SUN Facilitator with Lived Experience
Status: Closed – this vacancy has been filled
Job Summary
Job Title: Service User Network (SUN) Facilitator with Lived Experience
Service: Personality Disorder Services for Primary Care (SUN)
Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week
Salary: £26,000
Location: Various locations in Surrey – currently Leatherhead and home working
About the role
The Facilitator with Lived Experience will be working closely with a mental health practitioner to deliver regular Service User Network (SUN) groups in different community-based locations across Surrey.
The SUN is an initiative aimed at improving services for people with personality disorders. The SUN provides community-based, open access peer support groups and aims to help people develop effective ways of coping, reduce emergencies and improve access to appropriate services. We would welcome applications from members who have not attended this Surrey and NE Hants SUN service for 6 months prior to applying for this post. Facilitators are not able to be current members of the Surrey and NE Hants SUN group.
Those accessing the SUN may or may not have a formal diagnosis of personality disorder however, all members will have experienced longstanding emotional difficulties, isolation and are very likely to demonstrate unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
Fundamental to creating empowerment and engagement in the SUN Project is the therapeutic community principle, that the effectiveness of the service depends upon engaging group members in the task of running, delivery, development and evaluation of the service. The utilisation of SUN members’ own resources and expertise is integral to the model of peer support upon which the SUN groups are based.
SUN Facilitators with Lived Experience will have regular supervision and support in this role, including access to a peer support network and appropriate training.
About the project
NHS England recently announced a new transformation fund to be allocated to pilot sites within 12 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships / Integrated Care Systems across the country to test new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care. Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership is one of these successful pilot sites.
One of the elements of this new approach to supporting people in their communities is focused on people with some of the difficulties associated with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and includes close partnership working between Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a specialist mental health third sector organisation.
Main duties and responsibilities
- To work alongside a Mental Health Practitioner (MHP) and deliver regular SUN groups online and in the community going forward.
- To work in collaboration with the MHP and the SUN members to:
- promote peer support and reduce isolation;
- improve coping skills of its members;
- reduce the number of crises that require urgent and unplanned responses from services;
- facilitate access to other services and sources of support.
- To use own wisdom of lived experience of Personality Disorder / personality difficulties, to support the development and knowledge of people using the service.
- To follow the protocols and guidelines for effective working.
- To take full responsibility for understanding and applying professional boundaries.
- To ensure that any potential risk is being constantly assessed within a culture of positive risk taking.
- To contribute information regarding the safety and wellbeing of the people who access the service.
- To assist people in understanding their rights and choices within the service.
- To encourage and motivate people to take an active role in their own recovery.
- To positively promote and support independence for people in the community.
- To actively contribute towards the evaluation of the service.
- To keep up to date documentation and take on all the necessary administrative duties.
- To report any areas of concern to the senior team, in line with Risk Management Policy.
- To actively engage in clinical and managerial supervisions and team reflective practice.
- To undertake all the required training in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the manager.
- To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to Personality Disorder, peer support and mental health.
- To attend clinical, business and service development meetings as required.
- To assist in the promotion of the service through active liaison, meetings, and presentations with people who access services, staff and other organisations.
- To comply with all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines.
- To undertake any relevant duties as requested.
*For more information about this role, please see the job description below.*
How to apply
Please download and complete the application form below and return it to: [email protected].
*Please note that we do not accepts CVs. You can send us your CV; however, in order to move through to the next stage of recruitment you will need to complete our application form.*
Further information
If you have any queries about this vacancy, please contact: [email protected].