
Carer Peer Support Worker AMH Inpatient Services
Job summary
Experiencing mental distress can feel isolating, debilitating and at worst, unendurable. Surviving and thriving can be very challenging, especially in communities that exclude or stigmatise mental health experiences. Employees working in any position within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust can support peoples' personal recovery by holding hope that recovery is possible for everybody, enabling people to take control of their own lives and creating opportunities for people to learn and grow in their recovery, while remembering the courage that recovery requires. By investing in our own recoveries and, where possible, sharing these with others, we can build relationships based on shared humanity and belief in our own and others' potential.
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.
Main duties of the job
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 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
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 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
26 September 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
186-1198-25-MH
Job locations
Sherwood Oaks Hospital
Sherwood oaks Business Park, Sherwood Ave,
Mansfield
NG18 4GW
Job description
Job responsibilities
To establish supportive relationships with Carers and people using mental health services based on the core principles of peer support (mutual, reciprocal, 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 and a Carers Crisis plan if required.
To support others in achieving goals that they have identified for themselves, including signposting to other organisations and opportunities.
To offer Carer Support sessions; either 1:1 or groups focusing on education and Carer wellbeing .
To support the assessment and treatment pathway for the Service users by gathering collateral information from the Carers and providing regular updates.
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.
Job descriptionJob responsibilities
To establish supportive relationships with Carers and people using mental health services based on the core principles of peer support (mutual, reciprocal, 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 and a Carers Crisis plan if required.
To support others in achieving goals that they have identified for themselves, including signposting to other organisations and opportunities.
To offer Carer Support sessions; either 1:1 or groups focusing on education and Carer wellbeing .
To support the assessment and treatment pathway for the Service users by gathering collateral information from the Carers and providing regular updates.
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.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role.
- Working with service users experiencing complex mental health.
- Lived experience of caring for a loved one who has undergone mental distress.
Desirable
- Experience of being on an inpatient ward.
- Experience of working in a team
- Experience of training, teaching, coaching/mentoring others.
- Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques.
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries.
Training/Qualifications
Essential
- Completion of, or willingness to complete Peer Support Worker Training
- Completion of own wellness plan (there is no expectation for this to be shared
- Completion of a Family Therapy course (for example BFT), or willingness to undertake.
Desirable
- Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support and carer peer support
- Mental Health related qualification ie. Certificate in Community Mental Health or equivalent.
- Level of educational attainment to NVQ 3/AS Level or equivalent.
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
Skills
Essential
- Active listening skills
- Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy
- Ability to reflect on experiences and working practice personally and in group settings
- Awareness of and ability to use written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Able to use Trust IT systems.
- Able to build inclusive relationships with a wide range of people.
- Able to create a safe environment and use techniques to reduce anxiety and understand conflict.
- Ability to maintain a home/work life balance which feels healthy.
- Ability to work within a team and work in a flexible way.
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way, where the person is the expert in their own recovery.
- Willingness to support people in ways which they choose to meet their recovery goals.
- Ability to carry out practical tasks.
- Positive and recovery focussed attitude to supporting others and working within teams.
- Good organisational skills including time management.
- Supportive to other colleagues Able to demonstrate a patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate attitude.
Values and Behaviours
Essential
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Physical requirements
Essential
- Has the ability to perform the full range of duties.
- Manual handling which may include manoeuvring of wheelchairs/trolleys/beds etc as needed.
Contractual requirements
Essential
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations by own vehicle or by public transport.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of being in a supportive and enabling role.
- Working with service users experiencing complex mental health.
- Lived experience of caring for a loved one who has undergone mental distress.
Desirable
- Experience of being on an inpatient ward.
- Experience of working in a team
- Experience of training, teaching, coaching/mentoring others.
- Experience of using a range of self-management or recovery tools and techniques.
- Experience of working across different organisational boundaries.
Training/Qualifications
Essential
- Completion of, or willingness to complete Peer Support Worker Training
- Completion of own wellness plan (there is no expectation for this to be shared
- Completion of a Family Therapy course (for example BFT), or willingness to undertake.
Desirable
- Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support and carer peer support
- Mental Health related qualification ie. Certificate in Community Mental Health or equivalent.
- Level of educational attainment to NVQ 3/AS Level or equivalent.
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
Skills
Essential
- Active listening skills
- Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy
- Ability to reflect on experiences and working practice personally and in group settings
- Awareness of and ability to use written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Able to use Trust IT systems.
- Able to build inclusive relationships with a wide range of people.
- Able to create a safe environment and use techniques to reduce anxiety and understand conflict.
- Ability to maintain a home/work life balance which feels healthy.
- Ability to work within a team and work in a flexible way.
- Ability to work in an enabling and creative way, where the person is the expert in their own recovery.
- Willingness to support people in ways which they choose to meet their recovery goals.
- Ability to carry out practical tasks.
- Positive and recovery focussed attitude to supporting others and working within teams.
- Good organisational skills including time management.
- Supportive to other colleagues Able to demonstrate a patient, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate attitude.
Values and Behaviours
Essential
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Physical requirements
Essential
- Has the ability to perform the full range of duties.
- Manual handling which may include manoeuvring of wheelchairs/trolleys/beds etc as needed.
Contractual requirements
Essential
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations by own vehicle or by public transport.
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
Sherwood Oaks Hospital
Sherwood oaks Business Park, Sherwood Ave,
Mansfield
NG18 4GW
Employer's website
https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sherwood Oaks Hospital
Sherwood oaks Business Park, Sherwood Ave,
Mansfield
NG18 4GW
Employer's website
https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Salary range
- £24,937 - £26,598 per year