Rethink Mental Illness
Peer Support Volunteer
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At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves understanding, connection, and the chance to live a fulfilling life. Our volunteers play a vital role in supporting people affected by mental illness and helping create communities where no one feels alone.
About the role
As a Peer Support 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 provide additional support at our Peer Support group sessions. 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. Peer volunteers can also co-facilitate groups based on personal skills and experience. Ideally, you will be able to commit a minimum of 3 hours per week.
Full training and regular supervision will be provided, so you’ll feel confident and supported in your role.
This role requires an Enhanced DBS check, which will be arranged and paid for by Rethink Mental Illness.
As a Peer Support Volunteer you will:
- 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
- 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
- Support the development of drop-in sessions at various locations across the locality
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About the service
The Empowering Minds Gloucestershire Service currently run group sessions for service users across Gloucestershire.
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 will make you a great fit for this role?
- Lived experience of mental health
- Ability to support service users on a wide range of non-complex issues that can be easily and quickly resolved
- Ability to empathise with others
- Good communication skills
- Reliable and punctual
It's not essential, but you may also bring:
- Knowledge of the local area
- Knowledge of services that can be accessed
How to apply
To apply, please click the “apply now” button and complete a short interest form. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV and/or cover letter however, this is not mandatory.
A member of the team will review your application and be in touch to update you on the next steps. If your application is successful, you will be invited to take part in an informal volunteer discussion.
If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, please contact the volunteer manager:
Beth Morris – beth.morris@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.”
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It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like it's key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer. We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation
We have an ambition of becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement. We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
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