Peer Support Worker

We are looking for a part-time Peer Support Worker to join our team with a specific focus on supporting the Women's Pathway. This post is restricted to women under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010, as being a woman is a genuine occupational requirement for this role. This role is designed for someone with lived experience of the criminal justice system who can bring insight, empathy, and understanding to women currently navigating this system. Women face distinct criminal justice challenges, including trauma, coercion and complex social barriers on release. Peer Support Workers with lived experience play a vital role in helping women feel heard, understood, and supported at every stage As a Peer Support Worker on the Women's Pathway, you will:

• Use your lived experience to build trust and connection
• Support women throughout their journey in the criminal justice system
• Help them engage with services, attend appointments, and access resources
• Provide practical and emotional support
• Work alongside practitioners and partners including police, courts, probation, prisons, and voluntary sector services
Your contribution will help shape how we support women in Devon and will influence ongoing service development and improvement. Our core aim is to improve wellbeing, reduce vulnerability, enhance engagement, and decrease the risk of reoffending., You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, working alongside Support Time & Recovery Workers (ST&R) and qualified Senior Mental Health Practitioners as part of the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service. Contribute to the support and brief targeted interventions for people coming into contact with Criminal Justice agencies such as Police custody, courts and probation. You will actively engage and work with a small number of individuals with offending histories, combined with a wide range of mental health and social problems, who may also have co-existing complex needs including homelessness, substance misuse, significant risk to self or others, are socially excluded, and who at times may present with extremely challenging behaviours. Ensuring that individuals engage with the services they have been referred into, by supporting them to attend relevant appointments. Working with our ST&R Workers to obtain the best outcome for our clients. Provide time limited 1:1 support to clients giving advice, information and/or support to access a wide range of agencies and services that can provide support and advise with issues such as housing, social isolation and exclusion, debt management, training, education and employment. Support people who typically find it hard to access and utilise community services and resources. Advocate and liaise with relevant community services.

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas. We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

About Devon Partnership Trust We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery. We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do