Band 4 Peer Support Worker - Bristol

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Peer support worker to join our supportive and expanding community team. The role of peer support worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery. Our PSWs inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. They model the value of recovery within and without AWP. They share wisdom gained from their own experiences.

As an integral and highly valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, PSWs provide structured peer support and practical assistance to service users:

PSWs provide practical assistance including: accompanying a service user to meetings, helping the service user to access information concerning services. Peer support workers may constructively reference their own experiences when undertaking their work.

Within a respectful relationship, AWP PSWs promote choice, self-determination and opportunities for personal fulfilment.

In the community eating disorder service the role is focused on supporting people living with eating disorders, and their carers (families/friends/cares) in the community, enabling and assisting them to meet daily health, social and well being needs, in line with personal recovery goals, and facilitating engagement with mainstream services.

The post holder may have lived experience of an eating disorder and their focus will be on providing emphatic and compassionate emotional support to service users.

Main duties of the job

The role includes supporting service users. Planning ongoing reviews of care to meet identified physical and mental health needs. Build inspiring relationships, acknowledge the personal journey of individuals. Focus on strengths and personal recovery plans.

Promote continuity of care by maintaining regular contact with service users, during inpatient treatment, to facilitate early discharge. Work collaboratively with service users and their carers to understand their personal recovery plan.

Participate in the development of risk assessments, crisis plans, ensuring when trigger points are reached and reported appropriately. Promote the rights of individuals by recognising differences, reporting discriminatory behaviour, and taking appropriate action.

Work collaboratively with individuals, to develop skills to manage their own health. Promoting independence, increase confidence by providing appropriate self-help information about resources/services. Be responsible for maintaining own caseload, ensuring that time is prioritised. Recognising and reporting signs that may indicate risk of neglect, self harm or at risk from others.

Develop own knowledge and practice, making use of supervision and appraisal, accessing identified learning and training. Maintain accurate, confidential records, writing reports and letters, utilising electronic record and other systems. Report and record within agreed timeframes.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. Th expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.

Details

Date posted

10 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata (pending pay award)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

342-SS023-0325

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital STEPs Eating Disorder Community Team

Manor Road

Bristol

BS16 2EW