Peer Support Worker

Peer Support Workers are people who use their lived experience of mental health problems to support others.

You will work with a range of people living with mental health problems, either in hospital or in the community. They will all be different, but what will connect you with them is your own experience of living with mental health problems. You will use your own experience and empathy to help people with mental health problems and their families. Peer Support Workers join a patient’s care team to help provide support and inspiration for recovery.

Peer Support Worker is also known as Peer Worker.

Role Characteristics

Help people who are suffering with mental health problems
Develop care plans that help to improve people's health
Use your own experience to help people feel comfortable to share their experiences
Bring together people with shared experiences to support each other
Create a space where people feel accepted
Work with other health and care professionals

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Empathy
Goal-setting
Working with groups
Communication

Day in the life

Nic shares her experiance as a Peer Support Worker at Southern Health.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

GCSEs

BTEC

T-Level

How to become

The key elements to being a Peer Support Worker are having relevant lived experience for the service you wish to work in, wanting to support others going through similar experiences, being willing and able to receive training on how to work with people to do this.

Volunteering and work experience is highly valued by employers, but it may help you to complete a course in Health and Social care.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

You will be encouraged to develop your career, with training in management or facilitation skills. With experience, you could go on to hold a Senior Peer Support position or undertake further training in one of the other psychological professions, such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.