Peer support lead jobs

Would you like to be part of a global effort to eliminate hepatitis C? We would welcome enthusiastic applicants with a passion for delivering services to underrepresented communities to join our efforts and ensure we reach out to as many service-users as possible, enabling what can be lifesaving treatment for many.  

We are looking to expand our community team in the North East and Cumbria and are keen to hear from applicants who may have experience within substance misuse services, supporting volunteers or may have been personally affected by hepatitis C. 

We are currently looking for a skilled Peer Support Lead who has excellent communication and organisational skills. We require a good standard of education and welcome creativity

Working under the guidance of the existing Peer Programme Manager and as a crucial team member in this area, the successful applicant will be integral to the continuation and development of the project, recruiting and coordinating peers specifically across the North of this Operational Delivery Network. Working in partnership with hepatitis C clinical teams, drug and alcohol services and homeless service providers, the post will coordinate delivery of educational workshops, hepatitis C testing in community settings and ensure that service users are referred and supported through hepatitis C treatment and care. 

This post will require extensive travel across the region, and it is essential for the post holder to hold a driving licence and have their own vehicle for work related travel.

Organisation Overview:  

Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes in our communities, supporting relatives, friends, and neighbours, often with limited or no support, to live the best lives they can.

Carers Centre Tower Hamlets (CCTH) is a small, committed organisation dedicated to supporting unpaid carers through a variety of specialist services, from social and therapeutic activities to emotional, mentoring, advocacy, and signposting support. We aim to enrich and empower unpaid carers’ lives, providing them with the support they so selflessly give to others. We are now recruiting to our team someone who will lead on our work to support Carers as part of the Barnsley Street Mental Health Project. 

Project Overview:  

The Barnsley Street Project is a Community Mental Health Pilot aimed at delivering continuous, person-centred mental health care to underserved populations in PCN1 (Bethnal Green). This initiative is a collaborative effort between East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance (THMHA), and the Look Ahead Housing Association. Driven by the voice of lived experience, the project is designed to address the systemic gaps in mental health services, particularly for marginalised communities.  

Purpose of the role:  

To identify and coordinate an effective support service for unpaid carers who support residents who access the Barnsley Street Project, with the aim of supporting carers to have their needs met as well as develop a healthy and sustainable caring role.    

To facilitate access for unpaid carers in the Barnsley Street Project to appropriate support services, both statutory and voluntary. To provide comprehensive support and information to families and carers. To raise awareness of carers’ needs with professionals in the project environment and contribute to carer friendly policies.   

The post will involve the direct provision of services, referral to and between services, collaborative work with other local agencies and outreach work. The post-holder will provide advocacy, referral, and ongoing practical and emotional support to unpaid carers through individual and group work.    

Responsibilities: 

• Identification and Support: Proactively identify carers of residents who utilise the Barnsley Street Project, and provide them with tailored support, ensuring their well-being is prioritised. 

• Information and Guidance: Offer information about available resources, support services, and community networks to assist carers effectively. 

• Communication Liaison: Facilitate communication between clinical staff and carers, ensuring they are kept informed about the patient's condition, treatment plan, and any discharge process. 

• Emotional Support: Provide compassionate emotional support to carers, listening to their concerns and offering a caring presence during difficult times. 

• Training and Education: Organise workshops and peer support groups to equip carers with essential skills for their caregiving role. 

• Advocacy: Advocate for carers' needs and rights within the setting, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. 

Requirements: 

• Previous experience in an advice or support role within a mental health or healthcare environment is preferred. 

• Empathetic and compassionate nature, with a genuine commitment to supporting carers during challenging times. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with carers, hospital staff, and external partners. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing priorities efficiently. 

• Proficient in using technology, including email and Microsoft Office suite. 

Benefits: 

• Competitive salary based on experience. 

• 25 days (pro rata) of annual leave, plus public holidays. 

• Pension scheme. 

• Continuous professional development opportunities. 

• Rewarding work environment making a real difference in carers' lives. 

If you are passionate about supporting carers in a hospital setting and possess the skills and empathy required for this role, we would love to hear from you

Note: We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or disability. 

Passionate about supporting young people?
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Work 1-to-1 with young people.
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Be part of something that changes lives.

1.Duties and key responsibilities

Donor Stewardship and Reporting 

•Research, manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of donors informing, educating, and inspiring them about MAP’s work, and asking them for donations either directly in application or facilitating asks by peers. 

•Create a personal plan for each ‘qualified’ donor, taking into account the individual donor’s interest, motivations, giving patterns, any information they need to support our work. Execute that plan on a timely basis plan so that individuals are retained and upgraded. 

•Work with colleagues to secure appropriate project information, including budgets, to create effective offers, proposals and cases for support.

•Create reports that accurately reflect activity and performance for donors who have supported specific projects, to show the impact of their gift

•Ensure that all major givers in your portfolio are provided with the highest level of stewardship and take overall responsibility for your own contacts and annual workplan.

•Ensure the upkeep of a database and filing system on all existing and prospective donors.

•Provide regular reports to the Philanthropy Manager and Head of Philanthropy. 

•Develop relationships with Trustees, Patrons and other ambassadors/high net worth volunteer fundraisers of MAP, where appropriate. 

Events

•Ensure that appropriate donors/prospects/influencers are invited to cultivation and fundraising events and to attend these events in the UK.

•Support in the development of Philanthropy team events, including dinners, receptions, and donor field visits, as part of a project team

General

•Work closely with colleagues in the Philanthropy team and other colleagues, maximising all opportunities and supporting a dynamic, successful, and professional team

•Ensure that data security is maintained and that legal and regulatory requirements are fully complied with (such as Data Protection, ICO, Fundraising Regulator and, Institute of Fundraising Regulations), keeping informed of trends and developments in the UK fundraising marketplace. 

•Undertake other tasks as necessary to achieve the overall objectives of the team and the organisation.

2General Responsibilities   

•Support the mission, ethos, and values of MAP.

•Carry out other associated duties as may arise in line with the broad remit of the position.

•Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.

•Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills and abilities

Essential

•Strong interpersonal skills, ability to build rapport quickly and maintain strong relationships

•Clear and thoughtful communicator with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences, including presenting information when required

•Self-motivated and pro-active in seeking out answers to problems.

•Ability to deal with information confidentially and respond with sensitivity.

•Ability to confidentially deal with all levels of staff and key stakeholders with tact and integrity.

•Strong attention to detail

Desirable

•Understanding of overseas humanitarian and development issues.

•Knowledge, understanding, and experience of Palestine or the Palestinian cause and community.

Experience

Essential

•Driven, proactive and externally focused, able to spot and create opportunities. 

•Experience of supporting or managing externally facing events. 

•Experience of writing reports or of investigating, collating, summarising, and disseminating research.

•Experience of writing & presenting cases for support, letters, and proposals.

•Experience of using a database to support targeting and research.

•Ability to prioritise and work on numerous projects simultaneously.

Desirable

•Experience of securing support from UK-based and overseas donors, supporters or trusts.

•A good understanding of major donor fundraising.

Personal attributes and other requirements

•Commitment to MAP’s aims and values

•Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

•Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination. 

•Commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation & abuse/safeguarding.

•Commitment to personal learning, development, and improvement in pursuit of own objectives and those of the team and organisation 

•Strong administrative skills; computer literacy; good numeracy.

•Ability to work weekends/evenings on occasion to support events and other activities in the UK, and to travel overseas where necessary.

Join us to support people-led change across the UK.

The Churchill Fellowship is a community of changemakers whose mission is to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK.

We support outstanding individuals pursuing their own vision for change in an issue where they have first-hand experience. They are driven by a personal commitment to tackle today’s key issues, to develop new solutions for their communities and sectors, and to exchange ideas throughout the UK and beyond. They work across all of today’s most pressing challenges, from protecting the environment to preventing domestic abuse, from increasing youth employment to enriching urban spaces and much more.

Collectively, they create change that reaches across the country. Every year we select over 100 new Fellows and fund them to spend up to two months discovering new approaches around the world for practical issues they care passionately about. Fellowships cover every aspect of UK life because our approach is universal, responsive and inclusive. We respond to emerging trends and challenges and our Fellowships are open to all UK adults regardless of qualifications, background or age. Fellows propose their own programmes of research and action and bring their lived or learned experience of their chosen subject.

We believe in the power and potential of individuals and prioritise people and topics that would not be funded elsewhere.

This inclusive approach gives the Fellowship a unique range and authority and has created a powerful model for change, based on real needs, frontline insight and personal dedication. It offers dynamic individuals the recognition, funding and support to pursue what is often their mission of a lifetime.

The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Since then we have made almost 6000 grants to inspiring individuals who possess the passion and commitment to make a real difference. Many Fellows become knowledge leaders and influencers for the long term and continue to feel the beneficial effects of the Fellowship decades after being awarded.

The Churchill Fellowship is a community of changemakers whose mission is to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK.

The Activate Fund:

For 60 years, the Churchill Fellowship has been supporting remarkable individuals to source solutions from around the world to tackle critical issues affecting communities in the UK. The Activate Fund is an extension of the Fellowship which provides further funding and support to Fellows on their return to the UK to turn their ideas into action and achieve real and lasting change.

Purpose of the role:

This is a new role which sits within the Fellowship team and will be responsible for the re-opening of the Activate Fund in June 2026, following completion of a successful pilot. The Head of Activate will lead on all aspects of the application and award cycle and on the development of additional forms of support to enhance Fellows’ impact on society. The role will be supported by the Activate Manager, work closely with the Salesforce and Engagement teams, and alongside colleagues managing the annual Fellowship selection process.

This is a new role which is being recruited with sufficient lead-in time for the Head of Activate to be inducted into the existing processes to deliver the first year of awards, with scope to introduce new ideas to enhance the Fund’s impact from Year 2.

Key responsibilities:

Delivery of Activate

• Lead on the re-introduction of the Activate Fund; responsible for ensuring that potential applicants and relevant stakeholders understand the purpose, scope and criteria of the Fund and that all systems and processes are in place for applications to open in June 2026.
• Lead on the selection process from pre-applicant support to application, assessment and award, supported by the Activate Manager, working closely with the Salesforce team and the Comms team, and ensuring the process is aligned with TCF’s EDI values and strategic priorities.
• Lead on the iterative improvement of application and award documentation, throughout the lifetime of the Fund, working closely with the Salesforce team to ensure that any process changes are agreed with sufficient planning time to be implemented ahead of the next cycle.
• Oversee and participate in the longlisting and shortlisting of applications to the Fund, alongside other Fellowship staff and external assessors, where required.
• Responsible for establishing and convening (an) award panel(s) for the Activate Fund and working with the Chief Executive and Engagement team to identify panel members, likely to be drawn from the Fellowship’s Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, expert working groups and/or previous Activate grantees.
• Responsible for ensuring appropriate due diligence is conducted on applicants and where relevant, host organisations, to ensure that Activate grants are awarded in line with TCF’s charitable objectives and for a purpose that benefits individuals and communities in the UK.
• Attend and play a key role in the Activate selection interviews, including supporting Panel decision making according to agreed selection criteria, grant-setting and providing feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
• Oversee the award, payment and reporting of Activate grants, including the development of appropriate terms and conditions, and reporting requirements.
• Manage the Activate annual budget, ensuring that grants awarded are in line with the annual budgetary allocation for the Fund and report as required to the SLT.
• In collaboration with the Development team and Salesforce team, set up appropriate reporting mechanisms so that funding partners contributing to the Fund are informed of relevant Activate awards and updated on progress, as required.

Safeguarding and EDI

• Work with the Fellowship’s safeguarding lead and with the Fellowship Director to identify safeguarding risks and develop appropriate processes that are specific to the Activate Fund, for example where Fellows are working with children and adults at risk.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Fellowship’s approach to Fellows’ wellbeing, particularly when awarding grants to Fellows with lived experience of the issues they are addressing in their project. 
• Work closely with the Fellowship’s EDI lead to ensure a proactive and consistent approach to EDI in the delivery of the Fund; in particular, that the Activate Fund’s selection processes are accessible to all Fellows eligible to apply, that EDI is core to the development of pre-application and non-financial support, and that the Fund’s messaging is inclusive and representative of the diversity of Churchill Fellows.

Enhancing Fellows’ capacity to achieve UK impact

• Building on learning from the Activate pilot, work closely with the Activate Manager to develop a support offer for Activate grantees that enhances their capacity to deliver their funded project and create change in their chosen sector or community; this could include 1:1 support such as mentoring and coaching and/or peer learning, convening and networking opportunities with the wider Fellowship community.
• Working closely with the Fellowship Director and Head of Fellowship, explore if there might be opportunities for scaling support which has been tried and tested with Activate grantees, to Fellows at different stages in their Fellowship journey.
• In collaboration with the Engagement team, support Fellows to develop relationships with individuals and organisations in relevant sectors that will amplify the impact of their Activate project and proactively explore opportunities for Knowledge Partners to contribute time, expertise and networking support to Activate grantees.  

Evaluation and Learning

• Working closely with the Engagement Director, to develop an approach for evaluating how the Activate Fund enhances Fellows’ capacity to create change in the UK.  
• Apply lessons learned from stakeholder feedback to improve the experience of Activate applicants and grantees through changes to the selection process, development of new forms of support and extension of networking opportunities with the wider Fellowship community.
• Working closely with the Fellowship Director to undertake a strategic review of the impact of the Fund from the end of Year 3.
• Keep up to date with new thinking and research around supporting and developing individuals and good practice in grant making, including developing relationships with relevant individuals and organisations.

Fellowship team

• Attend quarterly leadership meetings, where appropriate and, in particular, to contribute to thinking about TCF’s role in supporting Fellows to achieve change in the UK.
• Attend Fellow-led events as appropriate and utilise knowledge of Fellows’ activation of their Fellowship learning to contribute to the design and delivery of Fellowship events, such as Connect & Inspire, as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent transferable skills

Skills & Experience

• 10 years’ experience in grant making, with at least 3 years in a senior grant making role with responsibility for designing and delivering an end-to-end grant making process.
• Experience of managing a multi-year grant making or support programme and balancing ongoing delivery with innovation and improvement.
• Experience of working with and supporting individuals to create change whether through grant making, learning and facilitation or movement building. 
• Demonstrable knowledge of different grant making practices and a commitment to trying out new approaches to remove barriers to those furthest away from funding.
• Experience of convening and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders to deliver time-sensitive projects or programmes and confident in liaising and negotiating with busy people in senior positions.
• Previous line management experience. 
• Experience in safeguarding and or risk management. 
• Experience in analysing and interpreting data for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation and improvement.
• Experience using and interacting with Salesforce (or similar CRM) and of working collaboratively with a data management/systems team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for communicating face-to-face, in writing and by telephone with individuals at all levels.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office and comfort with facilitating meetings via video conferencing platforms.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Evidence of managing a team and contributing to the creation of inclusive and collaborative working environments.
• Experience of liaising with, negotiating and managing relationships with external organisations, teams, and individuals. 

Personality Characteristics 

• A confident and reflective leader, with the ability to inspire and support a new team and to contribute to a positive and collaborative working environment.
• Ability to balance an appetite for innovation and improvement with a pragmatic approach to working within an annual grants cycle. 
• Ability to work with good humour, a positive attitude, tact, and diplomacy and to maintain confidentiality.
• Commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to meet deadlines, and to work under pressure when required.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proactive and able to work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Passionate about achieving excellence through personal development and continual learning.
• Self-motivated and a great team player with a pro-active, confident, and positive approach and the ability to contribute to a culture of collaborative working.
• To have a genuine commitment to the values and ethos of the Churchill Fellowship and an interest in the social impact and the work of the TCF Fellows.

Working for The Churchill Fellowship

Detailed package, benefits and wellbeing package:

• Salary c. £50-£55,000 per annum (5 days per week / 36.5 hours)
• Hybrid working policy (minimum of 1-2 days per week in the office)
• 5 weeks holiday a year, with additional paid leave when the office closes over the Christmas Break
• 1 weeks paid leave for volunteering
• Non-contributory pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance
• Bike purchase salary sacrifice scheme (Cycle2Work)
• Personal Development Budget for training

Standard working hours are 36.5 hours a week 9.30am until 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday and from 9.30am until 4.00pm on Friday, including a paid lunch break of one hour.

We have embraced the benefits of working from home and at the same time, we value the contribution of face-to-face contact in building teamwork, collaborating with your colleagues, exchanging ideas and know-how, and for work efficiency. We therefore operate a hybrid working policy, where staff can work from home if they wish, however everyone is required to work in the office a minimum of 1 to 2 days a week with Tuesdays as the core day for regular whole team meetings, and Thursdays as an additional core day for Senior Leaders.

Note: unfortunately, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship for visas and all applicants will need to have, and be able to prove, the right to work in the UK.

How to apply

Please use your CV and cover letter as an opportunity to tell us a bit more about who you are as a person. We want to understand how you as an individual are going to be a great fit for this role.

We will be scheduling first round interviews as candidates apply, we will then complete a round of second interviews with a shortlist of candidates once the advertising has closed, with the view to appointing the role as soon as possible after that.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are core to the values and ethos of the charity’s work across all activities. The Churchill Fellowship is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.  Our office accommodation is accessible. 

Sound Minds is a charity, led by mental health service users, channelling the power of creativity and peer support to improve the lives of people living with long term mental ill health. Canerows offers peer support to those who are in hospital and those living in the community.

Main purposes of the job:

Sound Minds and Canerows are delivering an exciting project which is about offering peer support across Wandsworth to people who are experiencing mental health difficulties and living in the community. We are working in an alliance with Mushkil Aasaan and Wandsworth Carers Centre.

Mental Health Peer Support gives emotional support and promotes access to information and practical advice to people experiencing mental health difficulties. A key component is that these staff use their own direct lived experience of mental health difficulties to support other people. They work collaboratively with people within their service, focusing on the person’s strengths and personal resources to offer educational, emotional and practical support towards goals that are defined by the person.

The Peer Support Worker will be supported through peer support training and regular supervision.

Salary: £25,875 per annum FTE & 3% contribution to pension

Hours: 17.5 hours per week

This fixed term contract ends on 31/3/26 and is likely to be renewed depending on funding

Personal lived experience of mental ill health is essential for this role. You will be required to have a DBS (criminal records check) and satisfactory written references before starting.

The full job description and application pack are available from Sound Minds.

CLOSING DATE: 6pm Wednesday 28th May 2025

INTERVIEWS: 11th June 2025

This is an important and interesting role with Vision North Somerset.  You will get to be hands on with our service users who are visually and/or hearing impaired. You will work with our amazing volunteers, both current and new, training them and managing them to provide services to help reduce social isolation and to build confidence.  You will also manage our Peer Support Service which currently includes telephone support groups and a befriending service.  There are 4 HUBS around the county that meet monthly and we hope to develop more.

We’re looking for a compassionate, organised, and proactive Support Worker to join our dedicated Carers in Mind team at Richmond Borough Mind. This is a varied and rewarding role, offering both one-to-one emotional support and the chance to help shape an inspiring programme of workshops, peer-led groups, and social events for adult carers supporting loved ones with complex mental health needs.

As part of a small, friendly team, you’ll be central to the day-to-day running of the service—coordinating events, managing communications, and working collaboratively with health and social care partners to ensure carers feel heard, valued, and supported. You’ll need to be confident with digital tools, highly organised, and comfortable working independently as well as in a team. If you’re someone who enjoys connecting with people, thrives on variety, and is committed to promoting wellbeing and recovery, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Purpose

This role sits within our new forensic Women’s Nova Roots service, which is a peer led service for women who are leaving forensic services, based in West London. The service will be open 3 days a week: one weekday evening out of hours and three weekends a month (flexible weekend pattern and times can be arranged).

The aim of the service is to support women who are leaving forensic care to re-integrate into society by offering a community social hub. The focus of the service is to provide social engagement, relaxation and a touch point for out of hours forensic support. The Women’s Hub will provide face-to-face holistic group support, offer psychoeducation and health workshops tailored and coproduced to the direct needs of clients, offer peer-led groups which will be co-designed and led by the clients accessing the hub. We will also offer a range of activities onsite.

Nova Roots will be an extension of the existing support offered by the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), offering out of hours social support. All referrals into the hub will be directly from the SCFTs and local hospitals.

The Nova Roots will be staffed with 1 part time Project Coordinator and 4 Forensic/Peer Led Volunteers – with Service Manager oversight. The Project Coordinator will work directly and closely with the SCFTs.

The Role

The role of the Nova Roots Project Coordinator is to arrange and coordinate a range of psychoeducation, health and peer-led workshops which will be delivered 3 times a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will be responsible for managing the 4 peer-led volunteers and oversight of the site 3 days a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will also be required to be in regular communication with the SCFTs.

The role will require hybrid working: onsite when the hub is open and 1 day of planning/coordination which can be worked remotely on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience of working within forensic services
• Understanding and experience of challenges for forensic leavers (social, health, welfare, interpersonal)
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with those in crisis and challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Understanding of social issues such as debt, housing and welfare benefits
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g., CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CAMHS, Safe Space, SCFT etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative and management support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in forensic mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress, crisis and forensic/criminal backgrounds
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Minimum 1 year of project coordination/management
• Experience of facilitating workshops/group sessions
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approaGood communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours, during the day and on weekends
• Staff within this role will be considered key workers, so in the event of a government lockdown, staff will be expected to continue working
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations

We're looking for a kind, compassionate, and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Newham.

£29,940.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Specialist Support Workers within Look Ahead are required to have either an extra dimension of experience or a higher qualification level as determined relevant for the post. Specialist Support Workers provide information, social inclusion and vocational opportunities to support people to recover and stay well; exercise choice and control in their care and lives; and participate on an equal footing in the community. Support is also provided to develop a model of re-enablement towards self-advocacy, self-management and empowerment, incorporating the principles and practice of recovery, co-production and peer support. Working with individuals with complex needs, who may display challenging, chaotic behaviours, regularly test boundaries and have experienced multiple traumas as a result of abuse, neglect and substance misuse and addictions it is integral that the post holder is motivated to support individuals to progress. They should continually hold aspirations for individuals despite multiple setbacks, and display emotional resilience, able to process challenging incidents and remain motivated to deliver excellent support.

The shift pattern for this role includes: Early 8am-4pm and late 2pm-10pm, Monday to Sunday which also includes bank holidays.

For a full job description, please visit our website.

What you'll bring:

NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some or equivalent sector work experience
Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications and languages

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Programmes Lead (Maternity Cover)

Salary: £31,625 - £34,106 pro-rata (depending on experience)

Contract: 12 months fixed-term contract (Maternity Cover- might be potentially extended)

Start Date: Date to be agreed (potentially July)

Location: This is currently a blended-working role with two in-office days (Tuesday-Thursday) during term time and the flexibility to work from home during school holidays. Occasional travel to schools and events will be required. 

We are currently based at Resource for London near Holloway Road station, however, our office will be moving to another location in London in the coming months. 

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. Our core hours are 09:30 - 16:00 from Monday to Friday. 

Benefits of working for Challenge Partners

• Work-life balance

• Annual leave

• Employer pension contributions

• Health and wellbeing support

• Training and development

• Family-friendly policies

• Connection and celebration

About the role

The Programmes Lead will play a key role in leading and implementing the delivery of a range of programmes which at present includes Growing the Top, the SEND Developmental Peer Review and the Trust Leaders’ Network (subject to change based on organisational need). 

Established in 2011, Challenge Partners is a well-respected nationwide network of practitioners who engage in hard-edged collaboration and mutual accountability to ensure every school community can benefit from the combined wisdom of the education system. 

The Programmes Lead will build and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and hold responsibility for the quality and consistency of school leaders’ experience of the programmes. They will work closely with the Programmes Manager and Partnership Coordinators to ensure excellent delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Programmes Manager the Programme Lead will have the following key areas of responsibility and will be expected to undertake other responsibilities commensurate with the role as requested:

Programme Delivery and Development

• Lead on the operational delivery of programmes: Growing the Top, the SEND Developmental Peer Review and the Trust Leaders’ Network

• Manage key stakeholder relationships with programme participants and facilitators

• Manage correspondence involved in programme delivery, including responding to daily queries and setting up automated processes

• Monitor visit day/event quality and delivery, including dealing with and escalating issues to ensure positive solutions are reached

• Monitor risks and mitigate/escalate as appropriate

• Monitor programme spending and signing off invoices within agreed budgets, as directed by the Programmes Manager

• Work with the Programmes Manager on the development of strategies to support efficiency and scale the delivery of programmes, including and not limited to the engagement of new technologies, processes and ways of working

• Lead on the implementation of new strategies for delivery in your areas of responsibility with Partnership Coordinators

Data Management and Systems 

• Ensure programme data is accurately recorded on Salesforce (our CRM system) and work closely with the digital team to improve systems and processes

• Responsibility for ongoing monitoring of programme delivery feedback data to ensure quality and oversee escalation of issues if/when they arise

Event Planning and Organisation

• Lead on the planning, logistics and delivery of in-person and virtual programme events, working closely with the Programmes Manager and Executive Sponsors to agree event design

• Liaise with speakers, venues and suppliers to ensure high quality delivery of events

• Coordinate the team effectively to ensure excellent event delivery

• Work closely with the marketing team to create a social media plan to showcase programme events 

Matrix Management

At Challenge Partners, we work in a matrix structure which means that individuals collaborate across different work streams and are, at times, task managed by colleagues who are not their direct line manager

• Provide consistent and high quality task management to all Partnership Coordinators involved in the delivery of these programmes

• Collaborate effectively with other task managers, line managers and teams to support Partnership Coordinators to provide excellent delivery across all Challenge Partners activities and meet key organisational priorities

Person Specification

Specific skills and attitudes we are looking for in an applicant are as follows:

• As one of our cadre of leads, you will be a role model for our values at all times and a cultural lead within the team.

• Strong project management and organisational skills (a ‘completer-finisher’).

• Ability to prioritise effectively to meet competing demands and work under pressure, through excellent organisation and time management.

• Outstanding attention to detail, and pride in your work.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to deal with people diplomatically and appropriately, building rapport with those at varying levels of seniority.

• Positivity, optimism and agility - we are a small organisation and all staff are expected to contribute across the organisation (and sometimes beyond their specific job role) to ensure our success and sustainability. 

• High computer literacy - confidence and competence in using GSuite, Microsoft programmes and Salesforce (or similar CRM system) would be an advantage

• A willingness to learn and give and receive feedback

• A passion for education, and a desire to make a difference

How to apply

Please submit your application on BeApplied by 10am on Thursday 22nd May 2025. You will be asked to upload your CV and answer five competency and scenario-based application questions.

• First round of interviews (remote)- 29th & 30th May 2025

• Second round of interviews (face-to-face)- 10th June 2025

A note on AI 

At Challenge Partners, we are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process. We don’t use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for recruitment - applications are reviewed by members of the team and we use blind shortlisting to mitigate potential bias and ensure all candidates are considered on merit.

Whilst we recognise that AI can be a useful tool for tasks like proofreading, we encourage you to share genuine examples from your own experience so we can better understand your unique skills and perspective. Authenticity is important to us and we want to hear your voice throughout the application process.

DEI Statement

Challenge Partners is committed to further enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our team and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Safeguarding Statement

Challenge Partners is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, beneficiaries and staff. We expect all employees, consultants and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment or contracts with us are subject to a satisfactory DBS check and references. 

No agencies please.

Job Purpose

• This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all our boroughs.
• Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.
• The objectives of the service include:
• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the senior support worker is to support the team manager with the smooth running of the allocated site and staff; supporting development and rest of the team including volunteer recruiting, induction (training and development) and supervision. Senior support worker will also lead in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will include deputising for the team manager where applicable including debriefing and providing support to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Understanding of risk and risk management
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Working closely with re-admitters and clients being discharged through the drop-in service on a weekly basis
• Responsible for keeping allocated site to a high standard and reporting any health and safety concerns
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR.
• Good time keeping skills - Essential
• To attend and contribute at weekly team meetings
• This role will be considered a key worker role
• Understanding of safety planning and de-escalation
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Understanding CQC standards and NICE guidelines around mental health
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Overseeing and provide shadowing to new staff members and volunteers
• Attend reflective practice, peer debriefing and line management supervision
• Maintaining good working relationships with partner agencies
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide guidance to support workers and volunteers
• To work with team managers and assist with reporting and monitoring
•  

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of de-escalation
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Understanding of different databases such as Views, Salesforce and NHS
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and ability to travel to multiple locations (e.g. NHS sites and community sites) would be essential.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends at multiple locations including NHS sites and community sites

About the role

As a Peer Support Worker, you will use your skills and experience to work directly with people with mental health issues in group and one to one settings. You will work with the Wellbeing Assessors and Team Leads to provide Wellbeing support to patients within their particular Primary Care Network (PCN). This part of the Solent Mind Wellbeing Service provides one to one wellbeing support within the GP practices, working alongside the wider Primary Mental Health & Wellbeing service.

• Hours: 7.5 hours per week
• Location: Chandlers Ford PCN (GP surgeries within the Chandlers Ford Primary Care Network)

About you

You will need to have personal, lived experience of a mental health issue, as well as experience of working with people with mental health needs, excellent communication skills and a strong understanding of the key difficulties and challenges faced by people on their recovery journey

About us

We're Solent Mind! We’re part of a network of over 100 Local Minds who tailor trusted mental health services to our communities. We set our own strategies and partnerships and rely on the support of our brilliant local fundraisers.

We collaborate with Mind to make sure their pioneering campaigns, information and research make a difference in Hampshire. Together, we make better mental health possible both locally and nationally.

Benefits 

Our Gold Award for Workplace Wellbeing Index 2022/2023 and being a Mindful Employer reflects our commitment to our lively, friendly teams. We empower our people to have a voice, discover new opportunities and develop their careers. In addition to knowing you’re making a difference, you’ll also enjoy excellent benefits, including:

• Flexible working to promote a healthy work/life balance
• 25 days’ annual leave rising incrementally to 30 days per year (pro rata for part-time)
• Pension plan
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticket and cycle-to-work scheme

If you’re ready to join the fight for mental health, visit our website to find out more and apply.  

Closing date: Thursday 15 May 2025.

Interview date: Week commencing 26 May 2025.

Posts may be subject to a relevant DBS check.

Solent Mind welcomes applications from all the communities in which we work. Appointments are made on merit.

Registered Charity No: 1081116. Registered with Limited Liability in England and Wales No: 4004500.

Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.

We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.

About this role

As a Carer Support Adviser your responsibilities would include:

• Managing conversations with carers to identify need
• Providing information, advice, and wellbeing support
• Running wellbeing groups and pro-active identification of carers through partnership working.

About you

• Experience of working with adults either in a 1:1 or group setting

• A working knowledge of health and social care particularly in relation to adults

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• A high standard of written skills is needed in order to help the carer identify their support needs and to complete statutory assessments

We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Carers First Can Offer You  

In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package. 

Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.

How to apply

To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, please download our Candidate Pack and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.

Applications can only be assessed if they clearly state how you meet each of the requirements in the Personal Specification.

Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.

Interview Process

Following shortlisting, successful candidates will be contacted directly and invited to interview - Date to be confirmed.

Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer   

Positive      Collaborative      Ambitious