Job summary The role of Peer Support Worker has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental distress, or experience of caring for a friend or family member experiencing mental distress. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, peer support workers will inspire hope and belief that recovery is achievable. The Forensic Healthcare Service is a dynamic service consisting of the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service, low and medium secure services, a high dependency rehabilitation unit, and the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Service with the National Probation Service. The Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS) is a community-based service in Sussex providing holistic support to individuals with a mental health issue that relates to their offending/risk behaviour. Our service has a strong commitment to recovery, multi-disciplinary working, service user involvement, and equality. Main duties of the job As the Peer Support worker you will work collaboratively to assist in improving the wellbeing of service users within the FOLS team, as wekk as their families and carers. Examples include: To support individuals who are overcoming mental health challenges in their journey to recovery and wellbeing. To be a positive role model for service users and use parts of your recovery story, where appropriate, to inspire hope. To support and enable individuals to resolve conflicts and regain control, responsibility, hope and enjoyment based on the principles of peer supported recovery. Using a peer approach, working with service users (both individually and/or in groups) to meet holistic needs (e.g. education, welfare, employment, financial, leisure, housing and spiritual), alongside the multidisciplinary care team (MDT). Supporting service users to engage in participation, co-production and service development opportunities This role is a vital part of our plan to continually improve the service we provide and is aimed at people who have lived experience of using mental health care services. We are looking for people who can use their experience of mental distress, recovery and use of peer networks to inspire others. We have a strong network of diverse and supportive peer support colleagues who meet regularly as part of peer networking across Sussex. We offer full training to new peer support workers, one-to one peer supervision and ongoing development opportunities About us Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for all age groups across Sussex. Working in Sussex: Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure. We'd love you to join our organisation that is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the Care Quality Commission. Our staff agree, with 82% of people in our recent staff survey telling us that they recognise that high quality care is our top priority. Details Date posted 09 May 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,625 to £25,674 a year pa / pro rata for part time Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number 354-FH-20521-C Job locations Chanctobury Building, Swandean or The Firs, Hellingly Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Arundel Road Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3EP Job description Job responsibilities To support others who are overcoming mental health challenges in their journey to recovery and wellbeing. To plan, promote and deliver delegated activities in accordance with the service users needs to meet goals identified in the individuals Recovery Plan. For a full outline please see the attached job description and person specification. Job description Job responsibilities To support others who are overcoming mental health challenges in their journey to recovery and wellbeing. To plan, promote and deliver delegated activities in accordance with the service users needs to meet goals identified in the individuals Recovery Plan. For a full outline please see the attached job description and person specification. Person Specification Qualifications Essential A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification (Band 4 only) A recognised Peer Support qualification (Band 4 only) Desirable Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills (Band 3) Knowledge Essential Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties Experience working as part of a team Experience of being supervised Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties Managing personal mental health and recovery Knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work Person Specification Qualifications Essential A recognised qualification in an area related to the workplace or equivalent technical/life skills Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills acquired through experience or formal teaching qualification (Band 4 only) A recognised Peer Support qualification (Band 4 only) Desirable Health care or relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent skills (Band 3) Knowledge Essential Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties Experience working as part of a team Experience of being supervised Lived experience of mental health issues/difficulties Managing personal mental health and recovery Knowledge of Peer Support, Recovery and Wellbeing in mental health and ability to apply this throughout your work Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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. Employer details Employer name Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Address Chanctobury Building, Swandean or The Firs, Hellingly Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Arundel Road Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3EP Employer's website https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) Employer details Employer name Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Address Chanctobury Building, Swandean or The Firs, Hellingly Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Arundel Road Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3EP Employer's website https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab). Location : Chanctobury Building, Swandean or The Firs, Hellingly, Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Arundel Road, BN13 3EP Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom