Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Peer Support Worker

The closing date is 01 August 2025

Job summary

We recruit people based on their values and believe that their lived experience is an advantage. We seek out potential, not perfection, and this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for.Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net if you need a form, leaflet or other information in any of the following formats: Braille, large print, other formats such as Word, or coloured paper version.Attached to this advert are supporting documents. The Recruitment Profile, which includes important to you will need to apply, our Benefits document for this post, and a candidates guide to our values based recruitment approach and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our expanding inpatient perinatal mental health service.

The role of peer support worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for a person who has birthed a baby and is now their main carer, and who has a lived experience of perinatal mental health requiring them to receive support from mental health services throughout recovery.

. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, peer support workers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

As an integral and highly valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, the PSW will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users/partners in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and information sharing, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities. The PSW will act as a recovery champion within the team and an ambassador of recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organisations.

About us

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have an incredible bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that any individual requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

173-34525-LPS

Job locations

Mother and Baby Unit

The Mount, 44 Hyde Terrace

Leeds

LS2 9LN

Job description

Job responsibilities

The PSW will take a lead role in embedding recovery values within the service setting in which they work with other Trust recovery champions. Reporting directly to the Clinical Team Manager and under the professional supervision of the Peer Support Worker Lead, the PSW will be responsible for the delivery of peer support interventions as agreed within the peer relationship.

The post therefore requires effective liaison with service users, carers, and other professionals and agencies as required. The service encourages the use of the wisdom gained through personal lived experience.

To have good verbal communication skills and an excellent understanding of how to build rapport with service users, carers and others as required.
Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, and to have a good understanding of individuals roles within the team
Communication may be oral, in writing, electronic, or using sign language, or other verbal or non-verbal forms. The member of staff has understanding of communication barriers and ability to adapt possible barriers in building a good, effective, professional, empathic relationship with service users, and to be aware of strategies to help improve communications and relationships
Will understand the importance and ability to provide effective communication and liaison with other agencies and professionals.
To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users.
Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness via appropriate and timely relating of own gender story to inspire and instil confidence in peers.
Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multidisciplinary team members, service users and carers.
To raise awareness of recovery language with Trust staff by modelling positive strengths based, non-discriminatory, non- jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work

Job description

Job responsibilities

To have good verbal communication skills and an excellent understanding of how to build rapport with service users, carers and others as required.
Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, and to have a good understanding of individuals roles within the team
Communication may be oral, in writing, electronic, or using sign language, or other verbal or non-verbal forms. The member of staff has understanding of communication barriers and ability to adapt possible barriers in building a good, effective, professional, empathic relationship with service users, and to be aware of strategies to help improve communications and relationships
Will understand the importance and ability to provide effective communication and liaison with other agencies and professionals.
To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users.
Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness via appropriate and timely relating of own gender story to inspire and instil confidence in peers.
Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multidisciplinary team members, service users and carers.
To raise awareness of recovery language with Trust staff by modelling positive strengths based, non-discriminatory, non- jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Someone who has given birth to a baby and is now their main carer, and who has a lived experience of perinatal mental health requiring them to receive support from mental health services throughout recovery.

Qualifications

Essential

2.NVQ3 in Care or equivalent qualification/experience or the willingness to undertake further training.

Knowledge / Interest

Essential

Knowledge of Community Resources
Interest in Perinatal Mental Health and Recovery

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Someone who has given birth to a baby and is now their main carer, and who has a lived experience of perinatal mental health requiring them to receive support from mental health services throughout recovery.

Qualifications

Essential

2.NVQ3 in Care or equivalent qualification/experience or the willingness to undertake further training.

Knowledge / Interest

Essential

Knowledge of Community Resources
Interest in Perinatal Mental Health and Recovery

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 details

Employer name

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mother and Baby Unit

The Mount, 44 Hyde Terrace

Leeds

LS2 9LN

Employer's website

https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mother and Baby Unit

The Mount, 44 Hyde Terrace

Leeds

LS2 9LN

Employer's website

https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)