Peer Support Worker

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Whittingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Whittingham is seeking a Peer Support Worker to provide emotional and practical support to individuals with learning disabilities. In this role, you will facilitate activities, support service users in their recovery, and assist professionals in developing resources and training. The ideal candidate should have lived experience of learning disabilities and skills in communication and caring roles. A competitive salary of £24,465 per annum is offered.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in a healthcare setting.
• Basic computer literacy skills.
• Personal experience of living with a learning disability.
• Experience working or volunteering in a care and support role.

Responsibilities

• Support service users to provide feedback on therapy and care.
• Facilitate peer-led activities to promote social interaction.
• Engage with service users throughout their recovery journey.

Skills

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Basic computer literacy

Education

Personal experience of living with a learning disability

Experience in care/support role

Job description

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Peer Support Worker for Water Meadow View, a new mental health inpatient unit for adults with learning disabilities. The successful candidate will use their personal lived experience of having a learning disability to support and empower others facing similar experiences.

Main duties of the job

As a Peer Support Worker, you will provide emotional and practical support to individuals, helping them build confidence, develop independence, and engage in recovery. You will work directly with service users, encourage them to engage in meaningful occupations, and support professionals to deliver training and develop resources.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Working directly with service users on a 1:1 and in group settings.
• Encouraging and supporting service users to engage in meaningful occupations.
• Planning, delivering, and evaluating occupational therapy groups through co-production.
• Engaging with service users throughout their recovery journey.
• Supporting professionals to deliver training and develop resources.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services, including secondary mental health care, inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, and forensic services.

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Support service users to provide feedback on their therapy, treatment, and care.
• Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance staff understanding of lived experience.
• Facilitate peer-led activities to promote social interaction, skill development, and mutual support.
• Use lived experience to support the induction of new employees and Water Meadow View's recruitment and selection process.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have:

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in a healthcare setting.
• Basic computer literacy skills and the ability to use computer systems.
• Personal experience of living with a learning disability.
• Experience working or volunteering in a care and support role.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust encourages flexible working and offers a competitive salary of £24,465 per annum.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.