Trust Lead Peer Support

This is a unique role to lead and shape Peer Support across

Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Peer Support at DPT has grown into a dynamic, established and valued part of our services and workforce. This role offers a lived-experience leader the opportunity to shape its continued development and influence across the organisation.

Peer support plays a vital role in how DPT supports people, creating spaces for connection, understanding and hope while remaining grounded in lived experience.

We are looking for someone who can build on this strong foundation and take peer support into its next phase, someone who can hold a clear vision, work strategically across the organisation and continue to strengthen the peer workforce infrastructure.

As part of this role, you will bring together and lead a Trust-wide Peer Support workforce, working alongside two Band 6 Peer Support Leads within a cohesive leadership team. Together, you will create shared direction, prioritise work and support the continued growth and development of peer support. You will also work with the Together Team and Carer Lead to embed lived experience across the Trust, ensuring the voices of patients, carers and communities inform decision-making and service development.

This is a strategic, lived-experience leadership position requiring influence across multiple systems and the ability to bring people together to drive meaningful change.

We are seeking someone with lived experience who can use this insight within a senior leadership role.

The right candidate will:

• Hold a clear, ambitious vision for peer support and translate this into practical action
• Have the confidence and credibility to work with a wide range of stakeholders
• Be able to balance competing priorities and navigate ambiguity
• Have strong prioritisation skills and focus on what will have the greatest impact
• Be committed to protecting the integrity and values of peer support
• Understand the complexities of lived experience roles and be confident challenging stigma and discrimination
• Working as Trust Lead for Peer Support you will:
• Lead and support a Trust-wide Peer Support workforce, working alongside Band 6 Peer Support Leads as part of a cohesive leadership team
• Provide strategic leadership for Peer Support across the Trust, setting direction and priorities
• Work in partnership with services to design, develop and embed Peer Support roles
• Ensure peer support is delivered in line with its core principles and values
• Represent Peer Support at Directorate and Trust governance forums
• Raise awareness through presentations, training and public speaking (including Trust induction)
• Oversee workforce development, including recruitment, induction and supervision frameworks
• Support and advise managers on safe and effective implementation of peer roles
• Lead evaluation, reporting and continuous improvement of peer support

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 Trust's 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.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to lead the development of the trust Peer Support Worker (PSW) Team by championing the talents that they bring to the Trust and ensuring that local teams and managers understand the role and the skills brought to it by people with lived experience.

The PSW team consists specifically of people who have lived experience of mental health challenges or carer experience. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, peer support workers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

This post will provide direct support and coordination to the Peer Support Worker…