Peer Support Supervisor

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Dewsbury; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional NHS trust in Dewsbury is seeking a Peer Support Supervisor to lead and support Peer Support Workers. You will play a key role in developing peer-led initiatives while mentoring new recruits. The position requires lived experience in mental health recovery and excellent interpersonal skills to build relationships with service users. Join a diverse team dedicated to enhancing mental health services. Strong organizational skills are essential for project management and community partnership development.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health recovery is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to support and mentor others.
• Satisfactory sickness record over the previous two years.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual line management supervision to Peer Support Workers.
• Lead project work and support user-led initiatives.
• Develop partnerships with community organisations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Communication

Empathy

Leadership

Education

Minimum NVQ level 3 in business administration or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Peer Support Supervisor

Closing date 12 February 2026

Perinatal Peer Support Worker Supervisor 30hrs Band 4

This is an exciting opportunity to work in the Perinatal Mental Health Team leading on our Peer Support pathway. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone with lived experience of mental health illness to be involved in delivering peer support to help women referred to us providing peer-based interventions. The role will involve working with service users in their own home, carers, Trust staff, community groups and organisations.

The service operates Monday‑Friday; 9.00am‑5.00pm however successful applicants would be expected to have the flexibility to work occasional extended hours to facilitate service effectiveness.

We welcome applications from people from diverse communities.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

Main duties of the job

The Peer Support Worker (PSW) role is designed for individuals with lived experience of mental health recovery. The PSW Supervisor ensures these experiences are applied effectively and supports services in recognising the value of peer contributions, fostering hope and belief in recovery.

As a key member of the multidisciplinary team, the PSW Supervisor provides structured supervision and line management to PSWs, enabling them to achieve their potential. The role includes leading project work, supporting service‑user‑led initiatives, and integrating lived experience into planning, design, and delivery. This involves developing partnerships with community organisations and contributing to the ongoing development of peer roles within the Trust.

The PSW Supervisor also plays an active role in recruiting PSWs and offers high-quality individual supervision. They work closely with new recruits to help them establish their role within the team.

You will have good interpersonal skills as the role involves building strong trusting relationships with women and their families during a critical time in their lives. Ideally you should have experience of supporting the development of peer‑led or co‑produced groups and projects.

For further details contact Claire Lowe, Perinatal Service Manager by emailing [e-mail] or [e-mail]

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

As an integral and highly valued member of the team, the post holder will work under the direction of an identified team member to support the delivery of the identified department but also under the supervision of a Senior PSW within the Trust.

JOB SUMMARY

As the role of Peer Support Worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of recovery from mental health challenges the PSW supervisor will enable the PSW to professionally utilise these experiences. The PSW supervisor will support services to value and respond to Peer Support Workers who will share their wisdom of their own experiences to inspire hope and belief in others that recovery is possible.

As an integral and highly valued member of the multi‑disciplinary team, the PSW supervisor role will provide formalised peer support supervision and line management to PSWs within the team to ensure peer support workers can reach their potential and fulfil their role whilst maintaining fidelity to the peer support model. It is recognised and recommended that Peer Support workers receive supervision from someone with a peer support background and lived experience.

The post holder will lead on project work within the work area, and support others with experience/service‑user‑led projects and development, bringing the voice of experience into the planning, design and delivery of projects and developments. This will include a key role in supporting and developing mechanisms for working in partnership with community organisations/groups.

There is an expectation that the PSW supervisor will be involved in the ongoing development of peer roles within the Trust through attendance at trust peer support network meetings and training.

The PSW supervisor will be actively involved in the recruitment of peer support workers within the team. The post holder will provide high‑quality individual line management supervision to PSWs working within the team. They will work alongside newly recruited peer support workers supporting them in establishing their role within the multidisciplinary team.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

The post holder will:

1.1 Care/service/function provision:

• Provide high-quality individual line management supervision to Peer Support Workers working in the team.
• Co‑produce peer support documents and initiatives with peer support workers in the team.
• Attend peer support conferences and workshops to increase knowledge of current developments and disseminate findings to enhance service delivery.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues relating to the specific service user group, peer support and mental health.
• Co‑deliver training alongside the MDT in the specialism in which they work, including within Recovery Colleges.
• Develop stronger links and working partnerships with external agencies, including other NHS Trusts employing peer support workers and voluntary organisations.
• Be involved in the recruitment of peer support workers, including being on interview panels.
• Support the structures associated with the service.
• Support several identified work streams within the team.
• Maintain professional relationships with confidentiality and boundary maintenance.
• Develop and deliver project information, training materials, communication materials and promotional information as required.
• Help individuals and groups identify their own achievable and meaningful goals and objectives, drawing on peer resources and tools.
• Support service users to identify and overcome fears and move forward positively within a relationship of empathy, trust and honesty.
• Facilitate access to community resources and networks to maximise opportunities for socially valued roles and positive identity.
• Work in a way that acknowledges personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of any individual or group.

1.2 Working as part of a Team:

• Mentor newly appointed peer support workers in establishing supportive and respectful relationships with people using the service.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating self‑management skills, recovery processes, and inspiring hope through lived experience.
• Show professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards team members, staff, service users, carers and the public.
• Attend team meetings, including briefings, and provide administrative support as required.
• Support the production, completion, recording and filing of project documentation.
• Support the development of exhibitions and live events to showcase the talents of participants in projects.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• Team player.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Ability to use own lived experience and represent the lived experience of others to facilitate system change.
• Demonstrates an understanding of equality and diversity.
• Able to lead and inspire others.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder.
• Ability to empathise and advocate the needs of others.

Qualifications

• Minimum NVQ level 3 in business administration or equivalent.
• Lived experience of mental health.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Training

• Commitment to continually develop self and others.
• Recognised training in related areas.

Experience

• Own lived experience of recovery from mental health challenges.
• Knowledge of secondary mental health services.
• Experience of positively sharing own life experiences, and personal recovery journey, with service users, carers and others.
• Ability to demonstrate first‑person experiential knowledge of recovery.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
• Experience of working in a range of health and/or social care settings as a peer support worker.
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and supporting them to access opportunities beyond mental health services.
• Recent experience of supervision of others.
• Supporting, advising and developing other people.
• Experience of working independently in own specialised area of work, with minimal supervision.
• Ability to understand how organisations work.
• Third sector experience.
• Experience of working with volunteers.
• Experience of training, supervising and or developing others.
• Experience of co‑design and co‑production.
• Experience of working with other staff support such as HR, occupational health and staff side.
• Experience of project management and implementation of new processes and procedures.
• Experience of working with senior teams, stakeholders and outside bodies and working across organisations to influence strategies, policies and behaviour.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of involvement and engagement practices, techniques and approaches.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of IT competency across a range of platforms, including Excel and data management systems, survey tools and analysis.
• Ability to prioritise significant workload in response to changing demands and requirements, including setting and reviewing targets and adjusting activity.
• Ability to develop and nurture excellent relationships.
• Highly tuned analytical skills including making decisions on appropriate approaches to sensitive or complex issues where there may be conflict of opinions.
• Ability to deal with contentious issues in an antagonistic environment.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant national legislation, policies and local guidance.

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

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust