11 Oct
Oxford Health NHS Trust
Oxford
Job description
Job summary
We are seeking a Peer Support Worker to join the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis clinical research group. The postholder will deliver a new six-month guided online programme for the treatment of persecutory delusions : Feeling Safer.
The Feeling Safer intervention follows the logic of the original Feeling Safe intervention which has been proven highly effective in the Feeling Safe trial led by the Oxford team.
By providing Feeling Safe in an accessible version for use across the NHS, we aim to achieve substantially improved outcomes for the large number of people with persecutory delusions who have not responded sufficiently to current treatment.
Funded by the NIHR,
the Feeling Safer trial will now test the intervention in NHS mental health services at six sites across England.
Around 484 patients will participate. Each site, which will closely work together, will comprise established site leads, a clinical / counselling psychologist, research assistants, a peer support worker, and an assistant psychologist.
The whole team will comprise over 40 people.
The role of the Peer Support Worker is to engage individuals at the early stages of psychosis and deliver this specialist CBT intervention (Feeling Safer) with close supervision from a clinical psychologist;
working within NHS services; and clinical trials methodology.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a Peer Support Worker to join the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis clinical research group. You will deliver a new six-month guided online programme for the treatment of persecutory delusions : Feeling Safer.
It is an accessible and expanded version of the face to-face therapy called Feeling Safe.
Users can access Feeling Safer whenever they choose via smartphone / computer / or tablet.
A range of mental health workers can support the delivery of the treatment over six months, including going out with patients into everyday situations to relearn providing Feeling Safe in an accessible version for use across the NHS, we aim to achieve substantially improved outcomes for the large number of people with persecutory delusions who have not responded sufficiently to current treatment.
The Feeling Safer trial will now test the intervention in NHS mental health services at six sites across England. Around 484 patients will participate.
Each site, which will closely work together, will comprise site leads, a clinical psychologist, research assistants, a peer support worker,
and a graduate mental health worker.
The whole team will comprise over 40 people.
Travel throughout the Trust would be facilitated by having a valid driving licence.
Applications are welcomed from those who are keen to complete the Peer Support Worker training, but have not yet had the chance to do so.
About us
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP) team based in the Department of Experimental Psychology.
We are a large clinical research team working to understand why mental health problems happen and how they can be best treated psychologically.
The O-CAP team, led by Prof Daniel Freeman, comprises approximately 30 people, including clinical psychologists, project coordinators,
peer researchers, VR computer scientists, research assistants, DPhil students, and administrators.
The key focus is on improving outcomes for patients with psychosis.
Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Trust include :
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality,
Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post is central to the successful delivery of a major new research trial. The role will be directly delivering the Feeling Safer intervention.
Training in the intervention will be provided. Applications are welcomed from those who are keen to complete the Peer Support Worker training, but have not yet had the chance to do so.
To deliver the Feeling Safer intervention in line with the treatment manual and study protocol, under the supervision of a clinical psychologist, as part of the Feeling Safer trial.
To draw on lived experience within the context of the intervention. Modelling appropriate self-disclosure of their own lived experience and emphasising hope and recovery as core messages.
To build rapport with service users, whilst maintaining professional boundaries, drawing on both experience and knowledge of the service user perspective and the clinical approach.
Build relationships that are founded on the value of mutuality.
To establish a trusting and supportive relationship with those taking part in the Feeling Safer therapy. High levels of engagement with participants will be expected from the post- holder.
To have the individual service users needs at the forefront at all times and use the skills and experience of lived experience and peer support to underpin their day-to-day work.
To build peer relationships and act autonomously as a consistent healthy and real role model within the peer relationship.
This requires highly developed skills in relating thoughtfully, flexibly and empathically to others.
To have a highly developed working knowledge of the intervention manual and principles of peer support. Training in the intervention will be provided.
To attend and contribute to study fidelity rating meetings, supervision, and regular training sessions with other study staff members.
Good record-keeping will be needed, including updating medical records with trial progress and completing the recruitment database.
Good time management will be needed including demonstrating planning and organisation skills for management of diary and sessions with participants.
You will need to follow standard operational procedures for the trial and NHS Trust policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access toown or other independent means of transport (we also use a local car share scheme).
Attendance at co-reflection (supervision) will be expected, requiring self-awareness and an ability to focus on balancing the needs of self and others.
Attendance at appropriate research team meetings, including training at the lead site, Oxford.
To maintain blinding and ensure research assistants working on the trial are able to conduct the research assessments blinded to treatment allocation.
Administrative duties related to the project
Other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the grant-holders.
Work within the guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act, the Code of Ethics, and with full understanding of confidentiality issues.
Contribute towards consistent and safe practices by being aware of and adhering to all the relevant Trust policies and procedures.
Please see the job description and person specification attached to this advert for more information on the job role.
Applications are welcomed from those who are keen to complete the Peer Support Worker training, but have not yet had the chance to do so.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have completed at least a Level 2 approved Peer Mentor course (7 credits / 70 hours of study), or equivalent to ensure at least a basic level of theoretic knowledge of the values of peer support and the principles that underpin them.
- Qualified through experience as a 'service user' with personal experience of psychosis or bipolar disorder or severe depression, and experience of using mental health services.
Experience
Essential
Working with patients diagnosed with psychosis
Desirable
- Experience of recruiting to a research study.
- Experience of psychological research.
- Experience of working within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act and an understand of the code of ethics and confidentiality in research
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of psychological approaches to psychosis.
- Ability to engage patients having experiences such as paranoia, hearing voices, anxiety, and depression.
Desirable
- Knowledge of clinical trials methodology and experimental psychology.
▶️ Peer intervention delivery / Peer support worker
🖊️ Oxford Health NHS Trust
📍 Oxford