Peer Support Worker | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 20 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £33,094 - £36,195 per annum inclusive of HCAS |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 September 2025 |
| Location: | Lewisham, SE8 4AT |
| Company: | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7366955/334-NUR-7366955-LF |
Summary
Are you passionate about reshaping mental health care? Do you believe in the power of community, collaboration with community partners and local voluntary care sector, inclusion, and peer support to transform lives? We’re launching an innovative community care centre inspired by world-class models like the Trieste Mental Health Community Network, Navigo in Grimsby, and Clubhouse models in New York and Brixton.
We have an incredibly exciting and rare opportunity to be part of a new community mental health pilot. This centre will hold a major national profile with NHS England who are hoping that the pilot will radically transform how we deliver mental health care in the UK.
We are looking for dedicated staff to help us pioneer this revolutionary approach to care.
What We Offer
A Unique Care Model: Join a programme focused on community, social inclusion, and holistic recovery.
· Supportive Environment: Collaborate with peers, contribute to a recovery-oriented care system, and make a real difference.
Development Opportunities: Be part of a pioneering team shaping the future of mental health care, with training and career growth built-in.
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, compassionate, positive thinking and self-motivated individual with lived experience of mental ill health and experience of using services. Peer Workers use their lived experience to offer emotional support, promote social inclusion, share coping mechanisms, and support service users to navigate mental health services.
The successful candidate will have completed an accredited Peer Worker training course or be willing to complete training shortly after starting their role. They will be a member of a multidisciplinary team, working alongside mental health professionals.
Peer Support Workers will be fully supported in their role through regular 1 to 1 supervision within the team line management structure. They will also have access to training opportunities to support their professional development. In addition, there will be access to monthly peer mentoring and weekly online group supervision.
Communications and Working Relationships:
The post holder is responsible to build and maintain professional working relationships with others in the multi-disciplinary team, to encourage open channels of communication and actively participate in the creation of an open and safe working environment that promotes shared learning, growth and development.
Work in accordance with SLaM’s ‘Five Commitments’ and the SLaM Peer Worker Values (below), as well as adhering to the Trust’s Staff Code of Conduct, and Values and Behaviours Framework.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the UK’s most comprehensive range of NHS mental health services, along with substance misuse support for individuals affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The Trust serves a local population of 1.1 million across Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark, and offers substance misuse services in Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich.
SLaM operates over 230 services, including inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and community-based care. Each year, the Trust provides inpatient care to around 5,300 individuals and supports over 45,000 patients in the community. With a workforce of approximately 5,000 staff, SLaM is a major provider of mental health care in the UK.
The Trust is closely affiliated with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London and is a key partner in King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. This unique collaboration integrates clinical care, research, and education, enabling SLaM to remain at the forefront of mental health innovation.
Working at SLaM offers staff the opportunity to be part of an internationally respected organisation with a rich history in mental health care. Employees benefit from extensive professional development, including access to over 14,000 training experiences delivered in a single year. Staff also have opportunities to engage in academic research through the Trust’s partnership with King’s Health Partners.
· To use lived experience/experience of using services to inspire hope that change is possible.
· To share your own lived experience/experience of using services safely and effectively.
· To share your own and other examples of lived experience of recovery.
· To work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths of the person.
· To use evidence-based recovery tools to support the service user.
· To support the service user to understand the role of statutory mental health services and how they can support their recovery alongside other community resources.
· To support the service user to communicate this to involved mental health professionals and wider support network.
· To record information in a clear and accessible way and ensure timely and accurate records are maintained for all activity related to the Lewisham pilot.
· To ensure that any handwritten and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Trust policy.
· To promote service user involvement in all aspects of their work.
· To ensure confidentiality and safe keeping of client records.
· To be able to signpost to community and/or online resources and access appropriate mainstream resources.
· To attend team meetings as appropriate.
· With agreement of line manager, to promote the role of peer support both within SLAM and externally, through co-delivery of presentations, workshops, and information sharing. In addition, to participate in Trust-wide peer related projects and audits.
· To take part in regular one-to-one supervision with senior staff.
· To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal, complete mandatory training.
· To take part in group supervision and mentoring for peer workers.
· To work within the spirit of co-production and co-delivery for all presentations and workshops
· To support service users and/or carers accessing the Lewisham pilot in relation to wellbeing, social inclusion and other aspects of recovery
· To role-model the positive use and impact of lived experience of mental ill-health, recovery and self-management with service users and/or carer they are supporting
· The post holder will be required to be self-reflective about their personal lived experience/experience of using services. This is an essential criterion of the role and successful applicants will be expected to use this experience within co-production and delivery of the pilot aims and objectives. Peer support workers will need to be able to recognise the value and impact of their own lived experience. Successful applicants will be offered regular team and individual supervision and training opportunities to support their own wellbeing and links to their work activities.
· To ensure that any concerns regarding an individual’s mental and physical health and wellbeing highlighted within interactions with service users are shares with the team and/or their line manager in order that a decision to notify the individual’s care team is made
· To identify the diverse needs of the service users, carers and staff and to adapt teaching and communication style in response to the audience's level of need and understanding.
· To work flexibly including travelling to sites within the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark where relevant and appropriate. There is not an expectation to work out of hours.
An example of something that is NOT a key responsibility:
· The postholder does not have any responsibility to make a clinical decision about the service users.
This advert closes on Wednesday 3 Sep 2025