Job Description

Job Summary

Make a difference in an important role using your own lived experience of mental health to support young adults in their mental health recovery journey. Darlington Mind are recruiting a Peer Support Worker to work with young adults aged 18-25yrs within Darlington.

Hours: 22.5 - 30 hours per week

Contract: 12mo fixed term contract

Disclosure: This position is subject to a 26-week probationary period, Right to Work Check, satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check and subsequent re-checks.

Actual Salary for hours worked:

22.5 hours is 15,926.13

30 hours is 21,234.85

(the headline salary 26,189.00 is FTE but the role is offered up to 30hrs part-time only)

Location: Darlington

Responsible to: CYP Services Manager at Darlington Mind

How to Apply - you must complete a Darlington Mind job application form to apply for this role.

Download an application from darlingtonmind.com/vacancies, or request a form from contactus@darlingtonmind.com and send the completed form back to contactus@darlingtonmind.com.

Closing date for applications is on: 5pm

Friday 22nd August 2025

Shortlisting is expected to be complete by 5pm

Friday 29th August 2025

Interviews are likely to be held in the week beginning

8th September

2025

at Darlington Mind.

About Peer Support

We describe peer support as when people with shared experiences connect to build safe, trusting and non-judgemental relationships through which they learn and grow together. Paid peer support workers in mental health settings have lived experience of their own mental health problems and accessing mental health services, and are employed, trained and supported to use their experiences to support others on their recovery journey.

About This Role

Darlington Mind are really pleased to be recruiting a Peer Support Worker to a new role to extend our young persons service to support young adults aged 18-25 on their mental health recovery journey, with the aim of reducing admissions to acute NHS mental health services in TEWV NHS Foundation Trust.

A similar role will be recruited by Teesside Mind for Teesside and by the Cornforth Partnership for Co Durham.

Community Transformation has been part of the NHS Long Term Plan and represents a shift in the way we deliver care, further developed in the recent Fit for the Future: the NHS Ten-Year Plan. It considers the whole person, beyond their diagnosis, and what the whole system has to offer, including primary care, local authority, voluntary care sector, alongside families and friends. We work together with others to deliver trauma-informed, person-centred care to meet an individual's wide-ranging needs.

Role Purpose

You will work with young adults aged 18-25 who have been referred by TEWV services either in the community with a potential for admission, or currently admitted to West Park hospital with discharge being planned. You will be an integrated and valued member of the wider team at Darlington Mind which includes other peer workers.

The best outcomes for the people you will work with are to reduce the need for admissions and re-admissions, and that discharges are planned, supported and effective. Drawing on your own experience of mental health problems, you will 'walk alongside' others on their recovery journey and will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible.

You will listen non-judgementally to create safe spaces where people feel heard and approach the peer relationship with compassion and curiosity. You will recognise and value each person's strengths, diversity and expertise in themselves. You will be aware of the impacts of trauma and committed to the importance of working in ways which are sensitive to the needs of trauma survivors.

Important parts of this role also include working within the team to advocate for the young voices of those you work with so they can be heard, and to promote recovery values. You will be supported to challenge both individual and structural instances of stigma and discrimination related to mental health problems and other forms of exclusion.

At the start of the role, you will attend peer support training alongside other new peer workers from Teesside Mind and the Cornforth Partnership working with the same age group. This NHS-led training is delivered by people with their own lived experience and experience working in peer roles.

Main Duties

Provide 1-1 peer support to people accessing the service

Hold and manage a caseload efficiently

Support service developments in the team you work in

Work as part of a wider mental health recovery-based system to support involvement

and participation of people with lived experience

Keep up to date records using online systems in line with policies and procedures

Manage your own diary (using Microsoft Outlook)

Person Specification

All criteria are essential or otherwise stated

Knowledge and Qualifications

Either:

A. Hold NVQ Level 3 or equivalent relevant qualification, or

B. have the ability to work with information at this level and have equivalent

experience of providing peer support

Knowledge of mental health problems and mental health services

Knowledge of the Voluntary Sector and how it works with other Statutory and Non-statutory Services

Knowledge of CHIME model of care, person centred working and trauma informed practise.

Safeguarding and safety planning practices

Knowledge of local area and services

Experience

Personal experience of own mental health problems and using mental health services whilst aged 18-25.

Significant, relevant experience of using own lived experience to support others, for example in a paid or volunteer peer support role.

Working in a community setting (desirable)

Working as part of a team

- Working with young adults with complex social needs, occasionally in severe distress, and ideally with some experience of multi-agency working.

Skills and Competencies

Be relatable and able to build trust and rapport face to face and by telephone with the 18-25 age group.

Excellent communication and active listening skills

Able to share elements of own personal recovery journey in a way which is appropriate to the role and to a peer relationship.

Able to set SMART goals where appropriate, plan and agree next steps and keep focus and motivation

Reflect on own practice and continuously develop own skills

Reflect on own needs to maintain wellbeing at work

Using IT, online and data management systems on an everyday basis

Manage own time effectively

Other and Personal Qualities

Be passionate and enthusiastic about empowering others to thrive and recover

Be able to inspire, motivate and instil hope in others

Caring, compassionate and person-centred approach

Commitment to Mind's values and objectives

Able to travel to locations throughout the Darlington area with own transport

To find out more about the role, or to obtain an application form, please contact us: contactus@darlingtonmind.com

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: Up to 26,189.00 per year

Expected hours: 22.5 - 30 per week

Benefits:

Free parking On-site parking
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Do you have lived experience of your own poor mental health or mental illness, and accessing mental health services? This is essential for the role.
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 22/08/2025
Reference ID: DMPSW1825
Expected start date: 13/10/2025