Peer Support Worker

Main area Mental Health Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent: Secondment opportunity will be considered Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 354-AE-21235Employer Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Dept of Psychiatry (Moving to Coombe Valley Hospital Sept 2026) Town Eastbourne Salary £24,937 - £26,598 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 10/12/2025 08:00Peer Support Worker - Crisis Resolution Home Treatment TeamNHS AfC: Band 3Come and join usWe’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.Job overviewThis is an exciting opportunity to join the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team in EastbourneAs part of our ambition to deliver outstanding care we are looking to recruit a Peer Support Worker to complement our existing multi-disciplinary team. If you have had your own experience of mental health issues and would like to support others in their recovery, please apply.For those candidates requiring a VISA to work in the UK, please be aware that significant knowledge and experience of at least 2 years, (preferably within the NHS) is required to meet the pay threshold for a Health and Care Visa.We are building a new hospital in Bexhill to replace our inpatient services at the Department of Psychiatry. This means that, if you are successful in your application, you will be transferred to the new facilities when it opens in 2026.Main duties of the jobWe are looking for an expert by experience that has lived experience of mental health issues, to support the delivery of interventions through the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment team. As an integral and highly valued member of our multi-disciplinary team, the Peer Support Worker will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users, empowering them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process.Working collaboratively alongside service users, the Peer Support Worker builds on a person’s ability, strengths and their links to social and community services. In the role you will work in partnership with multiple agencies in the community. Peer Support Workers engage with mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting service users to gain and maintain independence in the community. The Peer Support Worker will assist service users in raising aspirations and developing personal goals, co‑produce and co‑facilitate groups (where possible) and increasing individual occupational performance and participation.Working for our organisationThis small, friendly, multi-disciplinary team is based at the Department of Psychiatry in Eastbourne.You will be supported by the team leader and the wider MDT. You will be provided with individual clinical supervision, and opportunities to link with other Peer Support Workers and other services for peer support and development.As a service we offer a real commitment to support your continuing professional development through a variety of internal and external training opportunities and university accredited courses.The base for this post is in Eastbourne, however the team regularly works flexibly and remotely using a range of digital solutions for meetings and consultations.Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesTo support individuals and groups using a Peer approachTo be a positive role model for other people overcoming mental health challenges, other workers and members of the publicTo use parts of your recovery story to inspire hope in others where appropriateTo use appropriate skills in engaging with individuals with mental health challenges, eg asking open-ended questions, validating strengths and experiences and using empowering language to overcome negative self-talkTo support and enable individuals with mental health challenges to resolve conflicts and regain control, responsibility, hope and enjoyment based on the principles of peer supported recovery such as sharing your personal recovery storyTo support service users in identifying both strengths and early signs of relapse. To support service users in identifying possible triggers or causes of relapseTo provide support to individuals in gaining choice, developing and managing meaning and purpose of life and independence, and maintaining dignity and self respectTo support individuals in meeting holistic needs (education, welfare, employment, financial, leisure, housing, spiritual, etc) in partnership with other individuals, care team and agencies and within a recovery environmentTo promote and make service users aware of personal strengths and social networks, and highlight their ability to engage with theseTo deliver educational training to service users (as appropriate)To engage actively in peer and professional supervision and apply the learning to working with clients of the serviceTo support access and facilitation of activity sessions both on a one-to-one and group basis for service usersTo ensure all service users are aware of activities which may be of benefit to them and how these can be accessedTo undertake any other such duties as may reasonably fall within the remit of the post, as required by the Manager/SupervisorPerson specificationQualificationsA recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skillsEvidence of a commitment to lifelong learningHealth care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skillsKnowledge & ExperienceExperience of working with people with Psychosis/Complex mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacityExperience working as part of a teamExperience of being supervisedLived experience of Psychosis and mental health issues/difficultiesManaging personal mental health and recoveryKnowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your workSPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.Employer certification / accreditation badgesThis 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.Application numbersDue to high numbers of applications this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date. We will not be able to accept late applications to this post. #J-18808-Ljbffr