Volunteer Peer support volunteer with lived experience of addiction

What will you be doing?

Rehabit are looking for volunteers with lived experience of addiction / substance abuse to join our team helping those struggling with drugs and alcohol. Our definition of peer support is someone with lived experience of addiction, who practices a recovery programme, and who knows how to work with those who are ready for recovery or in early recovery.  Specifically, there are two types of role. The first involves talking with and meeting new clients who are ready for recovery and waiting for counselling with us. They will join other peer supporters in being the first point of contact for client referrals.  The second involves joining community drop-in sessions at our partners locations. These could community centres, food banks, residential centres, hostels and so on. We are currently developing this programme and would like to build a network of peer support volunteers to cover the sessions. To begin with, these will primarily be in Islington. The ideal volunteers will have at least three years’ experience advising or mentoring clients, or advocating on their behalf, and a good working knowledge of the social care sector. Peer supporters can focus on one of the above roles or a combination of both.  The aim is to identify and support clients into our in-house counselling service. The intention isn’t to build long-term relationships with clients but to identify and support those who are ready (and don’t need detox) into our counselling service. We also guide clients to 12-step fellowships if they are willing, but this isn’t a condition of us helping. We deal with low volume of clients, generally those who are stuck in the system or falling through the cracks. This means there can be ebbs and flows in client numbers.  Peers supporters will need a DBS check, unless they hold one on the Update Service, and, as well as mandatory training, there will be an in-house peer support coaching and charity orientation sessions. Lastly, our main area is Islington but we also cover Haringey, Camden, Barnet and Enfield.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications and experience Lived experience of addiction and experience offering peer support or working with addicts / substance abusers in some capacity. The ideal volunteers will have at least three years’ experience advising or mentoring clients, or advocating on their behalf, and a good working knowledge of the social care sector. Key skills

Advice-giving and guidance skills Confident having conversations with people they don’t know Coaching or mentoring Be able and be able to listen and reflect Empathy Be open about their own recovery story. Good interpersonal and communication skills Flexible Ability to work unsupervised Confidence working with people from diverse backgrounds

What difference will you make?

Your role will help people struggling with drugs and alcohol and who are stuck in the system or falling through the cracks to get much-needed support, guidance and counselling.