PEER SUPPORT WORKER
The UISCE Team is seeking to recruit a ?PEER SUPPORT WORKER? to
work in conjunction with the community of people who use drugs, to
ensure the human rights/civil liberties of PWUD?S are protected
within addiction and homeless services. The primary responsibility of
the peer worker will be to work with the team to identify, engage and
work with people who use drugs to ensure their human rights are
protected when accessing services.
BACKGROUND
UISCE is the National Advocacy for people who use drugs in Ireland
based in Dublin North-Inner City. UISCE advocates for the rights of
people who use drugs in Ireland where decisions that impact their
lives are being made at local, regional and national level.
UISCE engages with people who use drugs through peer-led outreach, as
well as one to one advocacy support, provides harm reduction
information, facilitates overdose response training and, overall,
works to empower the voices of people who use drugs in Ireland.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Reporting to the Peer Support Lead and the Coordinator, the Peer
Support Worker (PSW) provides kind, non-judgmental access to advocacy
and support in efforts to reduce stigma, barriers to care and support
client empowerment and basic human rights. The Peer Support Worker
works with peer volunteers to develop creative approaches to peer
support, and to collaborate with external community harm reduction
providers (needle exchange staff, other outreach teams, etc).
The PSW provides support and advocacy from a harm reduction
perspective in order to promote well-being and safety. A role of the
PSW will be to promote safer drug use techniques and may include
response to opioid overdose. The PSW will also provide relational
support, education and referral information for other health and
well-being services as requested. The PSW, if not already trained,
will be trained in Naloxone administration and overdose awareness.
MAIN DUTIES
_OUTREACH_
* Recruitment of volunteers for the peer led outreach team.
* Supporting the Outreach Team.
* Collating information and reporting to Coordinator.
_TRAINING_
* Identifying gaps in knowledge within the community where UISCE can
support service providers and PWUD with information and training.
* Developing relevant educational materials.
* Organise training sessions.
* Co-facilitate training sessions.
_ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY_
* Support the community (including PWUD, people who use services and
service providers) to promote communications through Service Users
(SU) Forums within services.
* Attend SU Forum sessions and empower attendees to identify needs.
* Promote the inclusion of PWUD in decision making spaces (TF,
forums, expert groups, etc).
_ADVOCACY_
* Support the advocacy needs of PWUD through 1:1 support, liaison
with relevant stakeholders and agencies.
_GENERAL_
* Liaise and network with relevant statutory, community and voluntary
agencies.
* Establish working relationships with service providers to ensure a
clear line of communication.
* Supporting the community of PWUD through advocacy.
* Provide training as agreed with line management.
* Undertake training as agreed with line management.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
* **Apply on the website**-month fixed term contract
* The salary will be ?**Apply on the website**,**Apply on the
website** for **Apply on the website** hours per week.
* The PSW will be based at the UISCE Team office, 8 Cabra Road,
Dublin 7.
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
Many forms of education and experience are valued, including
volunteering, education and experience requirements could include:
* Two years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on
substance use, mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social
services, including one years? experience in an advocate, peer
support and/or outreach role.
* Lived experience and an understanding of the issues surrounding
the community of people who use drugs.
* Experience of working in a ?one to one? setting and group
facilitation.
* Good understanding of goals and actions of Ireland?s National
Drug Strategy: ?Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery?, especially in
regards to harm reduction and Service User Involvement.
* Good understanding of Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task
Force structures in Ireland.
* Current First Aid and CPR certification (this can be obtained
post-hire and should not be a barrier to applying).
* Proficient in a variety of computer software applications
including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access).
* Experience in leading or training groups.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Organised, punctual, and reliable.
* Experience with volunteering.
SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION
* The peer worker will be expected to engage with the Coordinator for
ongoing support and supervision. Successful candidates may be required
to complete in-house training to ensure that they are equipped with
the core competencies and skills necessary to carry out the role of
Peer Support Worker.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit
your CV and a cover letter outlining your qualifications & experience
by email to: **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**
Please ensure to include ?APPLICATION FOR UISCE PEER WORKER? in
the subject line of your email. Applications not labelled correctly
may fail to be shortlisted. For more information about the role please
contact **Apply on the website**
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS WEDNESDAY **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**TH
MARCH **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**
Interviews are expected to take place in March/April.
UISCE will acknowledge receipt of all applications.
UISCE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVIEW AND AMEND THIS JOB DESCRIPTION AS
APPROPRIATE.
UISCE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER AND ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS
WITHOUT DISTINCTION ON THE GROUNDS OF AGE, RACE, POLITICAL OR
RELIGIOUS CONVICTION, GENDER, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND REGARDLESS OF
DISABILITIES.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
