Overview
The Rainbow Mother and Baby Unit is a specialist 6 bedded unit. The unit provides mental health care and treatment for women during the late stages of pregnancy and up to one year after the birth of their baby.
Aims
* Deliver the highest quality of care to mothers and their babies in a safe, friendly and supportive environment.
* Maintain the safety of all mothers and their babies whilst treating the mother's mental illness.
* Offer support to the families and carers involved in the mother's and/or baby's care.
* Help sustain the developing relationship between mother, baby and other family members.
Through the understanding of the Peer Support Worker (PSW) in relation to lived experiences within inpatient settings, the hope and reflection of recovery can be promoted within perinatal services.
Essential criteria
A key requirement for this role is the right candidate must have personal lived experience as someone who has been challenged by Perinatal Mental Health concerns previously at inpatient status or been supported within community perinatal mental health services.
Main duties of the job (Peer Support Worker)
* Using your own lived experiences, support and understand the impact of accessing services when experiencing mental health challenges.
* Work collaboratively with service users and the wider MDT to support the implementation of care and promote recovery.
* Provide support and understanding to carers and family members while underpinning recovery principles and socially inclusive practice.
* Build therapeutic relationships with service users to promote choice, offer advocacy support and understanding of situations through lived experiences of being admitted to a Mother and Baby Unit.
About Us
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) is looking for motivated staff who share our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. We offer a range of benefits and development opportunities including:
* Season Ticket Loans
* NHS discounts for staff
* Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
* Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
* The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
* Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
* Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. You are encouraged to discuss flexible working possibilities with the recruiting manager.
Details
* Date posted: 23 September 2025
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: Band 3
* Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 per annum
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Full-time
* Reference number: 364-A-9143-B
* Job locations: The Linden Centre, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, CM1 7LF
Job responsibilities
* As a Peer Support Worker, you will have a wide range of responsibilities including one-to-one support, helping individuals develop goals and care plans, engaging in activities, and supporting group work.
* Assist in developing recovery plans and conduct regular 1-1 meetings with supervision to discuss challenges and progress.
* Coordinate with volunteers and participate in activities such as tutoring, mentoring, or running workshops, either in groups or one-on-one.
* Provide guidance, tutoring, and social support to volunteers and others interested in PSW.
* Coordinate volunteer opportunities with local non-profit organizations or community groups and help organize peer-led clubs focused on PSW.
Qualifications
Education
* Essential: Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Experience
* Essential: Ability to demonstrate personal knowledge of recovery from perinatal mental health challenges with lived experience; experience of working with people with mental health challenges and supporting them to access opportunities beyond mental health services; must have personal lived experience as someone who has been challenged by perinatal mental health concerns.
* Desirable: Experience of positively sharing own life experiences and recovery journey with service users, carers and others.
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure to be sought via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Employer details
Employer: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Linden Centre, The Linden Centre, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, CM1 7LF
Employer's website: https://eput.nhs.uk/
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