Peer Support Worker

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

South West London St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking a part-time peer support worker to engage with patients experiencing eating disorders. The role involves direct clinical contact, group co-facilitation and motivational support on recovery journeys.

Applicants must have recovered lived experience and be willing to work flexibly with the multidisciplinary team. Training and safeguarding responsibilities are part of the position.

Qualifications

• Relevant training in peer support and safeguarding.
• Good standard of education with flexibility for NHS roles.
• Willingness to engage in accredited peer support training.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-supported care to patients with eating disorders.
• Deliver time-limited, outcome-focused interventions individually or in groups.
• Coach patients in recovery planning and personal goals; model recovery.
• Support development and monitoring of peer support interventions; report outcomes.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Peer support

Education

AS Level / NVQ3

Job description

Site Springfield University Hospital Town London Salary £31,554 - £33,270 pro rata per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs Salary period Yearly Closing 24/09/2026 12:00

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

We are looking for a person who is passionate about working with a range of patients who experience eating disorders (some of whom are difficult to engage). The post is part-time (22.5 hours per week).

The role involves a range of supportive tasks including direct clinical contact with service users; co-facilitating groups; offering support and motivation to patients on their recovery journey.

The role will require good organisation skills, creative thinking and problem solving, as well as teamwork and passion. It is essential that you have personal lived experience of a clinically diagnosed eating disorder from which you have recovered and you are no longer in active treatment for.

(If you are unsure whether your personal lived experience meets the criteria for this job role, please contact the recruiting managers and we will be happy to speak with you)

Main duties of the job

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. T he Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a varietybenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey

Working for our organisation

Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. T he Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a varietybenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work with the multi-disciplinary team to provide additional support to patients with eating disorders using the principles and values of peer support.

To deliver time-limited, outcome focused interventions individually or via groups that build on peoples existing resources and personal resiliencies.

To assume a ‘coaching’ role supporting patients in developing personal recovery and/or Crisis & Contingency plans and to assist them to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals.

To provide opportunities for patients to direct their own recovery process and to act as a role model to them to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person and after recovery.

To facilitate the individual to move through and beyond mental health services, and to model/mentor a recovery process and demonstrate coping skills, using your own experience of recovery.

To work independently following all lone-working, safeguarding and other relevant policies in order to maintain personal safety and safety of people accessing services, their carers, friends and families and the public.

To raise the profile of the lived experience workforce at SWLStG.

To develop and maintain effective monitoring and reporting processes that clarify the value of peer support alongside clinical roles and the impact of delivered interventions.

To continue the development and implementation of existing peer support interventions or to plan and deliver new peer support work both in theory and practice.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Training & Qualifications

• Good standard of education with a relevant qualification AS Level, NVQ 3 or equivalent OR Key Skills in Literacy and Numeracy Level 2 (or willing to achieve within 2 years) and equivalent experience of providing peer support in the mental health sector and willingness to complete accredited PSW training
• Evidence of mental health specific training
• Safeguarding Adults and Children Training

Experience

• Experience of representing someone’s views or advocating on their behalf
• Lived experience of an eating disorder from which you have recovered
• Experience of using wellbeing or recovery focussed tools to manage own mental health
• Experience of working within a team
• Experience of using wellbeing or recovery focused tools to support someone else in managing their mental health
• Recent experience of working in the mental health sector
• Experience of having used secondary mental health services
• Experience of participating in and contributing to peer-led groups
• Experience of recording and reporting on service improvement initiatives in any setting

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.