PHaMs Peer Support Worker

Organisational Context:

ARAFEMI’S mission is to promote and improve the well being of people affected by mental illness.  ARAFEMI is an incorporated association and a registered community support service under the Mental Health Act 1986, providing psychiatric disability rehabilitation support services.

Position Summary:

Drawing on their lived experience of a mental illness, Peer Support Workers have a unique role to engage with participants at a personal level, assisting or supporting them through their recovery journey using their own experience of mental illness and recovery.  Peer Support Workers engage and encourage participants in a way that no-one else can because they have lived, or shared a different, but similar experience and learned how to get through it and regain control of their life; showing that recovery is possible. Peer Support Workers at ARAFEMI work within a team approach seeking to enhance services development, practice and understanding of the client experience. Peer Support Workers are provided regular supervision, training and opportunities to reflect upon their practice.

Selection Criteria

Candidates are asked to reply to each of the following criteria.  Candidates should outline their relevant experience, using examples where appropriate.

Essential

• Have a lived experience of mental illness & a level of recovery that enables you to have the confidence and resilience to share personal lived experience.
• Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to peer support and the broader peer support movement.
• Understanding of strength based and recovery orientated models of service.
• Experience, or understanding of the difficulties engaging with and supporting people who have mental illness, homelessness and complex needs & their family carers.
• Demonstrated capacity to mentor, encourage and support people experiencing mental illness to achieve their goals.
• Experience or capacity to engage with culturally and linguistically diverse people.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and build sustained collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to accept feedback, take direction and participate in ongoing professional development.
• Crisis management and conflict resolution skills.
• Computer literacy in Word & Outlook.
• Current valid Driver’s License.

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications in psychology, social work, occupational therapy, community development, or other related fields and or experience
• A relevant second community language

A full position description is attached below.