SUN facilitators

Overview

The SUN facilitator with lived experience will work closely with a SUN specialist clinician to deliver regular Service User Network (SUN) support groups in different community-based locations across Surrey and North East Hampshire. SUN provides community-based, open access facilitated peer support groups and aims to help people develop effective ways of coping and improve their relationship with themselves and others. We 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 SUN may or may not have a formal diagnosis of personality disorder. All members will have experienced longstanding emotional difficulties, isolation and are very likely to demonstrate unhelpful patterns of behaviour. SUN emphasises therapeutic community principles where the effectiveness of the service depends on engaging members in running, delivering, developing and evaluating the community.

The use of SUN members’ own resources and expertise is integral to the model of facilitated peer support on which the SUN groups are based. Beyond the support groups, SUN is a community where members can take part in facilitated SUN social events, focus groups and community meetings, and the service also produces a regular newsletter. SUN facilitators will have regular supervision and support in this role.

We are looking for individuals who are highly resilient and confident in sustaining an emotionally demanding paid role. We care about staff wellbeing and staff may need to access support for their wellbeing. Confidential support is available through MFT. Being a staff member while using services within Surrey, especially in a group setting, may raise boundary issues due to the self-registration and open-access nature of SUN.

We encourage candidates to consider these implications prior to applying. If helpful, please speak to the SUN Service Manager. Creation of an observing/ shadowing option is possible by emailing

The SUN support groups are open to visitors.

To co-deliver regular SUN support groups in the community, both face to face and online, with a clinical facilitator.

• To work in collaboration with the co-facilitator and the SUN members within support groups to: promote peer support and reduce isolation; share and relate lived experience; act as a role model; improve coping skills; reduce crises that require urgent and unplanned responses from services; facilitate access to other services and sources of support; assist people in understanding their rights and choices within the service;
  
  encourage and motivate active involvement in recovery; positively promote and support empowerment of members.
• To use own lived experience of mental health problems associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder to support the development and knowledge of the service and wider services.
• To follow the protocols and guidelines for effective working and to take full responsibility for understanding and applying professional boundaries.
• To contribute to ensuring that any potential risk is being constantly assessed within a culture of positive risk taking and shared responsibility.
• To contribute to team supervision and business meetings and consider information regarding the safety and wellbeing of the people who access the service.
• To co-lead on different areas of the service on a rota basis (e.g., reporting, outreach, and member involvement).
• To be responsible for keeping up to date with emails and updating the Outlook diary, etc.
• To cover admin when required; respond to phone calls and email enquiries; set up group links, etc.
• To actively engage in weekly team supervision and reflective practice.
• To actively engage in 1:1 check-ins and managerial supervisions.
• To undertake all the required training in line with the development of the post and as agreed with both your line manager within MFT and the SUN service manager.
• To attend and contribute to additional service development meetings as required.
• To assist in the promotion of the service through active…