Lived-Experience Peer Support Specialist

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Kirkwhelpington; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking a candidate to join its HOPE team in Northumberland/North Tyneside region. The post relies on lived experience to support adults with trauma-related difficulties, offering group and 1:1 help, and fostering recovery and well-being. Travel across the county is required; strong boundary skills are essential.

The role focuses on building trust, sharing recovery insights professionally, and supporting carers and families throughout treatment.

Qualifications

• Understanding of personal values and beliefs
• Good interpersonal and team-working skills
• Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
• Confidence in own skills and ability to draw upon own resilience and strengths to sustain own wellbeing
• Ability to assist people to develop recovery and wellness plans
• Ability to facilitate groups
• Ability to deliver aspects of a planned training event
• Ability and willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
• Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
• Ability draw on own resilience while working with challenging situations
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload
• Experience of WRAP or other recovery / person-centred planning tools
• Knowledge of mental health systems
• Personal lived experience of secondary mental health services and recovery journey

Responsibilities

• Co facilitate and develop therapeutic groups for service users and create a safe space for sharing experiences.
• Working 1:1 with service users to offer appropriate individualised support and advice.
• Managing and prioritising your workload independently.
• Communicate through face to face, telephone, email, and in group settings.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team as well as individually.
• Maintain professional boundaries and self-awareness.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Team working

Sharing personal recovery story

Group facilitation

1:1 support

Professional boundaries

Communication across methods

Self-awareness

Trauma-informed practice

Recovery and wellness planning

Job description

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking a candidate to join its HOPE team in Northumberland/North Tyneside region. The post relies on lived experience to support adults with trauma-related difficulties, offering group and 1:1 help, and fostering recovery and well-being. Travel across the county is required; strong boundary skills are essential.

The role focuses on building trust, sharing recovery insights professionally, and supporting carers and families throughout treatment.