JOB SUMMARY

Are you someone with lived experience of mental health difficulties who wants to use that experience to support others? Do you believe in the power of connection, hope, and personal empowerment? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We are recruiting a Mental Health Peer Support Worker (MH PSW) to join the Somerset Team for Early Psychosis (STEP), based in Taunton. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to support people who are experiencing similar mental health challenges and walk alongside them in their recovery journey.
As a MH PSW, you will draw upon your personal lived experience of mental health difficulties to offer emotional, practical, and motivational support. You’ll become a vital member of a multi-disciplinary team, providing compassionate, peer-based support that goes beyond clinical models.

ABOUT US

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we’re committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you’ll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it’s a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role is grounded in the values of peer support and the belief that lived experience is a powerful tool in supporting recovery. As a Mental Health PSW, your work will include:

• Use your lived experience to provide mutual, non-judgemental support to people navigating their own mental health journeys.
• Support people in building strong, healthy relationships and reconnecting with their communities.
• Help individuals reclaim their identity and overcome stigma associated with mental illness.
• Encourage personal empowerment by helping people focus on strengths and take control of their recovery.
• Promote meaning and purpose by supporting people to explore what makes life valuable to them.
• Maintain appropriate interpersonal and professional boundaries while fostering a sense of trust and equality in peer relationships.
• Work closely with clinical teams, carers, families, and community services to support integrated care.
  Please note: All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced Peer Support Training Programme aligned with national competencies.