Peer Support Worker

We are recruiting a Band 3 Peer Support Worker to join our Eating Disorder Service. This is an entry-level peer support role, designed for someone who brings lived experience of an Eating Disorder and is interested in starting a career in peer support. The role has the potential for progression to a Band 4 peer support role subject to job evaluation and reviews.

The role will be to establish a supportive relationship with the people who use our service, based on the core principles of peer support (mutuality, reciprocity, strengths-focused, safe, progressive, non-directive and inclusive). The role will be working alongside the wider multidisciplinary team. You will receive regular supervision, training, and support to develop your skills and confidence in the peer role.

We are able to accommodate flexible working arrangements and part–time working; the successful candidate will be expected to work from The Haldon Eating Disorder Unit.

This is not a healthcare support worker role. It is a peer support opportunity and designed for people with lived experience.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to enquire about this role before applying.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to share details of their own personal lived experiences of having an Eating Disorder and their journey within the Eating Disorder services at interview to demonstrate the ability to support our service users effectively.

The role involves building supportive relationships with people at The Haldon, based on core peer support principles. You will work alongside the wider multidisciplinary team and receive regular supervision, training, and support to develop confidence and skills in the peer role.

Peer support is rooted in shared lived experience. As a Peer Support Worker, you will use your own experience of an Eating Disorder in a safe and meaningful way, to offer understanding, hope, practical support, and be willing to share relevant parts of your recovery journey.

• Providing one-to-one and group peer support to service users and their families
• Offering emotional support, encouragement, and reassurance based on shared lived experience.
• Supporting people to identify their own recovery goals and access community and wellbeing resources.
• Working in a trauma-informed and non‑judgemental way, respecting each person's background, culture, and circumstances.
• Taking part in training, supervision and reflective spaces to support your development and wellbeing.
• Working closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and escalating any concerns appropriately.
• Be supported to complete required training, including peer support and eating disorder specific learning.
• Work within clear boundaries, with responsibility and decision‑making held by clinical colleagues.

For more details about this position, please see the attached Job and Person Description word document.

• Able to demonstrate first-person experiential knowledge of achieving Eating Disorder recovery goals.
• Lived experience of accessing and negotiating Eating Disorder services, or equivalent experience from private healthcare / lived experience relevant to patient group.
• Paid or unpaid working experience in health and social care.
• Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work toward their self-defined goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid).

• NHSE Peer Support Worker Competence Framework Training or commitment to complete within 3‑6 months of joining.
• Care Certificate training (to be completed within first 3‑6 months of joining unless already obtained).
• Basic IT skills.
• NVQ Level 3 or QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.

• Able to communicate effectively with people using services taking into account any communication difficulties they may have and responding appropriately.
• Able to demonstrate empathy, compassion, patience and be non‑judgemental in your approach.
• Able to demonstrate understanding about how and why we need to maintain personal‑professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of how to build community links and networks.

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.