Job overview

We are excited to be able to offer a unique opportunity in South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation trust to take up a role as a Peer Support Worker (PSW) in the Forensic Services Pathway. These roles have become available through funding for Patient & Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) project funding. PCREF is a Trust-wide initiative to improve equity in access, experience, and outcomes for all our communities, with an initial focus on Black communities. The contribution of this PSW role is to work with Community Forensic Mental Health Teams (CFMHT) to support culturally congruent adoption of Advanced Choice Documents (ACDs) by black and mixed black service users, with the support of their families and carers. Funding is available for 5 days a week (1.0 wte) fixed term, initially, from 6th January 2024 until 31st March 2025. The funding for the roles may also be used to support part-time work in one or more CFMHT team local to the successful applicant. Candidates will be asked as to their preferred location at interview.

Main duties of the job

The aim of this role is to support black and mixed black patients in forensic services. The role will focus on enhancing the uptake and effectiveness of Advanced Choice Documents within forensic services by integrating cultural awareness and peer support. It involves collaborating with service users, carers, and their families to design and deliver services. This support will involve peer support and advocacy ensuring that patients’ voices are heard. Peer Support Workers will use their own lived experiences of mental health issues/services to help others, providing a space where individuals feel respected, accepted, and understood. They will understand that everyone’s experience will be unique but will treat everyone’s experience as being equally important. This role will need individuals who acknowledge the inherent challenges of racism for Black communities within traditional mental health services. The role will also involve encouraging Black service users and carers to coproduce care plans and advocate for themselves; gathering information to inform them of their options and providing formal feedback to staff in secure settings and the PCREF Forensic Triple Leadership team.

The postholder will work closely with staff ADC facilitators, the PSW Coordinator, and line managed in Forensic Psychology.

Fixed term: 3 months (Potential for extension) jobs

Peer Support Worker - Advanced Choice Documents NHS AfC: Band 3