AOS Lived Experience Peer Support Worker - Adult

AOS Lived Experience Peer Support Worker - Adult

Job Reference: HCRGCG/TP/171506/19423

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

Salary: £25,500 prorated to the hours

Weekly contracted hours: 37.5

Location: Mid Essex (travel to Southend Essex and Thurrock)

Closing Date: 25/06/2026

Job Category: HCRG - Additional Clinical Services

Service type: HCRG - Children's Services

Job Introduction

As a Lived Experience Peer Support Worker in our Autism Outreach Service (AOS) - Adult, you'll be part of our valued team based at Mid Essex. You will feel valued as a Peer Support Worker within HCRG Care Group, receiving access to exclusive rewards and benefits.

Package Description:

• A salary of £23,875.00 with access to our group pension
• Free tea, coffee and milk at your base location
• Membership of My Reward Hub, giving you access to discounts on everyday purchases and cashback and voucher offers for treats for you and your loved ones
• Access to your wages as you earn them to help cover life's emergencies and avoid overdraft fees or high interest rates
• Online and face to face help with your mental and physical wellbeing - from healthy recipes and activity challenges through to post trauma support, legal, debt and life management help, as well as career coaching and counselling
• Access to eLearning, bespoke career pathways and opportunities for continuing professional development through our 'Outstanding' learning and development team, The Learning Enterprise
• An open, just culture where you're encouraged to have and implement ideas which can help us deliver our purpose: changing lives through transforming health and care - backed up by at least £100,000 of ringfenced innovation funding each year

As a Peer Support Worker (Adult), you will draw upon your own lived experience to offer understanding, encouragement, and practical assistance to Autistic adults. You will build genuine, trusting relationships that support individuals to regain confidence, develop independence, and take positive steps towards their personal goals.

Your empathy, authenticity, and understanding of the challenges faced by Autistic adults will be key in fostering hope, connection, and belonging. Together, we will work to build stronger, more inclusive communities where lived experience is valued and every individual is supported to thrive.

Main Responsibilities

• To provide peer support to Autistic service users (Adults) supporting them in relation to their careplan and goals on a 1-1 or group basis focusing on building relationships and opportunities to learn together.
• To maintain equality with, and work alongside others facing similar experiences and challenges in their wellbeing with the central focus being on building trusting relationships rather than providing clinical interventions.
• To promote understanding of the principles and practice of the Autism Outreach Lived Experience role (relationships and support).
• To work closely with the wider team and collaboratively with adults to develop the community offer, ensuring all services developed are co produced collaboratively with CYP and their families to build positive relationships and ensure they are responsive to service user needs.
• Work flexibly, being prepared to perform other duties commensurate with the role which may include new areas of operation following consultation.
• To keep and maintain accurate, quality and up to date records (using the appropriate computer systems i.e. SystmOne).

Driving licence and access to vehicle for work purposes is required. Candidates who do not meet this requirement will not be progressed to interview.

Ideal Candidate

• Driving licence and access to vehicle for work purposes.
• Own personal lived experience of Autism / neurodiversity and willingness to positively share own life experiences.
• Excellent communication skills with autistic adults.
• Resilient and adaptable in achieving goals despite obstacles.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills to manage your own schedule and workload.
• Ability and commitment to working in an inclusive team focused way.
• Based in Mid Essex but expected to work and travel across Southend Essex and Thurrock.