Peer Support Worker

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East London NHS Foundation Trust Peer Support Worker

The closing date is 04 October 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

ELFT are excited to be advertising for a Peer Support Worker with lived experience of 'complex emotional needs' (often diagnosed as 'personality disorder') to join the countywide Bedfordshire and Luton Complex Needs Service. Our service aims to work with service users, colleagues, and carers to establish a learning culture that improves the care and treatment for people with complex emotional needs and their families/carers in the community. The successful applicant will use their lived experience of 'complex emotional needs' and local services to demonstrate that recovery is achievable. They will share their story of recovery in a way that conveys a sense of connection, hope and optimism to those who are earlier on in their journeys or experiencing challenging times, and will provide time-limited support to enable service users to progress towards their own recovery goals. The successful applicant will be well supported by colleagues in the Complex Needs Service and the Peer Support Lead. This post will be based at Mountbatten House, Dunstable and the post-holder will be required to travel to CMHT bases, inpatient units and other sites across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

*Please note: It is important that your application evidences your lived experience of complex emotional needs associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' and your recovery journey.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work collaboratively as a member of a countywide multi-disciplinary specialist service for people who have difficulties described as 'complex emotional needs' to:

• Validate experiences by developing reciprocal relationships based on mutuality;
• Increase optimism, hope, motivation and opportunity for change and/or recovery;
• Provide emotional support during a crisis and as people transition between different parts of the system (e.g. from acute crisis, inpatient stays, to community care);
• Share information to enable identification and effective management of risks;
• Advocate for service users when treatment decisions are being made;
• Offer time-limited support to service users to enable them to progress towards their goals, which may include spending time with them in the community and attending appointments;
• Share and role model personal use of skills and strategies;
• Share lived experiences with carers to support their learning and enable them to effectively support service users;
• Contribute to the professional and personal development of multi-disciplinary colleagues by bringing a lived experience perspective to clinical and team discussions;
• Contribute to clinical records to ensure effective communication between team members and other services.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

01 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

363-BED8231613

Job locations

Mountbatten House, Dunstable

56 High Street South

Dunstable, Bedfordshire

LU6 3HD

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full details of the responsibilties of this post please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full details of the responsibilties of this post please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification/Training

Essential

• ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker training

Experience

Essential

• Lived experience of recovery from distress understood as 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs.
• Experience of using local services to embark on a journey of 'recovery'.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Experience of working with people with complex emotional needs on an individual or group basis, focusing on recovery.

Other

Essential

• Willingness and ability to travel using own or public transport between sites across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and occasionally, London.
• Willing to support the Trust's commitment to research, clinical governance, clinical audit and clinical Assurance.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge, lived experience and understanding of challenges associated with 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others
• Knowledge and commitment to service users rights, involvement and service-user led initiatives
• Understanding and practical knowledge of recovery approaches
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice
• Ability and willingness to participate in quality improvement projects and activities
• Understanding of the importance of equality and diversity
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) relevant to the legal requirements of client care and related issues and the documentation of that care.
• Ability to deal with highly stressful situations arising with service users, carers and staff
• Ability to recognise own limits and seek appropriate support and supervision

Person Specification

Education/Qualification/Training

Essential

• ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker training

Experience

Essential

• Lived experience of recovery from distress understood as 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs.
• Experience of using local services to embark on a journey of 'recovery'.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Experience of working with people with complex emotional needs on an individual or group basis, focusing on recovery.

Other

Essential

• Willingness and ability to travel using own or public transport between sites across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and occasionally, London.
• Willing to support the Trust's commitment to research, clinical governance, clinical audit and clinical Assurance.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge, lived experience and understanding of challenges associated with 'personality disorder' or complex emotional needs
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others
• Knowledge and commitment to service users rights, involvement and service-user led initiatives
• Understanding and practical knowledge of recovery approaches
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice
• Ability and willingness to participate in quality improvement projects and activities
• Understanding of the importance of equality and diversity
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) relevant to the legal requirements of client care and related issues and the documentation of that care.
• Ability to deal with highly stressful situations arising with service users, carers and staff
• Ability to recognise own limits and seek appropriate support and supervision

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mountbatten House, Dunstable

56 High Street South

Dunstable, Bedfordshire

LU6 3HD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mountbatten House, Dunstable

56 High Street South

Dunstable, Bedfordshire

LU6 3HD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Carol-Ann Sargent

[email protected]

01582293000

Details

Date posted

01 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

363-BED8231613

Job locations

Mountbatten House, Dunstable

56 High Street South

Dunstable, Bedfordshire

LU6 3HD

United Kingdom

Supporting documents

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