Job Summary:
As an integral and highly valued member of the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) will provide formalised peer support and assistance to service users in particular pre- and post-diagnostic support. The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary team in an Adult Autism Diagnostic Service to deliver pre- and post-diagnostic support to autistic adults (age 18+) across the London boroughs of Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Main duties of the job
The peer support worker role uses lived experience to improve outcomes for other autistic adults through direct support (through group and individual interventions) and indirectly via providing lived experience support to staff across the trust. There is a growing consensus that people’s health is greatly influenced by a range of social, economic and environmental factors. This role will take these social determinants of health into account in providing support to service users.
The PSW will promote their role, through the provision of information and a range of learning opportunities for the multidisciplinary team and others across the trust.
As a core member of the Autism Team, the PSW will carry out some generic duties. The PSW will work alongside service users on a 1:1 basis and there may be some opportunities for group work as the post gets established. The PSW will also have the opportunity to co-work with other colleagues.
About us
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London’s population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Commitment to obtain underpinning knowledge through work-based learning and mandatory training, (including accredited peer support worker training if not previously undertaken)
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable
- Accredited peer support worker training
- Evidence of personal development in relation to autism awareness and peer support
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Paid/unpaid relevant to job
Essential
- Own personal lived experience of autism
- Willing to positively share own life experiences of living with autism with service users and carers
- Experience of working in a range of health and/or social care settings as a peer support worker (paid or unpaid) or in a related role
Desirable
- Diagnosis of autism
- Experience of delivering support sessions with individuals or group
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
Essential
- Knowledge of Autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions
- Able to demonstrate understanding of Peer Support as well as a non-judgemental understanding of issues arising from being autistic
- Evidence of good listening and interpersonal skills, with an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers
- Ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences, both internally and externally to the Trust
- Ability to provide support to other teams and deliver training as appropriate
- Ability to demonstrate empathy and patience, showing an awareness of the impact of stigma and discrimination
- Knowledge of how to build community links and networks
- Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower service users
- Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings with good organisational skills
- Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and an ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/ equal opportunities
Desirable
- Basic Health and Safety awareness
- Awareness of local autism support services
- Working knowledge of the principles of coproduction
- Interviewing skills
- Knowledge of policies and legislation that may contribute to support for service users
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 13 October 2024
