Peer support worker jobs

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 Worker to play a pivotal role in our Havering Crisis Alternatives Service.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

The main purpose of this role is to provide high-quality support and interventions to clients with mental health needs who require early intervention and prevention. The postholder will support clients throughout their time in the service, empowering them with the skills to cope independently, while working in line with organisational values, the ethos of recovery, and principles of co-production. Responsibilities include managing a caseload of clients, delivering group activities and programmes, and clearly communicating the aims, objectives, pathways, and service model to enable clients to fully participate in and co-produce their support. The role also involves helping service users engage effectively with community professionals, developing peer support networks and community-based approaches, monitoring the health, wellbeing, and safety of service users, and contributing to the core work of the service. Accurate and timely administration, referrals, assessments, and service reviews are required, alongside participation in supervision, appraisals, training, and team development activities. Flexibility, initiative, and a collaborative approach are essential to ensure effective service delivery and support for both clients and colleagues.

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.

Here's what the team will be looking for

The ideal candidate will have lived experience of mental health care pathways, including emergency department attendance, acute admissions, and community mental health services, alongside a solid understanding of the issues affecting individuals with a range of mental health conditions. They will be able to communicate effectively and provide support with dignity and respect, forming and sustaining trusting relationships with service users, carers, peer support workers, and professionals. Strong listening and verbal communication skills are essential to engage appropriately with service users in crisis, colleagues, and external agencies, both in person and over the phone. Knowledge of recovery tools, local mental health and wellbeing support, and the ability to assess needs, risks, and aspirations to provide appropriate signposting are required. The candidate will demonstrate strong prioritisation, time management, and the ability to work dynamically under pressure. Proficiency in IT, including MS Word, Outlook, and internet functions, as well as good literacy and numeracy skills to produce clear written correspondence, is expected. They will have a sound understanding of safeguarding issues and the ability to address them appropriately, work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and support the induction of new peer staff and volunteers. Strong communication, partnership building, and interpersonal skills are essential.

When will I be working?

You will be required to work between 5:00pm – 10:00pm on weekdays and 2:00pm – 10:00pm on weekends. Hours are scheduled on a rolling rota, which includes weekends and bank holidays.

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.

Recovery Worker - Peer Support Lead - HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Location: Shepherd's Bush

Salary: £28,207 per annum

About The Role

Are you passionate about empowering others, championing lived experience, and shaping meaningful change?

Join our dynamic Substance Misuse Service at HMP Wormwood Scrubs and play a key role in transforming recovery pathways for men in custody.

Working within the New Models of Care (NMOC) framework, our team delivers trauma-informed, recovery-oriented interventions that support individuals from their first days in custody through to release and resettlement. We work hand-in-hand with healthcare partners to ensure every service user receives holistic, person-centred support.

What You’ll Do

As our Peer Supporter Lead, you’ll be the driving force behind peer-led, lived-experience initiatives across the prison. Your role will include:

• Recruiting, training, and supervising peer supporters and mentors
• Empowering peer supporters to deliver interventions and wellbeing initiatives across all prison wings
• Promoting engagement in recovery pathways and strengthening service-user involvement
• Building effective links between the substance misuse service, healthcare teams, prison staff, and service users
• Supporting the continued development of the Peer Supporter programme in partnership with healthcare providers

What We’re Looking For

• A passionate, motivated individual with experience supporting vulnerable people
• Someone confident in leading, developing or mentoring others
• Strong partnership-building skills and a belief in the power of lived experience
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings/weekends as part of a rota
• Willingness to work across sites, including some deployment at HMP Brixton

This is a unique opportunity to shape a culture of hope, connection, and shared recovery. By developing the Peer Supporter programme, you will directly influence how service users support one another, build resilience, and take ownership of their wellbeing while in custody.

Please note the role includes an Interim allowance of £3000 reviewed every 6-months, basic salary based on 35 hours would be £25,207.00. This interim scheme will be reviewed on 31st March 2026.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.