Peer Support Specialist

Hours: Fulltime

Reporting to: Manager of Service

Locations: Dublin 8

Salary: 33,328 – 36,210

Role overview

Peter McVerry Trust is a national housing and homeless charity committed to reducing homelessness and the harm caused by substance misuse and social disadvantage.

The role of the Peer Support Specialist support worker is to develop a strong, recovery-oriented practice approach to participants.

A peer support worker uses first hand experiences of homelessness, addiction and housing support to become partners in the development and delivery of recovery focused education alongside Peter McVerry Trust staff.

The role requires the ability to demonstrate commitment to recovery informed by lived experience or family member experience of mental health, addiction or living in homelessness.

Responsibilities

The role will include but not limited to, the following key responsibilities;

• Demonstrate commitment to mental health and recovery informed by lived experience of mental health challenges or family member mental health experience.
• Empower participants to live independent lives.
• Work collaboratively with mental health and recovery services and Peter McVerry Trust staff to advocate for the participant and support the participant’s recovery.
• Develop an individual’s recovery related goals and support them in implementing them.
• Share stories of their own experiences, as appropriate, with the participants to offer further guidance and support.
• Demonstrate empathy and understanding to each individual on their journey of recovery.
• Manage a caseload of participants through efficient scheduling and coordinating.
• Travel to different areas of Dublin/Ireland to meet with participants in their homes or out of doors.
• Facilitate one on one or group training/education with participants relevant to mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Maintain professional communication and relationships with the participant and liaise with their family.
• Implement safe work practices and immediately report incidents and concerns.
• Complete, maintain and manage documentation relevant to the role.
• Record and report all incidents as per Peter McVerry Trust policies.
• Positively and actively engage in team meetings, supervisions, training and team events.
• Demonstrate competence in the support and development of projects and new initiatives that promote positive mental health and/or recovery.
• Undertake any other agreed duties to ensure the provision of the service.

Experience Required

Qualifications, Skills and Experience required;

• Hold a relevant qualification in a health, education, or related field from Level 5 on the QQI Framework suitable to the requirements of the role;
• Be motivated towards engaging in ongoing personal and professional development
• Have a minimum of 2 years in recovery and are at a point where they have achieved stability in regards to mental health
• Lived experience or family member experience of mental health, addiction or living in homelessness
• Not all posts will require a drivers’ licence however ability to drive is an advantage and will require a full, clean drivers’ licence
• Must have the appropriate knowledge and ability to fulfil the function of this role.

Other Information

• Confidentiality: It is a condition of service that all information obtained during the course of employment, especially with regard to participants affairs is treated with the strictest confidence.
• Equal Opportunities: To implement Equal Opportunities into your daily practice at all times
• Health and Safety: To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your Colleagues in accordance with relevant PMVT policies and procedures.

To apply 

Please download the application form or visit pmvtrust.ie/careers: Application Form

Peter McVerry Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Registration Number 412953 | Charity Number CHY7256