Peer Connector (Peer/Lived Experience)

Recovery Focus; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Enhanced sick pay

Birthday leave

Professional fee reimbursement

24/7 online GP access

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Blue Light/Card discounts

Free will writing

Job summary

Waythrough in Sheffield is seeking a Peer Connector within the Hospital to Home Service. The role supports individuals affected by alcohol misuse in a hospital setting, drawing on lived experience to build trust and guide them to further treatment and recovery.

The role involves providing practical and emotional support, promoting independence, and coordinating with housing, health and social care services to support community integration.

Qualifications

• Qualification or training in health and social care, housing, substance misuse, counselling or related field.
• Lived experience of substance use and recovery.
• Experience engaging with support services (e.g., treatment, housing, mental health).
• Ability to mentor, advocate and build trusting relationships.

Responsibilities

• Use lived experience to build trusting relationships with individuals.
• Provide emotional and practical support during transitions.
• Act as a positive role model and promote engagement with services.
• Support individuals to access hospital-to-home and community treatment.
• Contribute to joint care planning and reviews with treatment teams.
• Advocate to ensure access to housing, health and social care services.
• Maintain confidential client records and documentation.
• Attend community visits and work across multiple sites.

Skills

Lived experience

Engagement with services

Advocacy

Communication skills

Education

NVQ or equivalent

Job description

Peer Connector (Peer/Lived Experience) - Likewise Sheffield Location: The base location is Portland House, 243 Shalesmoor, Moorfields, Sheffield S3 8UG, however travel across sites required e.g. Hospitals Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £25,877.80 - £30,868.31 per annum (Dependent on skills and experience) Please note that the close date is subject to change depending on volume of applications received. Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it's a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

About The Role:

Likewise Drug & Alcohol Service, Sheffield are pleased to announce a new opportunity based within our new Hospital to Home Service. The role involves supporting individuals affected by alcohol misuse within a hospital setting. The post holder will provide peer support, drawing on lived experience with a focus on strengthening engagement, building trust and supporting individuals to access further treatment and or into sustained recovery. Providing practical and emotional support to enable a successful transition from hospital to home and into longer-term community treatment services.

What You'll Do:

• Use lived experience to build trusting, credible relationships with individuals, including those who may not be yet have engaged with or be disengaged from services
• Provide emotional and practical support during high-risk transition periods
• Act as a positive role model, demonstrating recovery and stability and support individuals to engage with peer support and promote contact with those with lived experience.
• Contribute to a team effort that supports individuals transitioning from hospital to home
• Encourage engagement with Likewise treatment services or other recovery support services
• Support individuals to develop coping strategies and relapse prevention approaches
• Assist in the provision of health education and advice on health promotion to clients, families and carers.
• Promote wellbeing, independence, and community integration
• Strengthen engagement with services such as housing, health and social care if needed
• Advocate on behalf of clients to ensure access to services
• Contribute to joint support planning and case reviews in conjunction with the Alcohol Specialist Worker and wider treatment teams
• To develop and maintain effective partnership working relationships with a wide range of support providers and stakeholders to maximise opportunities for people to access
• To act as an advocate, where appropriate, on behalf of clients to promote access to and engagement with sources of support and community assets
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries within a peer role
• Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns
• Share relevant information with the team to support risk management
• Work flexibly, including community visits and lone working
• Keep accurate and confidential client records using relevant Management Information Systems

To Succeed in This Role, You'll Need:

• Qualification or training in health and social care, housing, substance misuse, counselling or related field (for example NVQ)
• Lived experience of substance use and recovery
• Experience of engaging with support services (e.g., treatment services, housing services, mental health services)
• Demonstrable experience of supporting, mentoring, or advocating for others (formal or informal)
• Understanding of the challenges associated with substance use, recovery journeys, and/or homelessness
• Ability to build trusting relationships and engage people
• Ability to motivate and inspire individuals to make positive changes
• Reliable and able to maintain consistency with clients
• Commitment to personal development and ongoing recovery
• Ability to manage personal boundaries and maintain professionalism

What We Offer

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
• Life assurance (3 * annual salary)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Closing Date: 2026-10-04

Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England - and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.