Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Peer Support Worker

The closing date is 19 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a dedicated Peer Support Worker to join the Adult Community Mental Health Team in Honiton.

This role is specifically for individuals with personal lived experience of accessing a Community Mental Health Team, using that experience to support others in their recovery.

You will use your own story, insights and perspective to build trusting, therapeutic relationships and offer relatable support that complements clinical care. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will empower people to build confidence, develop recovery skills, and work towards their personal goals while maintaining hope and connection.

You will be expected to share elements of your lived experience appropriately and purposefully, always with the intention of helping others. Strong communication skills, empathy, patience and the ability to work collaboratively are essential, alongside being organised, reliable and committed to maintaining confidentiality. As part of the shortlisting process, you may be asked to provide additional information about your lived experience to ensure suitability for this peerspecific role.

Applicants without relevant lived experience will not be shortlisted.

Interviews will be held in person in Honiton on Thursday 26 March 2026.

Main duties of the job

Support group activities: Facilitate and participate in group programmes designed to promote recovery, wellbeing, and social inclusion.
Care planning support: Collaborate with individuals and the multidisciplinary team to develop and review personalised care plans.
Support to carers, family, and friends: Offer guidance, reassurance, and information to those supporting service users.
Assistance with planned interventions: Work with senior staff to deliver and monitor therapeutic interventions as part of a wider care package.
Supportive calls: Provide regular check-in calls to service users to encourage engagement, monitor wellbeing, and offer emotional support.
Record keeping: Maintain accurate and timely records of interactions, interventions, and progress in line with Trust policies.
Safeguarding and advocacy: Champion the rights and wellbeing of individuals accessing the service, ensuring safeguarding protocols are followed and advocating for their needs.
Community engagement: Meet service users in community settings and liaise with partner agencies to support ongoing recovery, promote independence, and facilitate access to external resources.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

04 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year pro rata (22.5 hours per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-26-0176

Job locations

Honiton Adult Core Team

Marlpits Lane

Honiton

Devon

EX14 2DE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Effective listening skills with the ability to demonstrate empathy compassion, patience and to be non-judgemental in your approach.
The ability to remain calm and respond professionally in situations involving distress, disturbance, or unpredictability, with a clear understanding of challenges some individuals might face.
Mobility throughout the area covered by the area covered by service.

Experience

Essential

Personal lived experience of accessing the relevant secondary care service this role will be situated in and is relevant to the patient group.
Ability and willingness to draw on and share first-person lived experience with the sole intention of supporting others.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
Awareness of the history, values and principles of peer support.
Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations.
Basic IT skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook) and the ability to use electronic record systems confidently and accurately.
Basic awareness of safeguarding principles.

Desirable

Experience paid or unpaid, in actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards their self-defined recovery goals.

Qualifications

Essential

Care Certificate or commitment to complete within 3 months of joining.
NHSE Peer Support Worker Competence Framework Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of joining.

Desirable

NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience.
Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within peer support.

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Effective listening skills with the ability to demonstrate empathy compassion, patience and to be non-judgemental in your approach.
The ability to remain calm and respond professionally in situations involving distress, disturbance, or unpredictability, with a clear understanding of challenges some individuals might face.
Mobility throughout the area covered by the area covered by service.

Experience

Essential

Personal lived experience of accessing the relevant secondary care service this role will be situated in and is relevant to the patient group.
Ability and willingness to draw on and share first-person lived experience with the sole intention of supporting others.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
Awareness of the history, values and principles of peer support.
Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations.
Basic IT skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook) and the ability to use electronic record systems confidently and accurately.
Basic awareness of safeguarding principles.

Desirable

Experience paid or unpaid, in actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards their self-defined recovery goals.

Qualifications

Essential

Care Certificate or commitment to complete within 3 months of joining.
NHSE Peer Support Worker Competence Framework Training or commitment to complete within 3-6 months of joining.

Desirable

NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience.
Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within peer support.

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.