Job summary
The Peer Support Worker will use their lived experience of the British Armed Forces and mental health recovery to provide hope, encouragement and practical guidance to veterans accessing Op COURAGE.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the post holder will support service users to understand and engage with the service, identify personal goals, build confidence and increase independence in their recovery journey. The role involves recognising barriers to engagement, including hesitancy or concerns about accessing treatment, and developing trusting, supportive relationships that encourage participation and positive outcomes.The post holder will work alongside clinical colleagues whilst maintaining the distinct values and principles of peer support. They will provide a recovery-focused, person-centred approach, drawing on their lived experience appropriately and safely to empower others and promote hope, self-management and resilience.

The role requires a good understanding of Armed Forces culture and the unique challenges that veterans, reservists, service leavers and their families may experience during service life, transition and recovery.

Due to the geographical coverage of this service, the post holder will be required to complete a hybrid role. This includes travelling independently across the East of England to meet service users and support service delivery, whilst also remote working where appropriate.

**We are unable to offer Sponsorship for this role**

Main duties of the job
The Post holder will help to support Veterans under the care of Op COURAGE EoE.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the post holder will support service users to understand and engage with the service, identify personal goals, build confidence and increase independence in their recovery journey. The role involves recognising barriers to engagement, including hesitancy or concerns about accessing treatment, and developing trusting, supportive relationships that encourage participation and positive outcomes.

The post holder will work alongside clinical colleagues whilst maintaining the distinct values and principles of peer support. They will provide a recovery-focused, person-centred approach, drawing on their lived experience appropriately and safely to empower others and promote hope, self-management and resilience.

About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details
Date posted: 24 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year
per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 364-B-485
Job locations: The Lakes Mental Health Unit/Remote
Turner Road
Colchester
CO4 5JL
United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification fully to support with your application.

The post holder will;

• Use their lived experience appropriately to develop positive, trusting relationships with service users and support them throughout their recovery journey.
• Provide recovery-focused peer support, maintaining a defined caseload under supervision
• Deliver agreed interventions both remotely and face-to-face in line with care plans and service objectives.
• Promote hope, resilience, self-management and independence, supporting individuals to identify their strengths, achieve personal goals and build confidence in managing their wellbeing.
• Provide emotional, social and practical support, assisting service users to overcome barriers to recovery and access relevant health, social care, community and veteran-specific services.
• Advocate for the needs of members of the Armed Forces community and promote understanding of the unique challenges associated with military service and transition to civilian life.
• Encourage engagement with treatment, support plans and recovery-focused activities, including supporting the delivery of peer support groups and workshops.
• Work collaboratively with clinical colleagues and partner agencies, contributing to multidisciplinary discussions and sharing relevant information to support coordinated care.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to enhance support available to service users.
• Recognise and appropriately escalate concerns relating to risk, safeguarding, wellbeing or engagement to registered professionals in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records in line with Trust policy, professional standards and information governance requirements.
• Work within the Trust's Peer Support Worker framework, values and policies, seeking supervision and support where appropriate.

Person Specification
Skills/Experience
Essential

• Personal or lived experience of involvement with The UK Armed Forces
• Personal or lived experience of living with/recovery from mental health conditions

Desirable

• Experience of volunteering, peer support, mentoring, advocacy, community engagement or support work

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Ability to use lived experience appropriately and positively to inspire, support and empower others

Desirable

• Positive attitude towards development and learning

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge around Military life/culture and the role this may play on the individual's road to recovery.

Desirable

• Prior experience of working either alongside Mental Health professionals or other support roles

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details
Employer name: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Lakes Mental Health Unit/Remote
Turner Road
Colchester
CO4 5JL
United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy Regional Lead
Nigel Clark
nigel.clark2@nhs.net
01206228774

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).