HIV Peer Support Worker: Sponsorship Available

Job Summary

Do you have your own personal lived experience of an HIV diagnosis?

The role of HIV Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of recovery after their own HIV diagnosis. It is essential that Peer Support workers demonstrate a willingness to professionally use their lived experience to support the recovery journey of others and as such should be comfortable to share their status with clients, colleagues and external agencies.

Main duties of the job

HIV Peer Support Workers (PSWs) provide structured peer support, practical advice and referral for our diverse population of service users, enabling them to understand and manage their condition in order to regain control over their own unique recovery journey. By sharing their own recovery journeys, HIV PSWs inspire hope and belief that a good and long life is possible after HIV diagnosis.

As an essential member of the multi-disciplinary team, the HIV PSW will collaborate with colleagues and third-party service providers to develop and deliver a varied range of peer support activities, including meeting with Bloomsbury clinic service users on a drop-in basis, one to one peer support sessions and co-facilitation of educational sessions, workshops and support groups. The HIV PSW will support clients to identify their own goals and develop their unique recovery/self-management plans.

The HIV PSW will co-facilitate, collaborate and support the Bloomsbury Network (BN), The BN is an independent charity whose aim is to provide educational and social events for Bloomsbury clinic patients.

The HIV PSW will represent the HIV Peer Support team at quarterly BN steering committee meetings and liaise between the clinic providing co-facilitation of BN events including Beyond Diagnosis courses, forums and social events. This will include some weekend and evening work, so the prospective candidate should have a flexible approach to their working hours.

About us

You will be fully supported in your personal and professional development through training, as well as regular 1:1 supervision within the line management structure, along with peer supervision and involvement in Trustwide PSW development events.

Please note only candidates who have personal experience of living with a diagnosis of HIV should apply.

Please refer to your recovery journey and experiences of living with this diagnosis within your application. You will also be asked to give a short presentation on your recovery story at interview, should you be invited.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

Supporting newly diagnosed and existing clients to understand and overcome the complexities of their diagnosis by providing:

1. To work with the multidisciplinary team to provide emotional and practical peer support to service users in order to motivate engagement, build self-esteem and confidence.
2. To support newly diagnosed and existing patients regarding adjustment to HIV diagnosis including, but not limited to, issues around confidentiality and disclosure.
3. To refer patients with more complex needs such as suicidal ideation or enduring mental health issues to the MDT.
4. To provide a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, respecting their personal beliefs, uniqueness and identity.
5. To assume a coaching role, supporting service users in developing personal wellbeing plans; this can be delivered individually or in groups to assist individuals in managing their physical and mental wellbeing.
6. To model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate self-management skills and techniques, using own experience of recovery to illustrate a life beyond an HIV diagnosis.
7. To encourage the individual to be involved in care plans and risk/safety management plans.
8. To skilfully utilise personal experience of recovery and act as a role model for service users inspiring hope, sharing personal life experience and lessons learned as a person in ongoing recovery.
9. To assist service users in identifying their own strengths, personal interests and goals; providing opportunities for service users to direct their own recovery process.
10. To collaborate closely with the MDT to link service users with the most appropriate support. Including signposting patients in need of emergency financial support, immigration issues, benefits and housing to appropriate agencies and charities.
11. To positively promote and support service users in the community by maintaining extensive knowledge and links with community resources and to actively support service users to access opportunities of their choice.
12. To develop and maintain excellent working relations with the HIV voluntary sector, local partners, mental health services, homeless charities and other relevant organisation.
13. To signpost to the HIV voluntary sector and facilitate focus groups, social events and the Beyond Diagnosis course in collaboration with the Bloomsbury Network (BN).
14. To attend team meetings as scheduled by the line manager and the Senior Peer Support Worker.