Peer Mentor

(Part-time working and job-sharing will be considered)

Fixed-term contract for 24 months

Closing date: 5 February 2017 (Midnight)

Interview date: 13 February 2017

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and determined individual to join us as a Peer Mentor at our Birmingham Changing Futures Together project. It is open to anyone who has previously experienced mental health concerns and offending. We are looking for an individual who can bring their invaluable insight into these services to the table.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fulfilling Lives fund, the project focuses on long-term service and system change. It helps individuals with multiple and complex needs lead fruitful, satisfying lives, ensuring that the successful models and approaches pioneered by this project enter the mainstream.

This is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to gain experience working with a leading provider of homelessness and housing advice and support. As Peer Mentor you will participate in an induction programme, and will receive formal training in core areas such as housing, substance misuse and mental health. You will participate in activities across the Birmingham Changing Futures programme, visiting external agencies with whom we work and attending regular support sessions, supervision and performance reviews.

Benefits include 30 days' annual leave, the possibility of flexible working and significant opportunities for learning and development.

Your key responsibilities:

• Developing and maintaining positive/professional relationships with service users
• Responding to service users' queries and requests
• Providing emotional and practical support and advice
• Responding appropriately to chaotic and challenging behaviour
• Keeping accurate records and undertaking administrative and financial duties.

And what you’ll need:

• Lived experience of both mental health concerns and offending behaviour - along with experience of accessing support services
• Evidence of achieving personal goals and having achieved a stable life
• An interest in a career working to tackle homelessness
• Basic computer skills, and a desire and enthusiasm for developing and learning new skills
• Good communication and client / customer service skills.

For all informal queries about the role or the application process then please contact Emma Poursain, Team Leader on: 07798 655 060.

Please note that disclosures of criminal convictions will not automatically exclude you from being considered for this role.

For further information about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website.

Shelter is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of clients, in particular children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

At Shelter, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.

We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.