Volunteer Peer Worker

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in South Yorkshire is seeking a Volunteer Peer Worker to support mental health patients in their recovery journey. The role involves building meaningful relationships, assisting patients in community engagement, and providing empathetic support. Ideal candidates should have lived mental health experience and strong communication skills. This opportunity offers a chance to develop valuable skills in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Compassionate and patient individual who enjoys communicating with others.
• Ability to engage and support people with mental health needs.
• Commitment to maintaining dignity and respect.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships based on mutuality and lived experience.
• Support patients in gaining control over their lives.
• Assist patients in engaging in community activities.
• Help patients navigate health services and build relationships with clinical staff.

Skills

Lived mental health experience

Communication skills

Teamwork

Professional demeanor

Job description

Go back Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT

Volunteer Peer Worker

The closing date is 01 December 2025

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? As a volunteer with Rotherham Assertive Outreach, you'll play a vital role in supporting patients who are on their journey toward recovery and independence. You'll build meaningful relationships, use empathy and lived experience to inspire hope, and help people reconnect with their community and support networks.

This volunteer opportunity is ideal for someone with lived mental health experience, who is compassionate, patient, and enjoys communicating with others. You'll be part of a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, gain valuable experience in mental health and social care, and develop skills that make a real impact.

Join us and help empower people to take control of their lives -- while growing personally and professionally in a supportive, rewarding environment.

Main duties of the job

The Rotherham Assertive Outreach Team (AOT) provides intensive, recovery-focused community support to adults across Rotherham with severe and enduring mental illnesses, primarily psychosis. The service works with patients who often present with co-existing substance misuse, complex risks, and significant social challenges, many of whom have struggled to engage with traditional mental health services. AOT aims to reduce barriers to care, prevent hospital admissions, and promote rehabilitation through a highly integrated, multidisciplinary, and multi-agency 'team' approach in line with the AOT model. The service also includes a community rehabilitation pathway for patients with both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders (SMI), and a 10-bedded supported living facility offering structured, step-down rehabilitative support in partnership with South Yorkshire Housing.

The volunteer will be involved with this list of tasks identified as follows:

• Building relationships with patients and service users based on mutuality, lived experience and support
• Help people to gain a sense of control over their own life.
• Supporting patients and service users to engage in social activity (including in the community)
• Assisting patients and service users in building strong working relationships with clinical staff and navigate the services
• Multi - disciplinary team
• Report any concerns to the Supervisor / Service Manager

About us

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.

We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.

We are dedicated to the development of our our people and hold a learning half day every month for our colleagues.

We are passionate about enhancing the quality of our service and we work hard to attract and select the right colleagues for our organisation. Our goal is to employ those who share our passion for providing first class care while remaining committed to our vision and values. Please view our Strategy using the link below:

To find out more about working for RDaSH and the fantastic benefits we offer visit our website:

https://workwithrdash.co.uk/

We are committed to inclusive cultures and really value people in our organisation, view our Allyship video on YouTube to find out more:

https://youtu.be/WMJSkLoTk4Q

The main terms and conditions of service can be found here:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached job description and person specification to view the full details about the role.

Person Specification

Skills/ experince

• Have lived experience of a physical and / or mental health condition
• Interest in working with people with physical health and / or mental illness needs
• Ability to communicate with a range of people with diverse needs
• Be able to work as a member of a team
• To behave professionally and treat others with dignity and respect at all times and adhere to the principles of the Trusts Equality and Diversity Policy

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

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT