Job summary
An opportunity has arisen in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust's (CNTW) North Cumbria Locality. We are currently seeking a Senior Peer Supporter to join our Hope Haven team based in Whitehaven, Cumbria. This is a unique opportunity to work as part of a new and transformative service working alongside local partners including Home Group, Everyturn, and others.
Our aim is to transform the way mental health care is provided locally, by bringing together specialist health, social care and community services in the heart of West Cumbria.
Lived experience roles are a vital part of our plan to continually improve the services that we provide. They help to support people during their journey through our services to establish greater control over their lives, decisions and build resilience during their care and treatment.
This role is aimed at people who have experience of using their own recovery journey to help others and now feel able to guide a small, dedicated team of peer supporters and ensure lived experience is integrated into each part of Hope Haven.
As this is a community-based role, you must be able to work centrally from the hub and be able to travel across the Copeland area and other Trust sites across CNTW.
Due to the 24/7 nature of the project, unsocial working hours will be required.
Main duties of the job
You will be expected to offer a different perspective and contribute to the role by:
Working with people to develop and follow care plans tailored to individual needs
Working alongside colleagues from partner organisations to identify the most appropriate interventions for people whom we work with.
Liaising with senior leads to communicate progress within the Lived Experience team
Supporting and mentoring the Lived Experience team with the day-to-day management of their caseloads
Contributing to the development and delivery of training to all partners
Promoting carer involvement working alongside our carer lead and involvement team.
Assisting with facilitation of groups as well as 1:1 work, using wellness plans and tools.
Recording progress and concerns, working in a manner which ensures confidentiality and security.
We encourage you to keep an eye on our Hope Haven Facebook page for details of any upcoming recruitment events.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
This will be a challenging, but rewarding role, working with people presenting with a range of mental health issues and risks. The post holder must have the ability to communicate where there are barriers to understanding, and they must be able to work as part of a team. They must be confident in working and communicating with people and demonstrate strong recovery values in, inspiring hope and empowerment in others.
As an employee of CNTW, the wellbeing of all our staff is vitally important. The post holder will have several avenues of support but should also feel confident in their personal skills and abilities to draw upon their own resilience and strengths to sustain their wellbeing throughout this role.
The Posts will also involve contributing to the continuing development of the Peer Supporter role and linking in with Third Sector and/or Recovery Colleges.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 9th April 2026
Closing date : 23rd April 2026
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 9th April 2026
Closing date : 23rd April 2026
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Good level of secondary education for maths and english at GCSE or equivalent level
- Commitment to completing CNTW's Peer Education Programme
Desirable
- Completion of peer support specialist training, or other similar peer support training
- Completion of wellness recovery action plan training (WRAP)
- Completion of WRAP Educator training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of recovery
- Experience of being in a Peer Supporter role
Desirable
- Experience of a person centred approach
- Experience of working in the mental health field
- Knowledge of trauma informed practice
- Knowledge of strengths based and person-led practice
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Understanding of personal values and beliefs
- Good interpersonal and team working skills
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans including determining problems, identifying goals and setting objectives
- Ability to facilitate small groups to gather service user experiences
- Ability to deliver aspects of a planned training event
- Ability and willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to draw on own resilience when working in challenging situations
- Ability to manage stress and to plan and prioritise workload
Desirable
- Experience of WRAP or other person centred/planning tools
- Knowledge of how the mental health, and other health and social care systems operate
- Understanding of issues affecting health and wellbeing
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
Role/team specific Requirements
Essential
- Experience of offering peer support to a wide range of service users or carers including those experience of mental health issues, neurodiversity and other disabilities
- Ability to effectively challenge practice and language use
- Ability to work as a bridge between service users, carers and clinical teams
Desirable
- Experience of working in partnership with third sector/voluntary services
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Commitment to putting recovery values and principles into practice
- Belief that people can and do recover
- Ability to seek support when needed
- Non judgemental, tolerant, compassionate and respectful
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the post ie. travel across sites and community visits
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Good level of secondary education for maths and english at GCSE or equivalent level
- Commitment to completing CNTW's Peer Education Programme
Desirable
- Completion of peer support specialist training, or other similar peer support training
- Completion of wellness recovery action plan training (WRAP)
- Completion of WRAP Educator training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Personal lived experience of recovery
- Experience of being in a Peer Supporter role
Desirable
- Experience of a person centred approach
- Experience of working in the mental health field
- Knowledge of trauma informed practice
- Knowledge of strengths based and person-led practice
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Understanding of personal values and beliefs
- Good interpersonal and team working skills
- Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
- Ability to assist people to develop recovery plans including determining problems, identifying goals and setting objectives
- Ability to facilitate small groups to gather service user experiences
- Ability to deliver aspects of a planned training event
- Ability and willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
- Ability to draw on own resilience when working in challenging situations
- Ability to manage stress and to plan and prioritise workload
Desirable
- Experience of WRAP or other person centred/planning tools
- Knowledge of how the mental health, and other health and social care systems operate
- Understanding of issues affecting health and wellbeing
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
Role/team specific Requirements
Essential
- Experience of offering peer support to a wide range of service users or carers including those experience of mental health issues, neurodiversity and other disabilities
- Ability to effectively challenge practice and language use
- Ability to work as a bridge between service users, carers and clinical teams
Desirable
- Experience of working in partnership with third sector/voluntary services
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Commitment to putting recovery values and principles into practice
- Belief that people can and do recover
- Ability to seek support when needed
- Non judgemental, tolerant, compassionate and respectful
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the post ie. travel across sites and community visits
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.
