Peer Worker (Recovery) Staying Well Hastings

Southdown; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 26,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider is looking for a Peer Support Worker in East Sussex, specifically St Leonards. This role involves supporting clients experiencing a mental health crisis using lived experience to connect and provide hope. Full training will be provided for candidates passionate about mental health support. Benefits include a health cashback scheme, interest-free loans, and 25 days paid holiday.

Benefits

Health cost cash-back scheme

Interest-free loans

Access to the Easit Network

Blue Light card

Free advice and counselling service

25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health challenges required.
• Good understanding of community support needed.
• Knowledge of mental health services is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support clients using the Peer Support Model.
• Use lived experience to connect with clients.
• Empower clients to manage their wellbeing.

Skills

Lived experience of mental health challenges

Understanding of community support

Knowledge of mental health services

Job description

Overview

Application Deadline: 29 September 2025

Department: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

Location: East Sussex - St-Leonards-On-Sea

Compensation: £25,663 / year

Location: Hastings & St Leonards

Salary: £25,663 per year (pro rata)

Hours: Between 14 and 18.5 hours per week, including some Bank Holidays and weekend shifts.

What you’ll be doing

Southdown is one of the leading providers of mental health services in Sussex. Staying Well is an innovative out of hours crisis mental health service which supports clients experiencing a mental health crisis. Staying Well provides crisis intervention to increase resilience and coping skills, empowering clients to safely manage their wellbeing within the community. We are open 7 days a week, (including bank holidays), from 5pm on weekdays and 3pm at the weekend.

We’re looking for someone with lived experience of mental health challenges to join the team and support us in delivering our service. This role focuses on providing support to clients using the Peer Support Model, where personal experiences of mental health challenges and services is used to better support clients. You will use your lived experience to connect with and provide hope to clients who are currently experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you are passionate about providing peer support to clients experiencing a mental health crisis, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applications from candidates with previous experience such as Support Worker, Social Prescriber, Case Manager, Social Worker, Care Coordinator, Mental Health Specialist or Service Coordinator. However, this is not essential and full training will be provided.

Perks and benefits

• Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
• Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
• Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
• Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
• Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
• 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

Knowledge, skills and experience

What you’ll need for the role:

• Lived experience of mental health challenges
• You’ll need a good understanding of working in partnership to support people in a community setting
• You have knowledge of mental health services and a desire to support people in their mental health recovery work
• An Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown

What would be nice

• Experience supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges, including those in crisis and/or facing complex challenges

Training

You’ll receive an initial induction, followed by regular in person training and supervisions to invest in your development and provide all the tools needed to succeed in this role. We’ll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.

How to apply

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and fill out our simple one-page application form.

The application closing date is 29th September 2025 and interviews will be held on 23rd October 2025.

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.