Peer Support Worker – Mental Health

Peer Support Worker Jobs UK Visa Sponsorship 2026 - Mental Health Career Opportunity Peer Support Worker - Certificate of Sponsorship Job Overview

East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) is recruiting a Peer Support Worker with lived experience of complex emotional needs, commonly associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder, to join the Bedfordshire and Luton Complex Needs Service
.

The service works with service users, staff and carers to improve the quality of care and treatment available to people experiencing complex emotional needs and their families.

The successful candidate will use their own lived experience and recovery journey to demonstrate that recovery is possible. You will offer hope, encouragement and practical support to people who may be earlier in their recovery journey or experiencing difficult periods.

The role is based at Mountbatten House in Dunstable and involves travelling to community mental health team bases, inpatient facilities and other locations across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate lived experience of complex emotional needs associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder, together with personal experience of recovery
.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will work collaboratively within a specialist multidisciplinary service to:

• Build trusting, mutual and supportive relationships with service users.
• Promote hope, optimism, motivation and the possibility of recovery.
• Provide emotional support during periods of crisis and transitions between services.
• Support service users to work towards their personal recovery goals.
• Attend appointments and provide time-limited support within the community.
• Advocate for service users and support their involvement in treatment decisions.
• Share personal recovery strategies and practical skills that may benefit others.
• Use lived experience to support carers and improve their understanding of service users’ needs.
• Bring a peer perspective to clinical and team discussions.
• Contribute to quality improvement activities.
• Maintain accurate and complete clinical documentation.
• Recognise personal limitations and seek appropriate supervision and support.

East London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to improving people’s lives and delivering high-quality services to the communities it serves.

The Trust’s values include:

• We Care
• We Respect
• We Are Inclusive

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate these values when working with service users, carers, colleagues and partner organisations.

Required:

• ELFT Peer Support Worker Accreditation Programme.

Applicants should have:

• Personal experience of recovery from difficulties described as personality disorder or complex emotional needs.
• Experience of using local mental health services as part of their recovery journey.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of complex emotional needs and the issues associated with personality disorder.
• An understanding of personal recovery and how lived experience can support others.
• Commitment to service-user rights, involvement and service-user-led initiatives.
• Knowledge of recovery-focused approaches and practice.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in high-stress situations involving service users, carers and staff.
• Ability to recognise personal boundaries and seek appropriate support or supervision.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Willingness to participate in quality improvement activities.

This position is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975
. Successful applicants will therefore be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applications from candidates who require up-to-date Skilled Worker visa sponsorship to work in the UK are welcomed and will be considered alongside other applications.

However, sponsorship is not guaranteed and will depend on the role meeting the relevant immigration requirements and the applicant satisfying the current Skilled Worker eligibility criteria.

Applicants who have lived outside the UK may also need to provide criminal record certificates for countries where they have lived for 12 months or more during the previous 10 years
, in line with UK immigration requirements.

Candidates should check the latest UK visa and…