HIV Peer Support Worker

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Guildford seeks an HIV Peer Support Worker. The role requires personal experience of living with HIV to provide support and guidance to service users. Responsibilities include emotional support, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and assisting clients in developing individual recovery plans. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of recovery processes and the ability to inspire hope in others.

Benefits

Generous relocation package

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Personal experience of living with a diagnosis of HIV.
• Ability to provide emotional and practical support.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and practical peer support to service users.
• Support newly diagnosed and existing patients in adjusting to HIV diagnosis.
• Model a recovery process and demonstrate self-management skills.
• Collaborate closely with the multidisciplinary team.
• Identify strengths and personal goals of service users.

Job description

HIV Peer Support Workers (PSWs) provide structured peer support, practical advice and referral for our diverse population of service users, enabling them to understand and manage their condition in order to regain control over their own unique recovery journey. By sharing their own recovery journeys, HIV PSWs inspire hope and belief that a good and long life is possible after HIV diagnosis.
As an essential member of the Surrey multi-disciplinary team, the HIV PSW will collaborate with colleagues and third-party service providers to develop and deliver a varied range of peer support activities, including meeting with Surrey clinic service users on a drop-in basis, one to one peer support sessions and co-facilitation of educational sessions, workshops and support groups. The HIV PSW will support clients to identify their own goals and develop their unique recovery/self-management plans., You will be fully supported in your personal and professional development through training, as well as regular 1:1 supervision within the line management structure, along with peer supervision and involvement in Trustwide PSW development events.
Please note only candidates who have personal experience of living with a diagnosis of HIV can apply.
Please refer to your recovery journey and experiences of living with this diagnosis within your application. You will also be asked to give a short presentation on your recovery story at interview, should you be invited.
Please note there are new visa changes in place from 9th April 2025, the eligibility for a sponsorship has changed. Before submitting your application, please check out below link for further information regarding the qualifications or salary requirement to qualify for a skilled worker sponsorship: New rules to prioritise recruiting care workers in England - GOV.UK, 1. To provide emotional and practical peer support to service users in order to motivate engagement, build self-esteem and confidence.
2. To support newly diagnosed and existing patients regarding adjustment to HIV diagnosis including, but not limited to, issues around confidentiality and disclosure.
3. To refer patients with more complex needs such as suicidal ideation or enduring mental health issues to the MDT.
4. To provide a supportive and respectful relationship with service users, respecting their personal beliefs, uniqueness and identity.
5. To assume a 'coaching' role supporting service users in developing personal wellbeing plans; this can be delivered individually or in groups to assist individuals in managing their physical and mental wellbeing.
6. To model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate self-management skills and techniques, using own experience of recovery to illustrate a life beyond an HIV diagnosis.
7. To encourage the individual to be involved in care plans and risk/safety management plans.
8. To skilfully utilise personal experience of recovery and act as a role model for service users inspiring hope, sharing personal life experience and lessons learned as a person in ongoing recovery.
9. To assist service users in identifying their own strengths, personal interests and goals; providing opportunities for service users to direct their own recovery process.
10. To collaborate closely with the MDT to appropriately link service users with the most appropriate support. Including signposting patients in need of emergency financial support, immigration issues, benefits and housing to appropriate agencies and charities.
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

Do you have your own personal lived experience of an HIV diagnosis?
The role of HIV Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of recovery after their own HIV diagnosis. It is essential that Peer Support workers demonstrate a willingness to professionally use their lived experience to support the recovery journey of others and as such should be comfortable to share their status with clients, colleagues and external agencies.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.