Perinatal Peer Support Worker

Job summary

We are looking for Perinatal Peer Support Workers to support women and birthing people receiving care from the East London Mother and Baby Unit to Perinatal Community Services across North Central and East London

In this role, you will offer emotional and practical support to mothers during their time in hospital and as they move back into the community. A key part of the role is helping people prepare for discharge from the Mother and Baby Unit and supporting their transition into community services.

As part of this role they will be opportunities to help NCEL Perinatal Provider Collaborative to consider what Peer Support looks like going from the East London Mother and Baby Unit back into women and birthing people local areas.

Main duties of the job

Using your own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, you will provide understanding, encouragement, and hope to others. You will build supportive relationships, help mothers connect with activities and support networks, and work alongside healthcare staff to support recovery for both parent and baby

We are looking for people who:

• Have lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery
• Want to support other mothers and birthing people
• Are good listeners and able to build trusting relationships
• Are passionate about helping people feel hopeful and supported

This is an opportunity to use your experience to make a real difference to families during an important stage of their recovery journey.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information around the job role and responsibilities.

Person specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• oGood general education background
• oGCSE English/Maths
• oGood ability in written and spoken English
• oELFT Peer Support Training
• oNVQ3 or equivalent

Desirable

• oOther qualifications

Experience

Essential

• oLived experience of perinatal mental health difficulties and support services

Desirable

• oExperience of group facilitation or co-production.

Knowledge

Essential

• oAwareness of the standards of professional behaviour expected within the service by NCEL Perinatal Provider Collaborative
• o Awareness of therapeutic boundaries and the importance of maintaining clear boundaries at all times with patients both on and off the ward.
• oAn understanding and appropriate application of policies and procedures.
• oFulfilment of all identified mandatory and statutory identified training needs in order to achieve Trust objectives and specific Local objectives.
• oTo understand and acknowledge the right of those patients who use Mental Health Services in accordance with the Policies and procedures of the Trust and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice
• oEnsure compliance with Health and Safety regulations (Health and Safety at Work Act, Infection Control Policy etc.) and that requirements are fully complied with in line with the guidance and instruction of the Matron.
• oWork in collaboration with the ward team in order to maintain environmental integrity and safety.
• oContribute to the Quality Improvement (QI) work of the Trust at the ward level.

Desirable

• oAwareness of trauma-informed approaches and recovery-oriented practice

Skills

Essential

• oAbility to draw on lived experience in a safe, boundaried, and purposeful way
• oStrong communication and interpersonal skills.
• oBasic IT skills (e.g., email, record-keeping, digital communication
• oEmpathy, sensitivity, and the ability to build trusting relationships
• oOpenness to learn and develop new skills and knowledge
• oAbility to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information.
• oOrganisational and time-management skills.
• oAbility to work independently and within a multidisciplinary and matrix managed team
• oFlexible, adaptable, and proactive approach.
• oTo have cultural awareness, respect, and understanding around needs of different communities and to acknowledge the need for curiosity and engagement with people from diverse backgrounds