Starting on Monday, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust will be holding two open days for people with experience of mental health problems to discover how they can use it to help others.

The events take place on Monday, 27 January 2014 at UEA Sportspark, Norwich and Tuesday, 28 January 2014 at The Malthouse Project, Bury St Edmunds. There will be two sessions on each day at 10am and 2pm, each lasting two hours.

The open days will offer a unique opportunity to learn about the role of peer support workers in mental health services, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.

In the summer, the Trust will be recruiting for its peer support worker programme, which will employ people who have experienced mental health problems, either personally or as a carer, to use this knowledge to help those currently using mental health services.

Lyn Skipper, the Trust’s lead on recovery, said: “These roles are mutually beneficial as it gives the peer support workers the opportunity to gain employment and confidence in their own recovery journey, while acting as inspirational role model and source of support for others.”

At the open days, delegates will be able to find out how to apply for the free 12-week training programme starting in March.  Completing the course is a requirement to become a peer support worker and will include a mixture of classroom-based learning and work-based placements.

To book your place on one of these open days please fill out the online booking form – www.surveymonkey.com/s/peeropenday. Alternatively please telephone 01603 421169 or email [email protected]

Notes

• In October 2013, the Trust launched a Recovery College, which provides a range of courses/workshops designed to contribute towards recovery to service users, care and members of staff. 
• Initially there will be seven full-time peer support worker posts, these posts will be flexible and can accommodate both part-time and full-time positions. It is hoped the number of posts will increase in future.
• A number of NHS Trusts have successfully introduced peer support workers into their workforce and is a key element of implementing recovery focused practice.

 

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