Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Peer support Worker

The closing date is 04 August 2025

Job summary

This role is a peer support opportunity and is designed for people with lived experience. Lived experience means someone has gained an understanding and knowledge of a situation or challenge because they have directly and personally experienced it. In this case we are looking for someone who has spent time in prison and gone through the criminal justice system.

Through sharing your own experiences, this may inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. Your role will be to establish supportive relationships with 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).

As an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, you will provide formalised peer support to support service users to achievegoals that they have identified for themselves. This will include signposting to other organisations and connection to local communities.

Main duties of the job

You will be working as part of the Reconnect service which supports people as they leave prison and for up to 6 months after. You will work directly alongside support time and recovery workers and with service users holding a caseload who you will meet with at the frequency set by the person.

You will use your unique experience and understanding to walk alongside service users facing the challenges of leaving prison. A key part of your role will be to meet people on the day of their release which is a anxious and unsettling time for them and help them to engage with probation and settle into housing. You will give support directly by attending appointments alongside service users, these may include appointments with probation, drug and alcohol services, housing providers or seeing the GP, or by being a listening and understanding ear to help them navigate the world outside of the prison environment.

You will help people to create their own Recovery plans and support them to meet their goals.

In your day to day work you will role model the values of peer support inclusivity, respect, reciprocity and mutuality.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

14 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0494

Job locations

The Rowans

Hospital Lane

Exeter

Devon

EX1 3RB

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Basic Education (Level 2 Qualification).
To complete Care Certificate training within the first 3-6 months of joining unless already obtained
Basic IT skills

Desirable

NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience, equivalent working experience using lived experience.
Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).

Experience

Essential

Lived experience of serving a custodial sentence and navigation of criminal justice system
An understanding of the challenges individuals face when transitioning from the criminal justice system
Lived experience of accessing and negotiating secondary mental health services or equivalent experience from private healthcare/lived experience relevant to patient group
Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of recovery from mental health challenges.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
Basic knowledge of peer support
Evidenced modelling of peer support values
Demonstrate a willingness to share own experience of mental health with the sole intention of supporting service users.
Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations

Desirable

Personal experience of being significantly impacted by mental illness and recovery)
Paid or unpaid working experience in health and social care.
Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards their self-defined goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid).
Awareness of safeguarding principles.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Basic Education (Level 2 Qualification).
To complete Care Certificate training within the first 3-6 months of joining unless already obtained
Basic IT skills

Desirable

NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification or experience, equivalent working experience using lived experience.
Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings (statutory or voluntary).

Experience

Essential

Lived experience of serving a custodial sentence and navigation of criminal justice system
An understanding of the challenges individuals face when transitioning from the criminal justice system
Lived experience of accessing and negotiating secondary mental health services or equivalent experience from private healthcare/lived experience relevant to patient group
Ability to demonstrate first person experiential knowledge of recovery from mental health challenges.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of personal recovery as it may apply to others.
Basic knowledge of peer support
Evidenced modelling of peer support values
Demonstrate a willingness to share own experience of mental health with the sole intention of supporting service users.
Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations

Desirable

Personal experience of being significantly impacted by mental illness and recovery)
Paid or unpaid working experience in health and social care.
Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards their self-defined goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid).
Awareness of safeguarding principles.

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.