Community Peer Worker

BHT Sussex; Burgess Hill; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5.5% stakeholder pension and life assu

Medicash medical cash plan

Learning & Development platform access

Employee assistance helpline (confid.)

Cycle-to-work scheme

Bus pass

Generous holiday allowance pro rata

Diversity and wellbeing activities

Job summary

BHT Sussex invites applications for a Community Peer Worker in Mid Sussex with occasional travel to Horsham. The role is 12 hours per week, with a salary of £25,878 per year, and is a permanent position within our Pathfinder Service.

You will draw on lived experience of mental health challenges to provide 1:1 and group support, build relationships with partners, and empower individuals to access local wellbeing services, including GP partners and community groups.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting adults with mental health needs.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Lived experience of mental health challenges is desirable.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and group support to clients, focusing on meaningful goals.
• Facilitate Pathfinder community groups.
• Hold an agreed caseload and manage clients’ recovery plans.
• Demonstrate how lived experience can enhance support.
• Build relationships with local partners and GP surgeries.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation

Time management

Teamwork

Empathy

Job description

Community Peer Worker

We have an exciting opportunity for a Community Peer Worker to play a vital role in providing support within our Pathfinder Service.

Position: Community Peer Worker

Location: Mid Sussex, with occasional travel to Horsham

Salary: £25,878 (Full time equivalent annual salary)

Hours: 12 hours per week (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 12 November 2026

Interview Date: 17 November 2026

About:

As a Community Peer Worker, you will be working for a people-led organisation whose mission and values is to inspire change across Sussex.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Pathfinder Service. BHT Sussex is the lead provider of mental health support across West Sussex https://www.pathfinderwestsussex.org.uk/ working closely with community partners, primary care and NHS mental health services.

You will be joining a passionate team who work together to support individuals with mental health needs across West Sussex.

The successful applicant will draw on their lived experience of mental health challenges to provide recovery focused 1:1 and group support. The role will also involve managing a caseload, working within a team and building relationships with local partners, including GP surgeries. As a Community Peer Worker, you will see clients both individually and in a group setting, supporting them to identify what they need and helping them to work on issues and access local support to meet these needs including community services. You will be able to take a holistic and flexible approach in your work, supporting individuals around both social and psychological issues that arise.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide practical and/or emotional support to clients, empowering them to create their own collection of wellbeing tools and manage their mental health more independently.
• To facilitate Pathfinder community groups.
• To hold an agreed caseload of clients, providing 1:1 support with a focus on meaningful, personal goals.
• To demonstrate how lived experience through Peer Support can enhance the support of people experiencing mental ill health.
• To build a supportive and respectful working relationships with clients whilst demonstrating appropriate professional boundaries.

Person Specification:

To be successful in the role of Community Peer Worker, you will need to have great communication skills and be committed to the values of BHT Sussex. Some of the key skills and experience you will need to bring with you include:

• Personal experience of mental health challenges, treatment, or recovery or experience of supporting someone with mental health issues (carer perspective).
• Experience of supporting individuals to complete person-centred mental health recovery plans based on their own goals and aspirations.
• Ability to work on own initiative and excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work proactively and effectively both independently and as a team member.
• Evidence of previous training or learning (formal or informal) which relates to supporting adults who have mental health needs.

In return:

In recognition of our commitment to staff, BHT Sussex has been awarded Gold Accreditation from Investors in People. We are also signed up to the Disability Confident employer scheme and have made the Mental Health at Work commitment.

You will also receive a fantastic benefits package including

• 5.5% stakeholder pension scheme and life assurance scheme
• Medical cash plan with Medicash
• Access to BHT Learning & Development platform
• Free and confidential employee assistance helpline for both personal and work-related concerns
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Free new starter 28-day Network Saver Brighton bus pass
• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days per annum pro rata, rising 1 day for each year of service to a maximum of 32 days pro rata
• The opportunity to participate in well-being and fundraising activities throughout the year

BHT Sussex is an equal opportunities employer using a fair and open recruitment process that fully complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to encouraging equality, equity, inclusion, and diversity within the workplace. As an employer we are committed to promoting and supporting our people’s social, physical and psychological health at work. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or reasonable adjustments if called for interview. BHT Sussex welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience.

An Enhanced with Adults and Children DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service) is required on all successful applicants as a condition of employment for this post.