Would you like to draw on your experience of mental distress to support others?

Would you like to develop new skills and build relationships with likeminded individuals?

Would you like to be a volunteer in our Peer Support Team at Merton Peer Support?

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLStG) is working in partnership with Together for Mental Wellbeing, Talk Off the Record and Jigsaw4u to deliver the Merton Peer Support Service for people living in the Merton borough. The Merton Peer Support service will form a part of the Integrated Recovery Hub (IRH) to support with the delivery of increased timely access to a wider range of holistic mental health and wellbeing interventions. The service will work closely with individuals using the service, the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and partner organisations to facilitate access to and deliver appropriate peer support when such needs are identified.

Peer Support specifically provides an opportunity for people who have experience of mental distress to support each other towards greater wellbeing, as people of equal value, on a reciprocal basis, using their lived experience as a tool for support. The key aim of the service is to provide both 1-2-1 and group peer support to people experiencing mental distress who would benefit from peer support to reach the goals that are important to them. Drawing on their lived experience of mental distress, our Peer Supporter Volunteers will work collaboratively with the individuals accessing the service, focusing on the persons strengths and skills to promote better wellbeing, which may also include education and practical support.

Personal Skills and Qualities

We are looking for a person who is willing and able to draw on their lived experience of mental distress to support others and is interested to help facilitate and run groups. It is important that our Peer Supporter Volunteers at Together are friendly, non-judgemental, open minded and able to demonstrate a willingness to learn with a commitment to their own development and wellbeing. Working with and contributing to the team at Merton Peer Support Service is an important part of this role to support the development and integration of peer support within the service.

What you might do as a Peer Support Volunteer

• Provide 1-2-1 peer support (in person, on-line or phone based).
• Co-facilitate Self-Management Groups.
• Run peer-led groups and social meet ups.
• Support with delivering peer support training.
• Co-interview for peer support roles.

What this role can offer

• Peer Support 3-day training course & induction to the organisation.
• An encouraging and supportive environment.
• Regular supervision and team meetings.
• On-going training and development opportunities.

What our Peer Supporters tell us they get from the role….

“It has helped me to build confidence.”

“Supports my wellbeing by having somewhere to be and something to do.”

“It’s good to use my difficult experiences for something positive.

Connection with like-minded people -it’s good to feel part of a team.”

“Given me experience to move to a Peer Support Worker role.”

Sound interesting? Want to find out more?

Email Alexandra-deltoro@together-uk.org for an informal chat.

Please download the attached application form and sent to Alex Alexandra-deltoro@together-uk.org to apply.

At Together we value and encourage diversity and inclusion within our workforce. We are committed to creating a workplace where you can be your authentic self, welcoming applications from people from diverse communities and backgrounds who share our values. As an employer, we are committed to making any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Successful candidates will require an enhanced DBS check.