Peer Support Worker

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Peer Support Worker to provide peer-based support to inpatients, helping service users work toward recovery goals within the ward setting.

Successful applicants will use lived experience to empower service users, collaborate with the MDT, and promote inclusive, trauma-informed care during their inpatient journey.

Qualifications

• Experience of living with mental health challenges.
• Experience working with volunteers and community organisations.

Responsibilities

• Improve lives by promoting recovery and wellbeing.
• Be compassionate in meeting patients and carers' needs.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to support mental health needs.

Skills

Lived experience

Volunteer experience

Job description

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Peer Support Worker

The closing date is 09 November 2026

Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

As an integral and highly valued member of the [Inpatient] or [Specialist] Care Team, the PSW will provide formal and professional peer support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their unique recovery journey in a progressive way during their time on the ward.

Working in line with the national peer support competency framework, and the key principles of peer support as outlined by ImROC, The PSW will effectively use their own lived experience of recovery to support a person in their own recovery journey, helping the people they are supporting to navigate the inpatient pathway. By building positive relationship with service users and patients based on mutuality, reciprocity, and inclusivity, they will support people to identify their recovery goals and strengths working towards discharge. The PSW will advocate for a persons needs and support that person to self-advocate during their inpatient stay.

Main duties of the job

Where the term "service users" is used, this includes individual service users, people with lived experience, their family members and carers.

• To improve the lives of people with mental ill health by minimising the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing
• To be compassionate in meeting the needs of patients and their carers
• To work closely with multidisciplinary team within the service regarding the mental health needs of the people they are support

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

To acknowledge and work to the key principles for providing peer support (Mutuality, Reciprocity, Non-Directive, Strengths-based, Progressive, Inclusive, Recovery-Focused, and Safe)

Be aware the emotional context, staying calm and being clear, consistent and reliable. Ensuring that the approach with colleagues, and service users is balanced and fair.

To work with multi-disciplinary teams to support service users access additional services and teams within the inpatient setting to better meet their needs where possible.

To accept and respect service users personal beliefs, uniqueness and identities. Working and communicating in a way that acknowledges the personal social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of the individual.

To be aware of, teach others and challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations and anti-discriminatory practice as appropriate.

To attend multidisciplinary team and other meetings as appropriate, and champion a recovery and holistic approach to care. To actively participate in regular supervision and be willing to reflect on interpersonal dynamics.

To be trauma-informed, and be an ambassador for trauma informed care

CARING RESPONSIBLITIES:

To support service users to direct their own recovery process through encouraging them to work collaboratively with teams, and where possible, carers, to identify their own goals and needs and to co-produce care plans to support these.

To assist service users to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals, and support them to access and participate in activities which meet these, whilst demonstrating acceptance of and respect towards service users' personal beliefs, uniqueness and identity.

To support service users to maintain and/or develop positive relationships with others and learn how to improve or eliminate unhealthy relationships.

To model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate coping skills, using own experience.

To contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation and review of care with multidisciplinary teams.

To accompany service users to appointments, therapeutic or social, and community-based activities, as appropriate.

To assist service users to integrate into the service and local area and support them to access information on health promotion, mental and physical wellbeing where possible.

To assist the service user to understand their rights and choices within the services in which they participate.

To offer transitional support and aid navigation for Peers and Carers to access EPUT, third sector providers and community resources as the need dictates where possible.

To work with the family and carer ambassadors where possible to have a holistic approach to peer support for services users and their families / carers.

To promote opportunities for peer support and Lived experience in other areas of inpatient services.

To be an ambassador for lived experience across inpatient services.

RISK MANAGEMENT:

To manage and work effectively in line with Trust risk policies and procedures, whilst supporting an individual's recovery.

To ensure any observed concerns regarding an individual's wellbeing, including any issues of safeguarding, are raised with the team at the earliest opportunity.

To report any untoward incidents or unusual occurrences to management immediately.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Knowledge

• Experience of working alongside mental health professionals.

Skills/ Experience

• Personal lived experience of managing or living with complex mental health issues
• Experience of working with volunteers, 3rd sector organisations and/or community and social enterprise organisations

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust