including public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution (salary sacrifice). Also offer auto-enrolment pension scheme.
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Confidential Employee Assistance Programme, offering free counselling to staff and their families
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Death in Service benefits

Main duties and responsibilities

• To provide a compassionate and quick response to people who connect with the service.
• To maintain awareness of local agencies so that people can be quickly connected to relevant supports.
• To develop relationships with people based on the principals of Peer support, which include mutuality, empathy and a focus on strengths which inspires hope.
• To share ideas about ways of achieving Recovery goals, drawing on personal experiences and a range of coping, self help and self-management techniques
• Co-facilitate wellbeing workshops based on identified need within the community
• Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness
• Work alongside peer volunteers and contribute to local peer networks.
• Signpost to various resources, opportunities and activities within communities to promote choice and informed decision making
• Maintain a working knowledge of current trends in mental health, recovery and peer support by reading books, journals and accessing peer support networks
• To uphold Penumbra’s Code of Practice
• To uphold SSSC Codes of Practice
• Develop effective relationships with other groups, and agencies in your area and take opportunities to promote mental health awareness in the wider community
• Be responsible for maintaining the relevant systems of documentation through proficient IT skills
• Be flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs of people who use the service and the organisation, within the agreed criteria
• Work effectively with other members of the team, and liaise effectively with families, agencies, colleagues and other stakeholders
• Participate in training activities and meetings as required
• Other duties, deemed appropriate to this grade, as and when required.