NHS - Community Peer Support Worker Development Post
Job overview
Do you have lived experience of recovery from Mental Health challenges that required secondary mental health services? Do you want to use your experience to help others?
If so, an opportunity has arisen for a Peer Support Worker to join the Milton Keynes Community Mental Health Hub. The successful candidate will work alongside members of the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.
This role is specifically for individuals who have experience of recovery from a mental health diagnosis and have accessed secondary mental health services. Please ensure this information is clearly highlighted in your application.
The post holder will play a key role in integrating recovery values across the service settings in which they work, collaborating with other Trust recovery champions. As an ambassador for recovery, they will actively share and draw upon their own lived experience to inspire others, challenge stigma and discrimination, and promote a culture of recovery within the Trust.
We are looking for motivated individuals with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, who can work flexibly under supervision to meet the demands of this exciting and varied role. Regular clinical and peer support-specific supervision will be provided.
This is an exciting development opportunity as the successful applicant will begin as a Band 3 but, upon completion of a Competencies Development Plan after 12 months, you will proceed to a Band 4 position.
Main duties of the job
As a core member of the Multi-Disciplinary team, the Peer Support Worker will work with service users on a 1:1 and/or group basis. The post holder will have the opportunity to co-work with other lived experience and clinical colleagues.
The Peer Support Worker will support the co-facilitation of Recovery College courses on Zoom and will develop partnership working within the local community as well as with 3^rd Sector peer networks.
For detailed duties of the role, please see the attached Job Description document.
Visa rules are changing from 9th April 2025. this role may not be eligible for a sponsorship. Please see link here for further information on eligibility.
*Please note that the use of AI is monitored and if used in your application must be declared*
Working for our organisation
CNWL employs over 100 peer workers in a variety of settings.
Our Mental health services, include:
- Inpatient services (including Older Adult and Rehabilitation)
- Community Mental Health Hubs
- Eating Disorders Services
- Perinatal Mental Health Services
- The Dual Diagnosis Team (Define what this means to new people starting in the trust as not clear)
- Carer and Parent Peer Support Workers
- The Young Adult Pathway
Services beyond Mental Health, including:
- Complex Care
- Addictions Services
- Health and Justice
- Blood Borne Viruses (HIV and HBV) Services
- The Recovery & Wellbeing College
Find out more about Peer and Lived experience working with these videos:
Short film: Peer and Lived Experience Working in CNWLShort film: What is Lived Experience Practice?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As an integral and highly valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users in Milton Keynes in order for them to regain control over their lives and progress on their own unique recovery journey.
Through sharing the wisdom of their own lived experience of recovery, the PSW will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. Within a relationship of mutuality, they facilitate and support information sharing to promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.
The PSW will take a lead role in embedding recovery values within the service setting in which they work. The PSW will act as an ambassador of recovery for the Community Mental Health Hub and with external agencies and partner organisations.
The PSW will promote their role, through the provision of information and a range of learning opportunities for the Community Mental Health Hub and more widely.
As a core member of the multi-disciplinary team, the PSW will work with service users on a 1:1 and/or group basis. They will also have the opportunity to co-work with other colleagues.
This is an exciting development opportunity for a Peer Support Worker to progress from a Band 3 entry level role to a Band 4 upon completion of a Competencies Development Plan.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria- Commitment to obtain underpinning knowledge through work based learning and mandatory training, (including accredited peer support worker training if not previously undertaken)
- Basic IT skills i.e. word & email
- Accredited certificate in Life Coaching
- Accredited peer support worker training
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to travel between locations using own car
Experience
Essential criteria- Own personal lived experience of recovery from mental health challenges
- Own personal experience of accessing secondary mental health services
- Paid or unpaid working experience within a multidisciplinary team in health and social care
- Willing to positively share your own life experiences and personal experience of mental health challenges, trauma and/or distress with service users and carers
- Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid)
- Paid or unpaid, peer support worker experience
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria- Able to demonstrate understanding of intentional Peer Support
- Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of personal recovery
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of personal recovery as it may relate to others
- Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers
- Effective listening skills
- Ability to communicate on all levels and to a broad scope of individuals, both internally and externally to the Trust
- Ability to consult and deliver training to other teams as appropriate
- Basic Health and Safety awareness
- Awareness of local services
- Knowledge of benefits/employment systems
- Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of mental health issues
- Knowledge of current legislation which underpins Health and Social Care and a working knowledge of the Equalities Act 2010 and Human Rights Act.
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.