Carer Peer Support Worker

Job summary

Do you have experience of being a carer for a loved one with complex emotional needs, often associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder'?

If so, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Carer Peer Support Worker to work in 'personality disorder' services at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who will be able to share wisdom, from their own experiences, to inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others.

The role will involve working collaboratively with other professionals, to assist in improving the wellbeing of the families that use 'personality disorder' services. This will be achieved by supporting carers directly, by sharing experiences and engaging in practical activities to enable them to feel in control of their lives. The role will also involve providing support to carers' groups and developing and maintaining relationships with several Local Mental Health Teams throughout the Nottinghamshire area.

This job can be emotionally challenging at times, but the successful applicant will receive support, guidance and training from colleagues within the 'personality disorder' team and the wider organisation.

Main duties of the job

To establish supportive relationships with carers and people using mental health services based on the core principles of peer support (mutuality, reciprocity, strengths-focused, safe, progressive, non-directive, recovery-focused and inclusive).

To share personal experiences of caring, recovery and coping to build connection and inform support.

To use active listening skills to help people develop self-understanding and identify their personal recovery goals.

To support others in achieving goals that they have identified for themselves, including signposting to other organisations and opportunities.

To role model recovery, personal responsibility and self-awareness.

To raise awareness of recovery language among Trust staff by modelling positive, strengths based, non-discriminatory, non-jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work.

To embrace every opportunity to work with people in a recovery focused way, supporting the community team by undertaking duties that would be a reasonable expectation of the role.

To maintain strengths focused clinical records.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Details

Date posted

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

186-1313-25-MH

Job locations

Highbury Hospital- Willows (PICU-Male)

Highbury Hospital, Highbury Rd

Nottingham

NG6 9DR

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role of carer peer support worker has been developed specifically for people who have supported a friend or loved one who is experiencing mental distress. Carer peer support workers use their experiences of caring to offer empathy, hope and understanding to others. In this role, the carer peer support worker will offer peer support alongside practical assistance to enable people to feel in control of their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and shared experience, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role of carer peer support worker has been developed specifically for people who have supported a friend or loved one who is experiencing mental distress. Carer peer support workers use their experiences of caring to offer empathy, hope and understanding to others. In this role, the carer peer support worker will offer peer support alongside practical assistance to enable people to feel in control of their lives and their own unique recovery process. Within a relationship of mutuality and shared experience, they will promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for the fulfilment of socially valued roles and connection to local communities.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Lived experience of being a carer to someone with mental health difficulties
• Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental distress and recovery
• Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the core principles or values of peer support
• Personal understanding of how to manage stress and when to access support

Desirable

• Knowledge of community resources

Training

Essential

• Completion of, or willingness to complete Peer Support Worker Training

Dispositional Attributes

Essential

• Positive and recovery focussed attitude to supporting others and working within teams
• Experience of being a carer for a loved one who has or attracts the diagnosis of "personality disorder".
• Able to demonstrate a patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate attitude
• Supportive to other colleagues

Skills

Essential

• Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy
• Active listening skills
• Able to build inclusive relationships with a wide range of people
• Ability to maintain a home/work life balance which feels healthy
• Willingness to support people in ways which they choose to meet their recovery goals
• Ability to work within a team
• Willingness to use the Trust IT systems
• Awareness of and ability to use written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Contractual Requirements

Essential

• Must be able to travel to a range of locations by own or by public transport

Desirable

• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Values - Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork.
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Lived experience of being a carer to someone with mental health difficulties
• Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental distress and recovery
• Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the core principles or values of peer support
• Personal understanding of how to manage stress and when to access support

Desirable

• Knowledge of community resources

Training

Essential

• Completion of, or willingness to complete Peer Support Worker Training

Dispositional Attributes

Essential

• Positive and recovery focussed attitude to supporting others and working within teams
• Experience of being a carer for a loved one who has or attracts the diagnosis of "personality disorder".
• Able to demonstrate a patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate attitude
• Supportive to other colleagues

Skills

Essential

• Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy
• Active listening skills
• Able to build inclusive relationships with a wide range of people
• Ability to maintain a home/work life balance which feels healthy
• Willingness to support people in ways which they choose to meet their recovery goals
• Ability to work within a team
• Willingness to use the Trust IT systems
• Awareness of and ability to use written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Contractual Requirements

Essential

• Must be able to travel to a range of locations by own or by public transport

Desirable

• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Values - Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork.
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role.

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

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highbury Hospital- Willows (PICU-Male)

Highbury Hospital, Highbury Rd

Nottingham

NG6 9DR

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Highbury Hospital- Willows (PICU-Male)

Highbury Hospital, Highbury Rd

Nottingham

NG6 9DR

Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)