Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Peer Support Worker – Shropshire Eating Disorders Service

The closing date is 20 January 2026

Job summary

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

Peer Support Worker - Staffordshire Eating Disorder Service

We have an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with lived experience of receiving care from eating disorder services to join our team as a peer support worker. As a peer support worker, you will be a valued member of the Shropshire Outpatient Eating Disorder service working alongside a highly skilled multi-disciplinary team. You will feel able to share relevant personal experiences and draw on insights and skills developed through your own recovery to come alongside people using services on a one-to-one and group basis to explore people's own goals and personalised recovery.This role has an essential requirement for the individual applying to have explicit lived experience of accessing eating disorder services, we recognise that alongside this can come other challenges and adverse life experiences.Contact for further details / informal visits:NameEmily ElsonJob titleLead for LXP and PS - Adult Eating DisordersEmail addressemily.elson@mpft.nhs.ukTelephone number07977348482Additional informationIf you would like to get in touch to discuss this role further, please email emily.elson@mpft.nhs.uk to organise a time to discuss your query.

Main duties of the job

Job PurposePeer support is recognised as a key component of modern mental health and wellbeing provision. A key feature of this post is to promote individual person-centred recovery by drawing on the peer support workers own personal lived experience of mental health challenges and of accessing mental health services.As a pivotal and highly valued member of the team, you will have a case load of identified patients delivering support on both an individual basis and by group interventions. Working in collaboration with the wider multi-disciplinary team.You will help to promote self-determination and assist the service user to set and achieve their own unique recovery goals, recognising that each individual's recovery is a distinctive and deeply personal process. Assisting to support and encourage healthy lifestyles, build confidence, offering support, advice to help form connections within their local community resources, co-produce their care plan with members of the wider multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the overall team management of complex clinical and risk presentations.You will champion recovery and work closely with all members of the MDT.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

301-LBG-25-7687214

Job locations

Severn Fields Health Village

Sundorne Road

Shrewsbury

SY1 4RQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesIt is anticipated this will be a dynamic role with lots of variation and will include tasks such as. Visiting people in their own homes, local community venues or in hospital settings Exploring peoples interests, identifying challenges, and setting goals Providing peer support during mealtimes, which may include eating with the individual you are working alongside. Building skills to encourage independence with task such as meal prep, using public transport and shopping. Supporting people to access groups and activities in their local communities. Co-producing and co-facilitating groups alongside clinical members of the team.This is a community-based role therefore it is essential that applicants are able to independently travel throughout Shropshire in order to meet the needs of the service.Having lived experience of an eating disorder is an essential requirement for this post, therefore we would very much encourage you to reflect this, alongside your other skills, attributes, and experiences, when thinking about how you meet the requirements of the person specification and submitting your application.We ask if you are considering applying for this role you are not currently referred to or receiving support from Midlands Partnership University Foundation Trust Eating Disorder service at this time.This is a full-time post (37.5 hours / week); however, part time or job share options would be considered for successful candidates.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesIt is anticipated this will be a dynamic role with lots of variation and will include tasks such as. Visiting people in their own homes, local community venues or in hospital settings Exploring peoples interests, identifying challenges, and setting goals Providing peer support during mealtimes, which may include eating with the individual you are working alongside. Building skills to encourage independence with task such as meal prep, using public transport and shopping. Supporting people to access groups and activities in their local communities. Co-producing and co-facilitating groups alongside clinical members of the team.This is a community-based role therefore it is essential that applicants are able to independently travel throughout Shropshire in order to meet the needs of the service.Having lived experience of an eating disorder is an essential requirement for this post, therefore we would very much encourage you to reflect this, alongside your other skills, attributes, and experiences, when thinking about how you meet the requirements of the person specification and submitting your application.We ask if you are considering applying for this role you are not currently referred to or receiving support from Midlands Partnership University Foundation Trust Eating Disorder service at this time.This is a full-time post (37.5 hours / week); however, part time or job share options would be considered for successful candidates.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Health Education England Peer Support Work training or equivalent experience and willingness to complete this.

Desirable

  • Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).

Experience

Essential

  • Own personal experience of accessing secondary mental health services for an eating disorder.
  • Previous experience of offering formal/informal peer support to people who are navigating recovery / experiencing mental illness from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Desirable

  • Has experienced transitions within services, for example outpatient care to inpatient, inpatient care to outpatient, child, and adolescent services to adult eating disorder services.
  • Previous experience of facilitating or taking part in peer support groups or settings.
Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Health Education England Peer Support Work training or equivalent experience and willingness to complete this.

Desirable

  • Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).

Experience

Essential

  • Own personal experience of accessing secondary mental health services for an eating disorder.
  • Previous experience of offering formal/informal peer support to people who are navigating recovery / experiencing mental illness from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Desirable

  • Has experienced transitions within services, for example outpatient care to inpatient, inpatient care to outpatient, child, and adolescent services to adult eating disorder services.
  • Previous experience of facilitating or taking part in peer support groups or settings.

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

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Severn Fields Health Village

Sundorne Road

Shrewsbury

SY1 4RQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Severn Fields Health Village

Sundorne Road

Shrewsbury

SY1 4RQ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead for Lived Experience

Emily Elson

Emily.elson@mpft.nhs.uk

07977348482

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

301-LBG-25-7687214

Job locations

Severn Fields Health Village

Sundorne Road

Shrewsbury

SY1 4RQ


Supporting documents

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