Senior Peer Support Worker: Sponsorship Available

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

he Tower Hamlets Community Psychology team work in partnership with local voluntary, community, and faith-based organisations. We aim to build on and strengthen community resources and are committed to providing accessible, client-centred, culturally and faith sensitive services.

The role of Senior Peer Support Worker within the team has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental distress and of using mental health services, know and understand the value of working with communities, as well as significant previous experience as a Peer Support Worker (PSW). Through sharing their own experiences and helping to identify the strengths in others, Peer Support Workers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

Main duties of the job

The role will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to local communities and service users in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and information sharing, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of personally valued roles and connection to local communities. The Senior Peer Support Worker will lead and develop the Peer Support Services, coproduce training and consultation with other team members, and help establish service links within the local community.

The Senior PSW will act as an ambassador of Recovery and will work closely with team members, partner organisations and local communities to co-develop, through co-production,recovery-focused interventions that address the needs of those served including resilience and recovery, shared support, social connections and community engagement.

The post holder will work in partnership with stakeholders across the health and care system, such as GPs, mental health services, service user and carer experts-by-experience, and third sector/Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker Training (by Royal College of Psychiatrist) or equivalent
  • A willingness to undertake further training and/or qualifications as necessary for the post.
  • Commitment to obtain underpinning knowledge through work based learning and mandatory training

Desirable

  • NVQ3 in health and social care or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential

  • Lived experience of mental health and accessing services
  • Significant experience of working as a Peer Support Worker in an Adult Mental Health setting
  • Experience working with community or third sector organisations
  • Awareness of local services and community organisations in Tower Hamlets
  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of mental health issues.
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and with Clinical Psychologists

Desirable

  • Experience of supervising others
  • Experience of facilitating reflective practice
  • Can speak one of the local languages (Somali or Bengali Sylheti dialect)

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • A sound knowledge of good practice in Peer Support Work
  • Detailed knowledge of the borough of Tower Hamlets, including connections and links to external partner organisations.
  • Ability to use IT packages competently, such as email, Word processing, spreadsheets using Excel and presentation packages.
  • Demonstrate broad understanding of the principles of recovery
  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers.
  • Ability to appreciate / understand other people’s experiences.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Cultural awareness including awareness of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of mental health issues.

Desirable

  • Ability to co-produce new information resources to promote emerging projects.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of conducting audits, survey’s and consultations.
  • Able to demonstrate understanding of Intentional 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.

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).

Closing Date: 16 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.