TP Hertfordshire Complex Needs Service - Upskilling peer mentors project

Who We Help, Why We Help & the Difference It Makes

What We Do

Hertfordshire Complex Needs Service is delivered on a 1:1 basis in the community, where we meet individuals at home addressees or at one of our wide - ranging hubs. We can also offer phone support and virtual sessions.

Please visit the website for referral information

What We Offer:

We directly support individuals who live in Hertfordshire, are 18 years old + who have diagnosed or self-reporting mental health and wellbeing issues, and who are experiencing the following complex health and social issues:

·       Tenancy issues - *Please note: People who are defined as No Fixed Abode (NFA), please go to our useful contacts section.

·       Debt or Financial issues

·       Addiction issues

·       Physical health issues

·       Mild Learning disability

·       Domestic abuse

·       Offending and anti-social behaviour

If you are looking for talking therapies and /or clinical based MH support, please access our Useful contacts section for details.

Our goal is to achieve positive outcomes in recovery, independence, and wellbeing through providing holistic, personalised and centred support. We support individuals to achieve a wide range of positive outcomes towards:

·       Increasing independence

·       Debt issues

·       Preventing homelessness

·       Obtaining and sustaining tenancies

·       Enhancing health and wellbeing

·       Resolving benefits and welfare issues

·       Improving community inclusion

·       Signposting to other organisations

·       Access to peer led group sessions and workshops

Volunteer

Volunteering opportunities

We have a number of unique and exciting roles at the service. Based on what opportunities you are looking for, we will look to find a role that’s suits you!

Jo’s story:

‘My background is in retail and I worked as a buyer for 15 years for Mother care, Argos, Ocado and more! I then worked as a sales & marketing manager for various agencies working with local businesses and charities to raise their profile.  I decided to volunteer after “retiring” as I wanted to make a difference in my community.  I chose CNS because mental health is very close to my heart having had personal struggles and I feel the work here is really important.  Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and is really fulfilling. My role here is to do Stage one Triage, setting up new referrals on the system, interviewing them and arranging an appointment with a senior support worker to assess their needs in more detail. Outside work I love to sing and act and I am in Rock Choir and The Harpenden Musical Theatre Company.  My passion is travel and I’ve been to 74 countries so far! My ambition is to visit 100 countries before I die.’

John’ story:

‘I started my career in the motor industry as a student apprentice and worked in industry for over 35 years in a variety of positions until taking voluntary redundancy from BT, where I had worked for nearly 20 years. Much of my career was working with computers and databases as an “intelligent user” and developing systems so they work from the user and management points of view.

After a 3 month break, I joined St. Elizabeth’s Centre in Much Had ham, helping to set up a social enterprise. The centre is a residential home for adults with intractable epilepsy and the objective was to provide real work experience in a safe environment for the residents by re-furbishing donated furniture. Bidding for grants from the learning and skills council, monitoring progress against targets provided much of the funding, the balance coming from sales of furniture. The challenge of working with adults, all of whom had learning difficulties provided a very different set of challenges but also a lot of job satisfaction. 

Later I moved to Herts Mind Network in Ware in an administrative role. In addition to general admin work, I was responsible for developing a database of client related records. . Over two years I suggested improvements, tested the software and trained staff to use it. I checked data integrity and supporting managers to realise the potential for the system. Once fully embedded into the organisation and felt I could not take it any further, I decided to retire form paid work but still wanted to do something to help people with mental health issues, so continued work as a volunteer with the Complex Needs Service. My role has developed from data entry to assisting the manager to provide statistics to show how the service is supporting its clients. 

I have been married to Margaret for almost 50 years and we have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. We have an active social life. I have been involved in amateur dramatics and singing most of my life and pantomimes are my favourite. I have played as part of a comedy duo and love being the pantomime dame. One day I hope to be the villain.’

If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact us on 01707 891 120 or email [email protected]

Peer mentor opportunities

Our Peer Mentors engage, motivate, and inspire clients and act as positive role models. 

We provide an accredited Peer Mentoring training programme, where individuals who wish to make a difference and enhance their own recovery can build on existing talent and learn new skills.

We are offering a unique chance to gain an Open Award Level 2 Certificate in Peer Mentoring and once qualified; you will support our Herts based service users on 1:1 basis, weekly or fortnightly for up to six months.

For an inspirational story, listen to Tom- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCGfWOX307k

If you would like to become a Peer Mentor, please contact us on 01707 891 120 or email [email protected]

Community Trail

This project took place in 2023 and has now been completed. If you would like to become a peer mentor within the service please visit the Volunteer section for more information

About the project

 TP Hertfordshire Complex Needs service applied to the Innovation fund to upskill in the peer mentors that support the service.  The ain was that this funding would then enhance their confidence and build up their skills when delivering workshops to people we support in the service. They wanted to do this by providing peer mentors with a level 3 award in Education and Training, this award would give the peer mentors the skills to:

·         create workshops

·         how to cater to different learning needs

·          how to manage a class  and understand behaviours 

·         how to evaluate and assess throughout the workshops 

·         to develop their knowledge related to teaching and learning 

·         develop skills in teaching and assessment including planning, delivering and evaluation

·         develop communication and engagement skills

This project aimed to have a positive impact on the wider service by increasing the number and scope of workshops that could be delivered by people with lived and living experience as the cohort of trained peer mentors increases. 

Examples of workshops included  mental health, 5 ways to wellbeing  and a practical tools to be able to live independently.

Since receiving the fund the project has increased the number of peer mentors and volunteers supporting the service with more on the waiting list to join.  The peer mentors have been supporting the development and attending events to promote the benefits of peer mentoring in the local community. 

Peer mentor feedback includes 

" Peer mentor A felt welcomed by everyone and found it easy to fit in, everyone was helpful, friendly and made her feel comfortable and at ease and she has adapted well in the environment".