Job summary
- Main area
- Peer Support Worker
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 18 hours per week (Some out of hours working Monday evening 6pm - 8pm)
- Job ref
- 364-A-9882-A
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ashingdon House, Rochford Hospital
- Town
- Southend
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Peer Support Worker
Band 3
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated Peer Support Worker (PSW) to join our Community Mental Health Services, supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use needs (dual diagnosis). This exciting role offers the opportunity to provide peer support and practical assistance to empower people to regain control of their lives and shape their own unique recovery journey.
We are keen to employ a creative, passionate, and recovery-focused individual who can inspire hope and belief that change is possible by drawing on the wisdom and insight of their own lived experience of mental health challenges and/or substance use. Working within relationships of mutuality and shared understanding, you will promote choice, self-determination, and connection to personal goals, social roles, and community resources.
A key focus of this role will be supporting individuals who are in the early stages of recovery, including those who may feel ambivalent or unsure about change. You will help people explore their values and motivations, working alongside them through the stages of change and offering consistent, strengths-based support.
Main duties of the job
A key focus of this role will be supporting individuals who are in the early stages of recovery, including those who may feel ambivalent or unsure about change. You will help people explore their values and motivations, working alongside them through the stages of change and offering consistent, strengths-based support.
You will also:
- Communicate effectively with and offer lived-experience-informed insight to mental health professionals, peer support colleagues, and external services.
- Work collaboratively across a range of services (e.g. primary care, secondary care, and voluntary sector providers) to support engagement and access to care.
- Contribute to the wider development of recovery-focused, trauma-informed practices within the team and organisation.
- Help embed the ethos of peer support by sharing best practice and championing recovery values. You will be joining a growing peer workforce within EPUT with access to a highly regarded training programme supporting the development of peer support workers as part of your first six months in post, also gaining a recognised award in peer support worker practice upon completion.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Interested? Apply using information below.
If you would like to discuss the detail of this role please contact Unity Hewson (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) on mobile number 07583139634 or Ann Currid on mobile number 07581030491 (Tues, Wed or Thurs morning)
Interviews will take place on W/C 20th April 2026
.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
- The ability to follow procedure and develop a culture of safe practice.
- Basic education standard - reading and writing skills
Desirable criteria
- Working knowledge of ‘Safeguarding Of Vulnerable Adults’ framework.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understanding of the challenges experienced by people with complex mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use.
- Good understanding of substance use and its impact, including the physical, psychological, emotional and social implications for individuals and their recovery journey and awareness of common approaches and interventions used to support individuals.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of harm reduction approaches, motivational interviewing and other interventions commonly used in dual diagnosis support.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Unity Hewson
- Job title
- Integrated DD Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07583139634
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