Peer Support Volunteer
This is a voluntary, 2 to 4 hours per week vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
Your role
Amazing, giving, inspiring and awesome are just a few of the words we would use to describe our volunteers.
Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.
About the role
We are looking for Peer Support Volunteers to support our East Kent Peer Support service. You will be based at Dover or Folkestone and, ideally, you will be able to commit between 2 to 4 hours per week to volunteering.
You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.
About the service and role
The East Kent Peer Support Service currently run group sessions for service users in Dover and Folkestone. The role of the Peer Support Volunteer is to provide additional support at our Peer Support group sessions initially at the Dover & Folkestone locations.
This could be, for example, by empathising with potential clients about the difficulties that having a mental health problem can create, helping to set up the room, explaining the services that are on offer and how these can be accessed, putting people who are anxious at ease by welcoming them.
Our team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality service that focuses on supporting individuals to achieve their recovery goals. The aim is to improve the lives and support independence for those living with a mental illness. The team will engage with other local providers to ensure a clear and seamless pathway for those that require support from multiple providers.
What you will be doing as a Peer Support Volunteer
Peer Volunteering is an opportunity for people who have themselves used mental health services, to volunteer and support other people currently using mental health services.
Peer Volunteering is an opportunity for people who have themselves used mental health services, to volunteer and support other people currently using mental health services. As a Peer Volunteer you will have lived experience of mental health and support service users on a wide range of non- complex issues that can be easily and quickly resolved. You will bring added skills and experience to our service and add real value to our team.
You will support the following people and teams:
- Potential clients
- Rethink Peer Support Workers
- Volunteers
- Members of the public
- Visitors and other organisations
The role will include the following:
- Support the Peer Support Workers to run the group sessions e.g. by helping to set up the room and by welcoming people
- Help to create a safe space where people can share as much or as little as they wish to about their experiences
- Foster the principles of co-production
- Work with other volunteers who support the service
- Signpost people to services in the local area that meets their needs
- Describe and explain services that are on offer from Rethink Mental Illness and other local community assets that can provide help and advice relevant to people's needs
What will make you a great fit for this role?
- As a Peer Volunteer you will have lived experience of mental health
- Able to support service users on a wide range of non-complex issues that can be easily and quickly resolved.
- You will bring added skills and experience to our service and add real value to our team.
- Ability to empathise with others
- Good communication skills
- Reliable and punctual
The Volunteer Manager looking after this role is Darran Smith. If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact Darran.Smith@rethink.org.
Who are we?
We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”
We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning+ (LGBTQ+), people with a disability, or those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status. We have an ambition of becoming an anti-racist organisation and we recognise there is more to do in ensuring our recruitment is fair and inclusive, which is why we are recruiting new roles in helping us to achieve this.
The Company
The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.
What do we value?
Passion
We are passionate about leading the way to a better quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.
Commitment
We work tirelessly to provide support for everyone severely affected by mental illness.
Openness
We are open and transparent in all our work with beneficiaries, supporters, partners and the public to achieve change for people severely affected by mental illness.
Hope
We offer hope of a better quality of life for all those severely affected by mental illness.
Expertise
We constantly use our expertise to provide practical and personal support for people who are severely affected by mental illness.
Understanding
People who are severely affected by mental illness are at the heart of everything we do in our organisation – our membership, our governance and our workforce.
Equity
We believe that in a world where discrimination and disadvantage exist, treating people with equity is critical to ensure justice and fairness for all.
Openness
We are open and transparent in all our work with beneficiaries, supporters, partners and the public to achieve change for people severely affected by mental illness.
Why volunteer with Rethink?
We understand that people volunteer for many different reasons and whatever your reason is for volunteering we’ll be there to support you every step of the way. You will receive an induction to ensure you feel confident in your role as well as regular supervision. Other benefits of volunteering include:
Our volunteers say
Please be mindful that we may need to close adverts early if we receive a high volume of applications, we, therefore, encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Documents
Alternatively, please sign in with...
Published
Not PublishedClosing
in X days