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
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.
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).
Closing Date: 14 December 2025
