Peer Support Worker

78 Crawley Road is a Level 2 inpatient mental health rehabilitation service providing specialist, recovery-focused care for adults with complex and enduring mental health needs. The service supports individuals to progress towards greater independence through personalised care planning, therapeutic activities, and preparation for community living within a structured multidisciplinary model of care. The Peer Support Worker role is integral to this model, working alongside clinical staff to provide lived-experience support to all 24 service users. The post holder will deliver both one-to-one and group-based interventions, promoting engagement in meaningful activity, building recovery skills, and fostering hope and motivation. The role enhances the therapeutic offer by strengthening relationships, encouraging participation, and supporting individuals to achieve their personal recovery goals. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and person-centred rehabilitation service where recovery, social inclusion, and positive risk-taking are central. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting service users to develop independence, improve quality of life, and successfully transition to community settings., The Peer Support Worker will provide recovery-focused support to service users through both one-to-one and group interventions, using lived experience to inspire hope, promote engagement, and support individuals in achieving their recovery goals. This includes facilitating therapeutic activities, encouraging participation in meaningful occupation, and supporting the development of daily living skills and independence. The post holder will work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, contributing to care planning and providing regular feedback on service user progress, wellbeing, and engagement. They will support service users to identify strengths, manage challenges, and develop self-management strategies in line with their individual recovery plans. In addition, the role involves promoting a positive, person-centred and recovery-oriented environment by building therapeutic relationships, advocating for service users, and supporting access to social, educational, and community-based opportunities. The Peer Support Worker will maintain accurate records, participate in supervision, and adhere to Trust policies and standards to ensure safe and effective care delivery., The Peer Support Worker plays a key role in delivering recovery-focused care within the multidisciplinary team.

• Provide one-to-one and group-based support using lived experience to promote hope, engagement, and recovery
• Facilitate therapeutic and meaningful activities that support independence and daily living skills
• Support service users to achieve goals identified in their individual recovery plans
• Build therapeutic relationships and promote a positive, person-centred environment
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, contributing to care planning and reviews
• Monitor and report on service user progress, wellbeing, and engagement
• Support individuals to identify strengths, manage challenges, and develop self-management strategies
• Maintain accurate clinical records and adhere to Trust policies and professional standards
For a full outline of the job description and person specification, please see the attached documentation.


• A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills
• Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning
• Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification (Band 4 only)
• A recognised Peer Support qualification (Band 4 only)
Desirable criteria
• Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills (Band 3), Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience of being supervised
• Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties
• Managing personal mental health and recovery
• Knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work, Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.
  
  At SPFT we put people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it's part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we'll explore what works for you and the role. We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn't based on your real experience. Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we'll explore your examples further at interview, so it's important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page. We're shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you., Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) is a leading provider of specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex. The Trust is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and places a strong emphasis on recovery, inclusion, and partnership working with service users, carers, and local communities. A strong majority of staff say they would recommend SPFT as a place to work, reflecting the supportive culture and commitment to staff experience within the organisation. Working for SPFT offers an opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that values staff wellbeing, professional development, and continuous improvement. The Trust promotes a positive and inclusive culture, supporting staff to develop their skills, contribute to service innovation, and deliver care that is safe, effective, and person-centred.