Job overview
Do you have personal lived experience of recovery from mental and emotional distress? Do you have substantial professional experience in peer and lived experience working within healthcare? Are you looking for an opportunity to join an established peer workforce in a leadership role?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced peer worker to join CNWL’s peer and lived experience workforce as Deputy Peer Support Lead.
The postholder will work closely with the Trustwide Lived Experience Practice and Peer Support Lead and alongside other lived experience leads in the organisation, overseeing and supporting the growth of the peer and lived experience workforce across the Trust.
They will provide supervision, consultation and training to colleagues and be actively involved in developing and supporting new posts across The trust. They will act as an ambassador of Recovery for the Trust alongside others, drawing upon aspects of their own lived experience to challenge stigma and discrimination.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can work flexibly to meeting the demands of this exciting and very varied position.
Please note that only candidates who have personally experienced mental health challenges and have professional experience in peer and lived experience working will be shortlisted. Please reference these experiences within your application to be considered for this position.
Main duties of the job
To ensure peer and lived experience working across CNWL is provided in line with the principles and ethos of recovery and social inclusion, the Deputy Peer Support Lead will contribute their lived experience of recovery, professional experience as a Senior Peer Support Worker, and specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting the organisation to deliver recovery-focused services, optimising CNWL’s peer and lived experience contribution.
They will support the development of the workforce, assuming deputised responsibility for the development, implementation and review of the workforce in line with the Trust’s Peer & Lived Experience Workforce Strategy.
They will contribute to the centralised lived experience leadership team, strategically planning and guiding peer support and providing professional supervision to Senior Peer Support Workers, Senior Peer Trainers, and Advanced Lived Experience staff. They will also contribute to the ongoing maintenance of our supervision and development framework, ensuring safe practice and affords opportunities for career development.
They will proactively work with the Trustwide Lived Experience Practice & Peer Support Lead to identify opportunities for developments in new posts. They will support managers to introduce new roles by assisting in the development of roles, facilitating Team Preparation sessions, recruiting and inducting new staff, and ensuring they operate within a peer supervision and development framework.
Working for our organisation
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest and most diverse NHS trusts in the UK, providing physical and mental health services across London, Milton Keynes, Surrey, and beyond. We are proud of our reputation for innovation, quality, and compassionate care. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we are committed to supporting their wellbeing, learning, and development. By joining CNWL, you will become part of a compassionate, inclusive, and forward-thinking organisation that values diversity and is dedicated to improving lives. We offer a wide range of training, career development opportunities, and staff benefits to help you thrive both professionally and personally.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Deputy Peer Support Lead will work with the Trustwide Lived Experience Practice & Peer Support Lead and Peer & Lived Experience Training & Development Lead to evaluate Team Preparation Workshops, the accredited Developing Expertise in Peer Working programme, and the impact of the peer workforce within CNWL services.
They will contribute to the development of peer-focused publications, research and evaluation activities, and deliver presentations within the organisation and to external partners/conferences.
They will work in collaboration with the Peer & Lived Experience Training Team, Recovery & Wellbeing College, Education, and Patient & Carer Involvement Teams, co-designing and co-delivering learning and development opportunities. They will work in partnership with teams and departments which support the transformation of the workforce (including but not limited to Human Resources, Occupational Health and Employment Services).
For a detailed overview of the duties and responsibilities of this job, please see the linked Job Description.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
1. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
2. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
3. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.