Peer Support Worker South

• 853.32 per annum (Recruitment and Retention Allowance)

• 19974.6 per annum (Basic Salary) plus
• 853.32 per annum (Recruitment and Retention Allowance)

Do you have your own lived experience of mental health distress or of using mental health services? (We’re specifically looking for people with personal lived experience—this doesn’t include experiences gained only through caring for others.)

If you’re someone who can connect with others who are struggling…

If you can listen, empathise, and offer hope based on your own journey…

Then you might be exactly who we’re looking for.

As a Peer Support Worker at NIHCSS, lived experience isn’t just welcome—it’s essential. Your voice, your story, and your insight help shape the way we support people. Co‑production is at the heart of everything we do, and your perspective can directly influence how others feel heard, understood, and empowered in their recovery.

We’re excited to welcome a new Peer Support Worker to our dedicated Intensive Team, supporting people across the community in Norwich.

• Use your personal experiences of mental distress to build genuine, human connections
• Offer emotional and practical support to people going through difficult times
• Help others recognise their strengths, build confidence, and develop skills for wellness
• Provide one‑to‑one and group support, with guidance from a Peer Support Coordinator
• Work across the county—so a driver’s licence and access to a car are essential

Your lived experience is your strength. It’s what makes this work powerful.

At NIHCSS, people come first—including you. We’ll make sure you feel:

• Respected, valued, and included as a unique contributor to the team
• Supported through ongoing training, development opportunities, and supervision
• Encouraged to share your ideas and help us shape services for the future
• Part of a community that truly understands the importance of lived experience

Your insight can change someone’s life. Your story can give someone hope. And we’d love you to bring that to our team.

• Act as a navigator supporting individuals to engage in the service, identify what they need and how they would like to progress
• Develop specialist expertise to support individuals in areas such as:
  • building hope and empowerment
  • developing self-management techniques
  • developing social connections
  • problem-solving and navigating / accessing services including statutory services
  • whilst drawing on your own lived experience where appropriate
• Support individuals to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation and promote progress in their journey to recovery through one to ones and group work, drawing on own lived experience to help you do this
• Support people to develop coping and self‑management techniques by facilitating group based peer support
• Empower individuals to exercise choice and control, offering a person‑centred service led by the wishes of the individuals you are working with
• Promote engagement within the community as a key factor in recovery and self management
• Provide advice, guidance and support to individuals during drop‑in sessions, drawing on own lived experience where appropriate
• Communicate effectively with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and maintain positive and effective relationships with individuals, staff, the staff of other agencies and the local community
• Be an expert navigator of local services and opportunities, helping to:
  • build and sustain relationships with agencies and professionals
  • promote the service
  • share peer support and recovery principles and the Psychologically Informed Environment approach
  • support individuals to access local services / opportunities as appropriate
• Extend the range of community opportunities for people by supporting community resources to improve accessibility and using peer support and lived experience of mental health to break down mental health stigma
• Support the maintenance of a database of community resources, used by staff and individuals to identify and access a range of opportunities to…