7 Mental health peer mentoring worker jobs in East of England

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Peer Support Workerto play a pivotal role in our KCW Cove Service.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role involves managing a caseload of individuals requiring early intervention and preventative mental health support, providing person-centred guidance that enables them to achieve their goals and improve their wellbeing. You will deliver engaging group activities and programmes, clearly explain the service model and support pathways, and empower service users to confidently access community resources and work effectively with professionals such as mental health teams, social workers, housing providers, healthcare services and Job Centre Plus. Working collaboratively as part of a flexible team, you will help develop co-produced activities, peer support networks and community-based opportunities, while actively monitoring the wellbeing, safety and security of service users. The role also includes contributing to the day-to-day running of the service, supporting colleagues, meeting contractual obligations and using initiative to respond to emerging needs and priorities.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

This role is ideally suited to someone with lived experience of mental health services and a strong understanding of recovery-focused support. You will have knowledge of the challenges faced by people experiencing a range of mental health conditions and be able to build trusting relationships that promote dignity, respect and empowerment. With excellent listening, communication and partnership-building skills, you will engage effectively with service users, carers, colleagues and external agencies, including during periods of crisis. The successful candidate will be confident in assessing needs, risks and aspirations, providing appropriate signposting and support, and drawing on knowledge of local mental health and wellbeing services. You will be highly organised, able to prioritise competing demands and work effectively under pressure, while maintaining accurate records and professional communications. Strong IT skills, safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are essential, along with a commitment to supporting and mentoring peer staff and volunteers.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

The Peer Recovery Worker will support people who are sleeping rough, at risk of rough
sleeping, or going through important stages in housing and recovery. The main purpose
of this role is to help reduce the harm caused by rough sleeping.

You will listen, build trust, give practical help and share clear information. You will help
people connect with the right support, including housing, health care, drug and alcohol
services, benefits advice, community groups, and services based at WSUP.

WSUP is not a drug and alcohol treatment provider, so this role does not involve
clinical treatment or specialist interventions. Instead, you will help people understand
their options, prepare for appointments, overcome barriers and stay connected with
services that can meet their needs.

You do not need to have all the answers.

We are looking for someone who is kind, reliable, calm and able to support people
without judgement. We welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness,
addiction or recovery, and who feel ready to use that experience to support others
safely and positively.

This is a 12-month fixed-term post, with the possibility of extension for up to a further two years, subject to funding and organisational requirements.

Key Responsibilities
 

Engagement

• Build trusting and respectful relationships with people experiencing roughsleeping, homelessness, substance use, poor mental health or social isolation.
• Engage people in the Target Priority Group cohort through drop-ins, planned appointments, informal conversations and outreach.
• Provide emotional and practical support, listening and helping people feel heard.
• Use lived experience, where appropriate, to build connection, reduce stigma and inspire hope.
• Encourage people who may be unsure about housing, treatment or other support to explore their options at their own pace.
• Maintain contact during periods of disengagement, relapse, crisis or transition, within the boundaries of the role.
• Help people identify their own goals, strengths and next steps.
• Support or co-facilitate peer, recovery or wellbeing activities where appropriate.

Practical support and navigation

• Provide clear, accurate information about local treatment, health, housing, benefits and community services.
• Introduce people to co-located services at WSUP and help them understand what each service can offer.
• Provide warm handovers and accompany people to appointments where this is helpful, agreed and within the service plan.
• Help people with practical tasks such as phone calls, forms, identification, benefits enquiries and gathering information for appointments.
• Work closely with treatment, outreach, housing, health and other partners so that support is coordinated and responsibilities are clear.
• Advocate for people when stigma, exclusion or difficult processes create barriers to support.
• Support people at key transition points, including moving from the street into accommodation, leaving hospital, prison or treatment, or returning to services after disengagement.
• Help people connect with local groups, activities and community support that may improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. 
• Support day-to-day service delivery by staffing open sessions including Saturdays (on rota), covering reception duties and attending relevant team and management meetings.

Recording, safety and outcomes

• Record all contacts, actions, referrals, risks and outcomes accurately and promptly on WSUP's case management system.
• Complete triage/ONS4 wellbeing monitoring at the agreed stages.
• Complete ERSRAT monitoring across the newly registered guests, active caseload, including baseline information and follow-up reviews.
• Identify safeguarding concerns, immediate risks and changes in a person's situation, and report or escalate them without delay.
• Follow WSUP procedures on confidentiality, consent, information sharing, lone working, incidents, professional boundaries and health and safety.
• Contribute to support plans, case reviews and multi-agency discussions.
• Help collect guest feedback, case studies and evidence of outcomes, with appropriate consent. 

Working with co-located services

• Welcome and introduce people to visiting and co-located professionals.
• Help guests prepare for conversations with treatment, housing, health, benefits and other services.
• Share relevant information in line with WSUP policies and procedures.
• Follow up agreed actions and help guests understand what will happen next.
• Avoid taking over duties that belong to specialist, statutory or treatment providers. 

Person Specification
Essential skills & experience

• Experience of supporting people affected by homelessness, rough sleeping, substance use, poor mental health or other disadvantages.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with people who may have had poor experiences of services.
• Good listening, communication and practical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to explain information clearly and support people to make their own choices.
• Ability to work positively with colleagues, co-located services and external partners.
• Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries.
• Ability to recognise and respond to safeguarding and risk concerns.
• Ability to organise a varied workload and keep accurate records.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and non-judgemental practice.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including outreach and occasional evening or weekend work where agreed. 

Desirable skills & experience

• Personal lived experience of substance use, recovery, homelessness or related issues, with the ability to use this experience safely and appropriately.
• Peer mentor or peer support training or qualification.
• Experience of helping people access treatment, health, housing or community services.
• Knowledge of local services in Greenwich or South East London.
• Basic computer skills. Training and support can be provided. 

The Community Support Worker will provide direct, practical and person-centered support to mentees approaching release from prison and after release into the community. Working under the direction of the Project Manager, the post-holder will help mentees identify priorities, develop and progress action plans, access appropriate services and maintain engagement during a period of significant transition.

This is a front-line resettlement and community support role. The post-holder will work alongside mentees, volunteer mentors, prison and probation colleagues and community services to reduce barriers to stability, support safe mentoring relationships and help mentees progress towards realistic goals.

The role requires someone who can build trust while maintaining clear professional boundaries, work confidently across prison and community settings, manage a varied caseload, respond proactively to changing needs and escalate safeguarding or risk concerns appropriately.

Key relationships

· Project Manager and Service Delivery Director.

· Other Trailblazers staff and project colleagues.

· Volunteer mentors and prospective volunteers.

· Mentees and, where appropriate, family members or other community support networks.

· Prison staff, including resettlement, offender management and other relevant departments.

· Probation practitioners and other statutory services.

· Community organisations, accommodation providers, DWP / Jobcentre Plus, employers, education and training providers, health and substance misuse services and other local partners.

Could you make a difference to Young Carers in Wandsworth? 

We are currently offering a rewarding opportunity for a motivated and proactive self-starter to join our friendly and dynamic team and organisation. 

Benefits of working for Wandsworth Carers’ Centre:  

Friendly team and working environment, hybrid working on completion of induction period with a minimum 60% office based. 

Annual leave starts at 31 days increasing to 36 days plus bank and public holidays, contributory company pension, ongoing training and development opportunities and an employee assistance program. 

Our Charity:  

We are a busy, ambitious charity operating at the heart of the Wandsworth community since 1995, helping thousands of people across the borough in unpaid Caringroles. We give information and advice, organise respite, offer complementary therapies, deliver training, provide peer support, arrange fun events and much more. In short, we are the Carer's friend and advocate,often helping Carers through difficulttimes. 

Young Carers Support and Development Worker 

Salary: £31,402.80 per annum (inc. Inner London Weighting) 

Full time (35 hours per week) 

The role: 

You will work across three key age groups, 5–11, 12–16 and 16-25, delivering and supervising activities, supporting events and trips, and providing behavioural management where needed as well as being required to plan and facilitate a weekly After School club for ages 5-11 and 12-16. Alongside group activities, you will offer one-to-one support to individual Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, ensuring they feel heard, included, and supported as they navigate the challenges of their caring roles. You will also deliver awareness training sessions, run stalls, and build partnerships in the community to identify and engage Young Carers. 

Skills and experience: 

The successful applicant will have outstanding organisational and communication skills, be confident organising trips and activities for children and experience working with children.  They will be able to manage conflicting demands with tight deadlines, be a key team player and be committed to working with Young Carers and volunteers. 

They will have excellent IT skills and be able to adapt to providing services both face to face and via virtual platforms, whilst maintaining a consistent service for Carers.

Wandsworth Carers’ Centre is an inclusive employer, committed to the continued development of a diverse workforce. 

Spitalfields Crypt Trust (SCT) is an East London charity supporting people affected by homelessness and addiction to rebuild their lives. We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Recovery Community & Therapeutic Service Manager to lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of our Recovery Community and Therapeutic Service.

This is a part-time role working 28 hours per week and is fully onsite at our Shoreditch hub. There is some flexibility around how the hours are worked across the week, although ideally Friday will be included as a working day.

This is a key leadership role bringing together therapeutic support, aftercare, peer-led activity, volunteering, training and community engagement to create an integrated recovery journey. You will ensure that people accessing SCT's services have opportunities to strengthen their recovery capital, build supportive networks and progress towards greater independence and wellbeing.

Working closely with our Director of Services and colleagues across SCT, you will:

• Lead the ongoing development of SCT's Recovery Community and therapeutic offer.
• Oversee recovery-focused programmes, therapeutic interventions, aftercare and peer-led activities.
• Create meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience to shape services, volunteer, mentor and support others.
• Lead and develop staff, volunteers, peer mentors and facilitators, fostering a positive and inclusive culture.
• Build strong partnerships with commissioners, funders, treatment providers, housing and mental health services and other community organisations.
• Oversee service quality, budgets, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring services are safe, effective and demonstrate positive outcomes.
• Develop pathways into volunteering, employment, education and wider community engagement.

About you

We are looking for someone with significant experience of leading services within recovery, social care, community development, housing, health or a related field. You will have a strong understanding of addiction recovery and the challenges experienced by people affected by homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

You will be a confident and collaborative leader with experience of managing people, developing programmes, building partnerships and delivering measurable outcomes. You'll also bring strong organisational and communication skills, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice.

Above all, we're looking for someone who can inspire others, develop strong services and help create an environment in which people in recovery are active participants in their own community.

Location: SCT's Shoreditch hub, London E1
Hours: 28 hours per week, onsite, ideally including Friday as a working day

Please see the attached Job Description for full details of the role, responsibilities and criteria.

Carer Support Team Lead

35 hours per week (5 days)

Actual salary £27,878

Office base: Harlow, Essex

Could you lead a team to achieve positive outcomes for family carers in West Essex?

We have an exciting management opportunity for a Carer Support Team Lead to join our team, supporting unpaid adult carers. This is a rewarding and varied role leading a team providing information, coaching and peer support for local carers, helping them navigate support systems, and to maintain their own health and wellbeing. You will mainly work in the community as well as from our offices or home.

You will have experience working with Carers, vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals, or working within health, social care, community or voluntary services. You will ideally have experience managing people to deliver high-quality services. Most importantly, you will be passionate about making a difference to the lives of local unpaid adult carers.

Action for Family Carers is a thriving Essex charity which for over 35 years has been providing support for Adult Carers and Young Carers – people with unpaid caring responsibilities for others. We are a Carers Trust Network Partner and hold the Excellence for Carers quality mark. We provide support including information, coaching, counselling, peer support, respite care, and Young Carer clubs across Essex, working within schools, GP practices and a variety of community settings.

Your responsibilities will include:

           Managing and leading an area team to achieve positive outcomes for carers

           Demonstrating the impact of the service through monitoring and evaluation

           Developing strong relationships with key local stakeholders

You will need to be:

   Proactive and solution focused

   Passionate about improving outcomes for local carer

   Strong team player with a collaborative approach to working

   An excellent communicator with empathy and active listening skills.

   Confident in the use of IT including Microsoft 365 and CRMs (databases).

   A driver with access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel across Essex.

We offer:

Full induction and relevant training

 Contributory pension scheme

 24-hour Confidential Staff Helpline

An opportunity to help vulnerable families in the local community

A chance to be part of a supportive and friendly team

 Closing date for completed applications: 5pm on 22 September 2026

 For an informal conversation about the role please contact Leesa McKay on 0300 770 80 90.

 Action for Family Carers is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from all sections of the community.

Registered Charity No: 1127164