A team that gives vital support to people in Buckinghamshire recovering from mental health issues is looking for 12 trainee peer support volunteers with the option of paid employment on successful completion, to help enhance their work.

Oxford Health’s peer support workers are part of the multi-disciplinary team offering support in a unique way for patients, within adult mental health services.

Becoming a Peer Support Worker provides hope, control and opportunity for patients on their recovery journey and you will be an extremely valuable asset to the existing team of support and clinical staff.

Charlotte Proud, our Buckinghamshire peer support coordinator, said: “Our own experiences of mental health shape us all differently but if you would like the opportunity to help others with similar mental health problems then why not become a peer support worker?

“This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who has day to day experience of mental health to draw upon their own experience to support others with their mental health.”

It starts off with a 12-day training programme including an induction to Oxford Health and then covering subjects such as active listening, keeping well in work, confidentiality and many more.

You will be allocated a mentor who will be there to support and monitor your competencies as part of the 30-hour placement in one of the teams listed below:

• Early Intervention Service
• Chiltern Adult Mental health team
• Aylesbury Adult Mental health team
• The Perinatal mental health team

If you pass the training and placement there is an opportunity of a paid role with an adult mental health team within the trust.

This is a unique opportunity to develop your own skills as well as help yourself and others with their recovery.

Applications for these 12 volunteer opportunities close on Monday 2 November at 9am. If you have any questions or would like some more information please contact Charlotte Proud, peer support coordinator in Buckinghamshire on charlotte.proud@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or call 07467 008 288.