Peer Support Worker

We are Hestia. We make a difference. 

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. We provide a range of services, including Domestic Abuse support, Modern Slavery assistance, Mental Health & Complex Needs care, and Criminal Justice. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence.

The service you will work in….

The KCW Cove is a drop-in service where residents of the boroughs can go if they are experiencing a mental health crisis.

We are a safe, inviting, and inclusive space for individuals who are struggling to cope with their mental health and daily life. On meeting with service users, we aim to support them to reduce their immediate anxiety and crisis.

Support includes:

A safe, welcoming space and a listening ear 1-to-1 support to help you to find the best path forward Support to develop your own safety plan for the next day as well as longer term plans which could involve contact with statutory services. Support to find and access other services in your area that interest you. Drop-in crisis support Hot drink and a snack. We are open from 2-10pm Monday- Sunday, 365 days a year. The service is open to residents aged 16+ of both Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and City of Westminster

A day in this role looks like….

As a Peer Support Worker at Hestia, you will play a crucial role in our Mental Health Service. Your contributions will directly influence the lives of our service users, guiding them towards a path of empowerment and independence.

A day will never look the same and some of the things you can expect to do/be responsible for are:

• To draw upon lived experience of mental health support needs and recovery to empathetically assist service users to move forward positively from crisis, where appropriate
• Provide inspiration to individuals going through mental distress
• To greet cove attendees and work with the team to establish their immediate and longer term support needs
• To co-produce small group and activity sessions to support the needs of service users
• Respond to the needs of individuals with sensitivity with regard to their age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, social class or disability, modifying behaviour to optimise the helping relationship
• Support people with crisis Mental Health needs to manage their own health care, in accordance with their care plan with a view to preventing further crisis
• Signpost customers to local community resources to address cultural/social barriers affecting their wellbeing
• Link customers with specialist services for continuous support e.g. counselling, money management, substance misuse
• Promote the rights of individuals by recognising differences and acting in accordance with the relevant legislation, recognising and reporting discriminatory behaviour, and taking appropriate action
• Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build positive working relationships with individuals, other team members, clinical colleagues, families and carers and other agencies
• To co-produce the delivery of the Coves with current and former customers and to support them to engage in local peer led activities, Hestia's overarching Better Lives Forum, and other local user groups, as appropriate
• To take part in effective consultation with individual customers and groups of customers, both about local delivery and development and about organisational policy and procedures
• To maintain accurate records of customer visits, support and interventions provided and any outcomes

Why Hestia?

Joining Hestia means more than just a job; it's an opportunity to be part of something bigger. We offer a supportive, inclusive and resolution driven work environment where your contributions are recognised and valued. As a member of our team, you will have the chance to grow both personally and professionally while making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

We are looking for candidates who bring a combination of passion, expertise, and dedication to the table. To excel in this role, you should possess:

• The ability to rapidly form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers and other peer support workers and professionals
• Well- developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills to be able to engage appropriately with service users in crisis, carers, and colleagues, statutory and voluntary agencies, both face to face and by telephone
• Lived experience of the acute mental health care pathway (e.g. ED attendance, acute admissions etc.)
• Knowledge of recovery tools, mental health and wellbeing support and services available in the local area
• Ability to assess needs, risks and aspirations and identify appropriate sign posting
• Good IT skills that include a working knowledge of functions in MS Word, Outlook, Power point, Excel, Publisher and social media
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and ability to address them appropriately
• Demonstrate ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the guidelines set
• Able to demonstrate a general understanding of mental health issues with a positive non-judgemental approach towards individuals in crisis with mental health support needs
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and ability to address them appropriately

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.