Eating Disorders Peer Support Worker – Sponsorship Available

Employer: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £31,944 – £34,937 per year
Visa Sponsorship: Available

Job Summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Eating Disorders Peer Support Worker (PSW) to join the Outpatient Community Team.

This role is specifically designed for individuals who have lived experience of recovery from an eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) and have accessed eating disorder services as part of their recovery journey.

As an Eating Disorders PSW, you will use your lived experience to inspire hope, encourage recovery, and support service users who are currently receiving clinical treatment for eating disorders. You will work within a multi-disciplinary team to promote strengths-based practice and social inclusion.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Organisational Work

• Promote best practices in peer support and lived experience practice by actively participating in training and development programmes (internal and external).
• Work collaboratively with the Adult and Child & Adolescent Eating Disorder Service teams to ensure service users receive the support they need.

Lived Experience Specialist Work

• Model and mentor the recovery process, offering hope and self-management techniques based on personal lived experience.
• Support service users in understanding their recovery journey, including health and well-being, personal and social identity.
• Engage in self-reflection and commit to ongoing personal development.

Learning and Development

• Participate in mandatory training & development as outlined in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).
• Complete the ‘Developing Expertise in Peer Support’ Level 4 accredited module.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential:

• Willingness to undertake mandatory training and work-based learning.
• Completion of Level 4 City University accredited course “Developing Expertise in Peer Support”.
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development.

Desirable:

• Accredited Life Coaching certificate.
• Accredited Peer Support Worker training.

Experience

Essential:

• Lived experience of an eating disorder and personal recovery journey.
• Experience of accessing eating disorder services.
• Paid or unpaid experience in health and social care.
• Developed personal mental well-being management strategies.
• Willingness to share personal experiences to support service users.

Desirable:

• Experience as a peer support worker (paid or unpaid).
• Involvement in service redesign and development.
• Experience working with people with eating disorders.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential:

• Strong interpersonal and peer relationship-building skills.
• Effective listening and communication skills (across various levels and audiences).
• Ability to demonstrate empathy, patience, and non-judgmental support.
• Understanding of personal recovery and how it applies to others.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to empower service users.
• Awareness of mental health issues and diversity considerations.
• Organisational skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to challenge stigma, low expectations, and discrimination.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of food hygiene, first aid, health & safety, and moving & handling.
• Awareness of local services, benefits, and employment systems.
• Ability to speak multiple languages.
• Understanding of co-production principles and current health & social care legislation.

Other Requirements

Essential:

• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel between locations using personal or public transport.

Numeracy & IT Skills

Essential:

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• IT proficiency (Word & Email).

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This post is subject to a DBS check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications are welcomed from candidates requiring a Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship.

Since 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants must provide a criminal record certificate from any country where they have lived continuously or cumulatively for 12+ months in the past 10 years. This requirement also applies to adult dependants (over 18 years old).

For further details, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Closing Date: 03 April 2025

Reference ID: EatingDisordersPSW-CNWL