Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Peer Support Specialist

The closing date is 14 December 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity is available to join the Lewes Neighbourhood Mental Health Team (NMHT) as a Peer Support Specialist. We are looking for a dynamic individual to join our multi disciplinary team based in Newhaven. Our Peer Support Specialist will have lived experience of mental health challenges. At Sussex Partnership we value the unique way in which peer workers can support our client group. The role is full time and will be client facing. There is opportunity to develop a rewarding career.

Main duties of the job

Our growing workforce of Peer Specialists work alongside service users to build their confidence and strengthen their community support networks so that they are empowered to live well despite their mental health challenges.

The successful candidate must be able to travel, preferably being able to drive using their own transport.

Peer Support workers engage with mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting individuals to gain and maintain independence in the community

Peer Support workers are part of the Adult Mental Health Services multi-disciplinary Care Team. The role is to focus on the day to day holistic support needs of service users. Self-managed care is essential to this: the supported person is encouraged to assess their own needs and to develop and implement a self-management plan

Peer support is delivered through promoting empowerment and choice and giving the opportunity for the exploration of meaning and purpose

About us

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, we can offer you interesting and rewarding work in a team which prides itself in providing a high standard of care and support as well as providing excellent learning opportunities and regular supervision and support for its staff. There is a strong professional network for peer workers across the Trust with a bespoke peer training package, buddy and mentorship schemes offered alongside the regular clinical supervision they all receive within their teams.

Please note that if you are currently receiving treatment from the same service where the post is situated, you are advised to contact the recruiting manager to discuss potential conflicts of interest before proceeding with your application.

The hours are 37.5 and a flexible approach will be considered

Details

Date posted

01 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AE-21158

Job locations

Hill Rise

Church Hill

Newhaven

BN99HH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our growing workforce of Peer Specialists work alongside service users to build their confidence and strengthen their community support networks so that they are empowered to live well despite their mental health challenges.

The successful candidate must be able to travel, preferably being able to drive using their own transport.

Peer Support workers engage with mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting individuals to gain and maintain independence in the community

Peer Support workers are part of the Adult Mental Health Services multi-disciplinary Care Team. The role is to focus on the day to day holistic support needs of service users. Self-managed care is essential to this: the supported person is encouraged to assess their own needs and to develop and implement a self-management plan

Peer support is delivered through promoting empowerment and choice and giving the opportunity for the exploration of meaning and purpose

Work is guided by a qualified professional (ie. nurse, occupational Therapist) and supervision is regularly provided to support the work

Supervising one other Peer Support Worker if experienced

Undertaking highly skilled and specialised support work

Working without direct supervision (depending on level of experience)

We run a specialised clinic that is attended by our clients and a part of the role will be supporting with this.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our growing workforce of Peer Specialists work alongside service users to build their confidence and strengthen their community support networks so that they are empowered to live well despite their mental health challenges.

The successful candidate must be able to travel, preferably being able to drive using their own transport.

Peer Support workers engage with mental health service users to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting individuals to gain and maintain independence in the community

Peer Support workers are part of the Adult Mental Health Services multi-disciplinary Care Team. The role is to focus on the day to day holistic support needs of service users. Self-managed care is essential to this: the supported person is encouraged to assess their own needs and to develop and implement a self-management plan

Peer support is delivered through promoting empowerment and choice and giving the opportunity for the exploration of meaning and purpose

Work is guided by a qualified professional (ie. nurse, occupational Therapist) and supervision is regularly provided to support the work

Supervising one other Peer Support Worker if experienced

Undertaking highly skilled and specialised support work

Working without direct supervision (depending on level of experience)

We run a specialised clinic that is attended by our clients and a part of the role will be supporting with this.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification
  • A recognised Peer Support qualification
  • Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity in health/social care/teaching setting
  • Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
  • Experience of working with groups/activities
  • Experience of supervising others
  • Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties
  • Managing personal mental health and recovery
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification
  • A recognised Peer Support qualification
  • Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity in health/social care/teaching setting
  • Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
  • Experience of working with groups/activities
  • Experience of supervising others
  • Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties
  • Managing personal mental health and recovery
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hill Rise

Church Hill

Newhaven

BN99HH


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hill Rise

Church Hill

Newhaven

BN99HH


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Lead

Gill Banner

gill.banner@nhs.net

07761444177

Details

Date posted

01 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AE-21158

Job locations

Hill Rise

Church Hill

Newhaven

BN99HH


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)