Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education (GCSE or equivalent). Effective communication skills in English. Commitment to ongoing learning and mandatory training. Lived experience of substance use and/or mental health recovery.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or Health & Social Care). Willingness to undertake further role-related training. Willingness to develop knowledge of inclusion health (e.g. homelessness, rough sleeping, sexual health, sex worker pathways).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of peer support or supporting vulnerable individuals. Understanding of recovery approaches and harm reduction. Awareness of mental health and substance misuse needs. Understanding of service user involvement and empowerment. Awareness of safeguarding, stigma and social exclusion. Understanding of the needs of individuals with complex or multiple disadvantage.

Desirable

• Experience in mental health, substance misuse or public sector services. Knowledge of local services and community resources. Understanding of safeguarding frameworks and Trust procedures. Awareness of inclusion health and barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping. Awareness of risks associated with sexual health and sex worker pathways. Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and multi-agency working.

skills

Essential

• Ability to use lived experience appropriately to support others. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to build relationships and engage individuals, including those who may be hard to reach. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to support access to services and work across agencies. Basic IT and record-keeping skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries. Ability to manage workload and respond to changing priorities.

Desirable

• Ability to engage individuals experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping. Ability to work with sexual health, housing, safeguarding and third-sector services. Ability to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Understanding of trauma-informed approaches in practice.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Compassionate, empathetic and non-judgemental approach. Resilient and able to work in emotionally demanding environments. Ability to maintain professional boundaries. Commitment to recovery, inclusion and person-centred care. Respectful of individuals experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or involvement in sex work. Honest, reflective and self-aware. Ability to adapt to change and work flexibly.

Desirable

• Demonstrates adaptability and openness to learning

other requirements

Essential

• Willingness to travel across community and Trust sites. Ability to accompany service users to appointments. Willingness to work in a range of settings (including community, hostels and outreach environments). Willingness to undertake lone working in line with policies. Flexible approach to working hours in line with service need.

Desirable

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).