South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Senior Peer Support Worker (Maple Ward)

The closing date is 01 February 2026

Job summary

We are seeking inspiring and experienced Senior Peer Support Workers to join our Acute and Urgent Care wards, including posts on our new Maple Ward and across established AUC wards. You will be part of a growing and skilled peer workforce, working closely with the Peer Lead and Advanced Peer Support Practitioner to strengthen peer competency, embed recovery-focused practice and support positive outcomes for patients.

Roles range from two days per week to full-time, and include evenings and weekends following induction.

Maple Ward is an innovative short-stay mixed-gender psychiatric ward operating on a maximum 28-day admission framework. The model integrates robust gatekeeping, intensive multidisciplinary working, Red to Green discharge facilitation and close integration with Home Treatment Teams for admission prevention and early supported discharge.

As a Senior Peer Support Worker, you will use your lived experience intentionally and safely to offer hope, empower people to take an active role in their care and contribute to building a strong, recovery-oriented culture across the ward. You will also play a key role in supporting and developing Peer Support Workers, championing peer values and strengthening the role of lived experience within the MDT.

Career Progression pathways and development opportunities

Future progression pathways may include Advanced Peer Support Practitioner roles or peer leadership positions aligned to your aspirations and the needs of our services.

Main duties of the job

Provide high-quality peer-led support that promotes personal recovery, resilience and self-advocacy.
Lead and co-facilitate peer-led groups and structured activities, modelling inclusive and recovery-oriented practice.
Support individuals to develop crisis plans, recovery plans and advanced directives.
Mentor, guide and support Peer Support Workers, contributing to the development of their confidence, skills and peer identity.
Strengthen patient and carer involvement in ward rounds, daily planning and decision-making.
Deliver debriefs following restrictive interventions, supporting trauma-informed practice.
Share lived experience insights with the MDT to enhance understanding of patient needs and support compassionate, collaborative care.
Contribute to service improvement, audits, training and trust-wide peer initiatives.
Maintain accurate notes and comply with safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety policies.
Role-model peer values, professional boundaries and strengths-based communication across the ward

Agile and flexible working

We offer flexible working conversations at interview. Posts are ward-based and rostered, with shifts that may include evenings and weekends following induction. Opportunities for part-time (from 0.4 WTE) through to full-time (1.0 WTE) are available.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

About our locations:

Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£13,237 to £14,478 a year per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

294-AAUC-7768973-PC

Job locations

Springfield Hospital

Tooting

SW17 7DJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Use your lived experience to build authentic, trusting and intentional peer relationships that support recovery.
Offer emotional and practical support during crisis and help people navigate the ward environment with confidence and understanding.
Model recovery, selfmanagement, resilience and hope.
Support people to feel prepared and confident for ward rounds, daily planning and discharge discussions.
Facilitate and cofacilitate peerled spaces that promote connection, shared learning and empowerment.
Provide lived experience insight to the MDT to enhance care planning and understanding of patient needs.
Mentor and support Peer Support Workers, assisting with skill development, reflective practice and peer identity.
Contribute to traumainformed care, compassionate debriefing and a positive, recoveryoriented ward culture.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Use your lived experience to build authentic, trusting and intentional peer relationships that support recovery.
Offer emotional and practical support during crisis and help people navigate the ward environment with confidence and understanding.
Model recovery, selfmanagement, resilience and hope.
Support people to feel prepared and confident for ward rounds, daily planning and discharge discussions.
Facilitate and cofacilitate peerled spaces that promote connection, shared learning and empowerment.
Provide lived experience insight to the MDT to enhance care planning and understanding of patient needs.
Mentor and support Peer Support Workers, assisting with skill development, reflective practice and peer identity.
Contribute to traumainformed care, compassionate debriefing and a positive, recoveryoriented ward culture.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

Lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery
Experience of using lived experience to support others
Completion of recognised Peer Support Worker training (or willingness to complete) and ability to articulate peer principles, benefits and outcomes
Understanding of trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice
Good communication, self-awareness, and ability to work with distress
Experience of working within a team and managing personal boundaries
A good standard of literacy and numeracy that may have been gained through education, training or life experience
Able to document work and contribute to care planning processes

Desirable

Own personal experience of: accessing secondary mental health services and of an Act of Force
Experience of facilitating peer-led groups and activities in mental health settings.
Peer Leadership qualification or equivalent CPD in Peer Support
Experience in co-production, quality improvement, or service user involvement

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

Lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery
Experience of using lived experience to support others
Completion of recognised Peer Support Worker training (or willingness to complete) and ability to articulate peer principles, benefits and outcomes
Understanding of trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice
Good communication, self-awareness, and ability to work with distress
Experience of working within a team and managing personal boundaries
A good standard of literacy and numeracy that may have been gained through education, training or life experience
Able to document work and contribute to care planning processes

Desirable

Own personal experience of: accessing secondary mental health services and of an Act of Force
Experience of facilitating peer-led groups and activities in mental health settings.
Peer Leadership qualification or equivalent CPD in Peer Support
Experience in co-production, quality improvement, or service user involvement

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Springfield Hospital

Tooting

SW17 7DJ

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Springfield Hospital

Tooting

SW17 7DJ

Employer's website

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