Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Peer Support Workers (PSW) within the Lambeth Early Onset (LEO) Community Mental Health Team at SLaM. This new 2-year funded service will launch a dual diagnosis pathway, supporting people aged 18-65 experiencing First Episode Psychosis and methamphetamine misuse.



Peer Workers use their lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery to inspire hope and support change. The role involves offering emotional support, promoting social inclusion, sharing coping strategies, and helping service users navigate mental health services.



We are seeking enthusiastic, compassionate, and self-motivated individuals with lived experience of mental health problems and recovery, ideally with dual diagnosis experience. Candidates should have completed accredited Peer Worker training or be willing to undertake it.



You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and receive regular 1:1 supervision, monthly peer mentoring, group supervision, and access to training opportunities for professional development.

Key Responsibilities:

To work alongside our dual diagnosis practitioner to support clients experiencing FEP and using methamphetamines



To use lived experience to inspire hope that change is possible.



To promote peer support groups for clients experiencing FEP and using methamphetamines



To share lived experience safely and effectively.



To share your own and other examples of lived experience of recovery.



To work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths of the person.



To use a number of agreed recovery tools e.g. SMART goals in a flexible way to support the service user.



To support the service user to understand the role of statutory mental health services and how they can support their recovery alongside other community resources in particular drug and alcohol services



To support the service user to communicate this too involved mental health professionals and wider support network.



To record information in a clear and accessible way.



To promote service user involvement in all aspects of their work.



To ensure confidentiality and safe keeping of clients records.



To be able to signpost to community and/or online resources and access appropriate mainstream and specialist resources regarding FEP and methamphetamine use



To be aware of, teach others and challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations and anti-discriminatory practice as appropriate.



South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organizations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.



SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.



By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field.

Key Responsibilities:

To work alongside our dual diagnosis practitioner to support clients experiencing FEP and using methamphetamines



To use lived experience to inspire hope that change is possible.



To promote peer support groups for clients experiencing FEP and using methamphetamines



To share lived experience safely and effectively.



To share your own and other examples of lived experience of recovery.



To work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths of the person.



To use a number of agreed recovery tools e.g. SMART goals in a flexible way to support the service user.



To support the service user to understand the role of statutory mental health services and how they can support their recovery alongside other community resources in particular drug and alcohol services



To support the service user to communicate this too involved mental health professionals and wider support network.



To record information in a clear and accessible way.



To promote service user involvement in all aspects of their work.



To ensure confidentiality and safe keeping of clients records.



To be able to signpost to community and/or online resources and access appropriate mainstream and specialist resources regarding FEP and methamphetamine use



To be aware of, teach others and challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations and anti-discriminatory practice as appropriate.



To attend team meetings as appropriate.



To promote the role of peer support both within SLAM and externally, through co-delivery of presentations, workshops, and participation in Trust -wide peer related projects and audits: and information sharing as required and as agreed with the line manager.



To take part in regular one to one supervision with senior staff.



To take part in group supervision for peer workers.



To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal.



To complete mandatory training.