Band 3 Peer Support Worker - DICE

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is seeking a Peer Support Worker in Birmingham to provide support for children and young people with autism and learning disabilities. This full-time role involves emotional support, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and utilizing personal experience to guide others. The ideal candidate should have lived experience in relevant areas and a commitment to person-centred care. Competitive salary and a supportive work environment await the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of learning disability, autism, or mental health challenges.
• Experience of providing informal support or advocacy.
• Ability to navigate crisis or support services.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-based emotional and practical support.
• Support engagement and resilience during crisis.
• Collaborate with MDT for coordinated care.

Skills

Knowledge of learning disability

Strong leadership skills

Commitment to person-centred practice

Education

GCSE English A-C grade or equivalent

Peer support training (accredited)

Job description

Overview

Due to newly acquired funding, we are looking to expand our provision of enhanced support for children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities who are at risk of psychiatric admission. The DICE team provides intensive support for children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism during times of crisis and recovery when discharged back to the care of community services. Our aim is to prevent avoidable hospital admissions, stabilise crises, and support recovery in the community. The team provides short term intensive intervention, working collaboratively with individuals, families, carers, and local services, to stabilise and enable people to live safely and meaningfully in the community. Peer Support Workers bring a unique and invaluable perspective, using their own lived experience of learning disabilities, autism, mental health challenges, to offer guidance, connection, and practical support.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-based emotional and practical support.
• Use your lived experience to support individuals, their families and carers during periods of stress or crisis
• Work as part of the MDT, ensuring the voice of the individual shapes care planning and service delivery.
• Support engagement, recovery, and resilience during crisis periods through goal setting with individuals, accessing appropriate resources, and working collaboratively within and across care teams to ensure a collaborative approach.

About us

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people\'s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Details

• Date posted: 01 October 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 3
• Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 18 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 436-7490140
• Job locations: city wide - Home base Finch Road, Birmingham, B191HS

Job description

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

We are unable to support applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work the United Kingdom (UK)

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

• Lived experience of learning disability, autism, mental health challenges, or of caring for someone with these experiences.
• Satisfactory level of Secondary education to GCSE English A-C grade or 9-4 grade or equivalent (may be working toward this).

Desirable

• Training in PBS or autism awareness
• NVQ/QCF Level 2 or 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent).
• Accredited peer support training

Experience

• Personal or carer experience of navigating crisis and/or support services.
• Experience of providing informal support, mentoring, or advocacy.
• Experience in using personal experience to support others and demonstrate empathy

Desirable

• Experience of working in crisis or intensive support services.
• Experience of co-production, service user involvement, or community engagement.
• Experience of group facilitation or peer support delivery.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of learning disability, autism and mental health.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and MDT collaboration skills.
• Commitment to person-centred, inclusive practice.
• Enthusiasm for service development and continuous learning.
• Respect for dignity, equality, and rights.
• Compassionate, respectful, and non-judgemental.
• Commitment to inclusion, co-production, and equality.
• Reliability, adaptability, and openness to learning.
• Willingness to reflect and develop through supervision
• Able to create a safe environment and use techniques to reduce anxiety and understand conflict
• Competent at using IT software

Desirable

• Basic knowledge of Positive Behavioural Support and recovery principles.
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.

Personal qualities

• Able to work as a member of a team
• Awareness of personal strengths and limitations
• Able to meet the travel requirements of the role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address: city wide - Home base Finch Road, Birmingham, B191HS

Employer's website: https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/