Ballyfermot STAR: Seeking Safety Peer Support Worker
Ballyfermot STAR CLG
Post Title: Seeking Safety Peer Support Worker
Address: 7 Drumfinn Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Post Hours: 7
Post Salary: €28, 028 (pro rata)
Accountable to: Team Leader
Purpose of post: To work with and support Ballyfermot STAR CLG in delivering the Seeking Safety programme. You will bring your skills and experience as a Peer Support Worker, having had similar life experiences to Seeking Safety group members, to enhance and strengthen this programme.
Background
The Seeking Safety Ireland project has been supported by the Department of Health. The commitment is to develop and implement a cross sectoral, interagency Irish adaptation of the Seeking Safety model to support hard to reach people who experience both mental health and substance use issues, paying particular attention to those experiencing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Research has shown both internationally and here in Ireland that co-production, co-delivery and a fully integrated approach is the most beneficial way to support individuals in our services.
Seeking Safety works from the premise that people who have the dual diagnosis of PTSD and Substance Use are more likely to engage in less safe drug and alcohol using activities and veer towards poly drug use. They generally experience a variety of life problems and will have an enduring relationship with both diagnoses. Also, they are unlikely to have the life skills to create the safety they need for the impacts of PTSD to reduce and the need for the painkilling task of substance use to decline.
Seeking Safety Peer Worker
The Seeking Safety Peer worker will help in the delivery of the Seeking Safety programme with the Seeking Safety Project Worker. The Peer Worker will be trained in Seeking Safety and so will not need to know about how to run a Seeking Safety programme in order to apply for this post. You do, however, need to be an experienced Peer Worker who is consistent in their approach and displays a level of self-reflectiveness.
The Role
The Seeking Safety Peer Support Worker will work in partnership with the Seeking Safety Project Worker to support participants impacted by the dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health issues to engage in a facilitated psycho-educational programme based on the Seeking Safety model.
The Peer Support worker will
- Provide peer support to group participants who engage in the programme
- Help to establish an environment that is inclusive and safe
- Work with the Seeking Safety Project Worker to assist the group facilitation of the programme for participants impacted by the dual diagnosis of addiction and trauma
- Assist with the paperwork associated with this programme intervention
- Review and critically reflect upon outcomes and learning to share with relevant stakeholders.
- Work as part of the team in Ballyfermot STAR CLG, if required assisting with other work that may emerge in your time as Peer Support Worker.
Essential Criteria
- A relevant qualification in a health, education or related field from Level 3 on the QQI Framework.
- Have a strong commitment to mental health and recovery.
- Have a strong desire to inspire others on a similar path to your own: be open to appropriately sharing your story and listening to others and able to implement clear boundaries in your role – knowing where your role ends, and it is time to refer to others to take the work further.
- Exhibit social stability.
- Informed by lived experience of trauma/mental health and /or addiction challenges.
- Experience of working with individuals and groups in addiction and/or mental health/trauma as a Peer Support Worker.
- Experience of working with women-only groups.
- Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills.
- A team player who has experience of efficient and accurate compute/recording skills.
Other
- Availability for flexible rostered working hours is essential.
- Garda Vetting will apply.
The above job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and contribute to the development of the post while in office.
- Closing date Friday 24th January 4pm
- Shortlisting will apply.