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Job Vacancy: Suicide prevention and bereavement peer support Officer

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Job Details

Role Purpose: To provide high quality, compassionate suicide prevention and bereavement support for individuals, families and communities affected by suicide. Drawing upon their lived experience, the post holder will offer emotional, practical and peer-based support to people navigating the impact of suicide loss. The post holder will work collaboratively with partner agencies and local services to ensure those bereaved by suicide receive timely, person-centred support tailored to their individual needs. They will help create safe and supportive spaces where people feel heard, understood and connected, whilst promoting hope, recovery and community wellbeing. The role will contribute to both suicide prevention and postvention activities, helping to reduce isolation, strengthen support networks and ensure those affected by suicide have access to the right support at the right time.
  • Salary: £12,558
  • Hours of work: 17.5 hours per week (to be worked flexibly)
  • Reports to: Solace Operations Manager
  • Holiday entitlement: 29 days per year (plus bank holidays) pro rata
  • Pension: Auto enrolment into the workplace pension scheme
  • Location: Empowerment Base, 333 Bispham Road, Blackpool, FY2 0HH
  • Closing Date: 24/11/2026

Our mission is to work alongside people across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who feel unheard, ensuring they are empowered to create real and positive change in their own lives and the lives of others.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

  • Provide 1:1 peer support for people affected by suicide.
  • Offer compassionate emotional support, practical guidance and information to individuals and families bereaved by suicide.
  • Support individuals to access relevant services including counselling, healthcare, welfare advice, community groups and other appropriate support services.
  • Act as a positive peer role model, using lived experience appropriately to instil hope, reduce isolation and support recovery.
  • Use lived experience appropriately, safely and professionally to provide hope, understanding and support, whilst recognising when personal experiences should not be shared.
  • Facilitate peer-led support groups themed around suicide bereavement, general bereavement and wellbeing.
  • Provide a safe space for sharing experiences, mutual support and community healing.
  • Build trusting, respectful and meaningful relationships with people affected by suicide loss whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Assist in coordinating wrap-around support services for bereaved families.
  • Work in partnership with local agencies and services to deliver a collaborative and trauma-informed response.
  • Recognise, respond to and report safeguarding concerns in line with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Utilise gathered information, feedback and learning to enhance and expand suicide prevention and bereavement support services.
  • Promote awareness of suicide prevention, postvention support and the services available through Solace and Empowerment.

About You

Staff Development

  • To be flexible and responsive to individuals and the needs of the service.
  • To attend and participate in team meetings.
  • To attend and actively participate in supervision, reflective practice and appraisal processes.
  • To recognise the emotional impact of the role and engage in appropriate wellbeing, self-care and support practices.
  • To participate in relevant training and development opportunities.
  • To develop others and one’s own knowledge and practice.
  • To take responsibility for own development.
  • Contribute to the development and effectiveness of team working.

General Responsibilities

Person Specific

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Lived experience of suicide and suicide bereavement (minimum of 2 years post bereavement).
  • Ability to use personal lived experience safely, appropriately and purposefully to support others whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Proactive attitude.
  • Ability to actively listen and sit alongside people in difficult and emotionally challenging situations.
  • Understanding of the impact of grief, trauma and suicide bereavement on individuals, families and communities.
  • Ability to provide compassionate emotional and practical support whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
  • Ability to use IT, emails, Word and smartphones.
  • Ability to facilitate and coordinate group meetings face-to-face.
  • Enthusiastic, self-motivated approach with the ability to think creatively and apply initiative to group settings.
  • Ability to form trusting relationships with people affected by suicide loss.
  • Ability to work under the constraints of confidentiality.
  • Ability to work independently and constructively as part of a team.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.
  • Commitment to reflective practice and engagement in regular supervision.
  • Understanding of the importance of self-care and personal wellbeing when working in emotionally demanding environments.
  • Willingness to work outside ordinary office hours as and when required.

Experience

Personal Qualities

  • Enthusiasm
  • A strong belief in the rights of service users and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
  • Passionate about promoting justice and fairness.
  • Positive, professional attitude and non-judgemental approach.
  • Kindness, compassion and flexibility.
  • Honesty and integrity.
  • Reliability (in terms of tasks given and attendance).

General

Special Requirements:

  • Driver with access to a car (if you have a disability which does not enable you to drive a car, Empowerment will discuss reasonable alternative arrangements for travel).
  • Your car insurance cover will need to include business use as you will be using your car in the course of carrying out this role.
  • This post is subject to an enhanced application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

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