Learning Disability Peer Support Worker

NHS; Whittingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare foundation is seeking a Learning Disability Peer Support Worker in Whittingham to support individuals with learning disabilities. This role emphasizes using personal experience to empower service users and enhance their recovery journey. The ideal candidate will engage in meaningful activities, ensuring users' voices are heard and valued. This position offers a salary of £24,465 per annum with flexible working options available.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in a healthcare setting.
• Willingness to undertake training appropriate to the role.

Responsibilities

• Support service users in providing feedback on their experience.
• Engage service users in meaningful peer-led activities.
• Use personal lived experience to facilitate support.

Skills

Personal lived experience of having a learning disability

Effective communication in a healthcare setting

Basic computer literacy

Job description

Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Learning Disability Peer Support Worker

The closing date is 24 November 2025

Please be advised this role is designed to support our diverse community, and improve employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

This post is open to applicants with a learning disability. If this does not apply to you please do not submit an application.

Previous applicants to this post need not apply.

Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities. The site is due to open in Winter 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston.

As we prepare to open this unit, we have a new and exciting opportunity for a LD Peer Support Worker to join us and support the Multi‑Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person‑centred care.

This role will play a vital part in ensuring that the voices of people who use our service are embedded in everything we do.

One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient‑centred care at its heart.

Main duties of the job

As a Peer Support Worker, you will use your personal lived experience of having a learning disability to support and empower others facing similar experiences.

Working within Water Meadow View, you will provide emotional and practical support, helping individuals build confidence, develop independence, and engage in recovery in a meaningful way. You will also use your lived experience to ensure that the service user's voice is heard and is at the centre.

The key responsibilities of this role are:

• To work directly with service users on a 1:1 and in group settings as agreed with the Ward Manager.
• To encourage and support service users to engage in meaningful occupations throughout the day.
• Work alongside service users and occupational therapy professionals to plan, deliver and evaluate occupational therapy groups through meaningful co‑production.
• To engage with service users throughout their recovery journey to support admission, therapy, treatment, care and discharge.
• Support professionals to deliver training to external providers to support successful discharges
• To support multi‑disciplinary professionals to develop resources for service users

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well‑being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi‑time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job responsibilities

To support service users to provide feedback on their therapy, treatment and care.

Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance staff understanding of lived experience.

Use and develop reasonably adjusted information such as easy read information based on the needs of the service user

Use personal lived experience to support Water Meadow View recruitment and selection process.

To facilitate peer led activities within the unit such as coffee mornings, service user engagement sessions to promote social interaction, skill development and mutual support.

Use lived experience to support with the induction of new employees.

To meet and greet visitors and take an active role in site introductions and walk rounds.

To work closely with the Lived Experience Quality Assurance Lead, to ensure that service user feedback is shared.

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in a healthcare setting.
• Basic computer literacy skills and the ability to use computer systems such as emails, Microsoft Teams, internet searches etc.
• Willingness to undertake training appropriate to the role.

Knowledge

• Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring the voices of people with lived experience are heard

Experience

• Personal lived experience of having a learning disability
• Experience of using inpatient or community based learning disability services.

Personal

• Willingness to share own personal experiences to support and empower others
• Genuine concern for the well‑being of others, creating a safe space for service users to share their experiences.
• Ability to take guidance from colleagues appropriately.

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 name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

£24,465 a yearPer Annum (subject to confirmation)