Job summary
- Main area
- Parkinsons Service
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Monday- Friday)
- Job ref
- 363-CHB8126936
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Twinwoods Health Resource Centre
- Town
- Clapham, Bedford
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 Per Annum Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/08/2026 08:00
Employer heading
Carer Peer Support Worker
NHS AfC: Band 3
Bedfordshire Community Health Services are provided in partnership by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS) NHS Trust. This role is for an ELFT position within Bedfordshire Community Health Services. ELFT’s mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job overview
Do you have lived experience of caring for someone with a progressive neurological condition? Are you passionate about using that experience to support others?
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Bedfordshire Community Health Services as a Carer Peer Support Worker within the Specialist Neurology Nursing Team.
This rewarding role is designed for someone who has personal experience of caring for a family member or friend living with a progressive neurological condition and who wants to use that experience to make a positive difference to the lives of other carers.
Working alongside Specialist Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will provide emotional and practical peer support, helping carers build confidence, access services and community resources, improve their wellbeing and feel less isolated. By sharing your lived experience in a safe and supportive way, you will empower carers to navigate the challenges they face and achieve what matters most to them.
At East London NHS Foundation Trust, co-production is central to the way we work. As a valued member of the team, you will help improve the experience of carers and contribute to the ongoing development of the Neurology Service.
Main duties of the job
As a Carer Peer Support Worker, you will use your own lived experience of caring for someone with a progressive neurological condition to provide hope, encouragement and practical support to other carers across Bedfordshire.
Working as part of the Specialist Neurology Nursing Team, you will build supportive relationships with carers, helping them identify their strengths, improve confidence, access local services and community resources, and develop strategies to support their own health and wellbeing.
You will work collaboratively with Specialist Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure carers receive person-centred support throughout their caring journey. You will also promote co-production by ensuring the voice of carers helps shape and improve the service.
The role includes maintaining accurate clinical records, participating in supervision and training, working in line with Trust policies and professional standards, and promoting the Peer Support Worker role across the Neurology Service to deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality care.
Working for our organisation
The Bedfordshire Community Neurology Service is part of Bedfordshire Community Health Services within East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT). Our Specialist Neurology Nursing Team provides expert care and support to people living with progressive neurological conditions, alongside their families and carers.
You will join a compassionate and supportive multidisciplinary team committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care. As a Carer Peer Support Worker, you will use your lived experience to support carers, promote co-production and contribute to the ongoing development of the service.
At ELFT, we value our staff and are committed to their wellbeing and development. You will receive a comprehensive induction, regular supervision and opportunities for learning, including completion of the ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker Programme if required. We encourage continuous personal and professional development and support staff to reach their full potential.
Our values—We Care, We Respect and We Are Inclusive—are at the heart of everything we do, helping us create an inclusive workplace and deliver outstanding care for the communities we serve.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to carers of people living with progressive neurological conditions, working flexibly to meet individual needs.
- To support carers to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals, helping them to access information, services and community resources whilst demonstrating acceptance of and respect for each individual's beliefs, uniqueness and identity.
- To positively support carers within their local community by developing and maintaining knowledge of local health, social care, voluntary and community services, actively supporting carers to access these resources where appropriate.
- To act as a positive role model by drawing upon your own lived experience of caring to inspire hope, promote resilience and share coping strategies and lessons learned where appropriate.
- To support carers to engage with the Specialist Neurology Service and wider health and social care services, empowering them to participate in care planning, attend appointments where appropriate and access virtual services when required.
- To act as a link between carers, people living with neurological conditions and the multidisciplinary team, ensuring carers receive timely information, support and signposting throughout their caring journey.
- To support safety in line with Trust policies and procedures, ensuring any concerns relating to an individual's wellbeing, including safeguarding issues, are escalated promptly to senior members of the team.
- To promote the Peer Support Worker role within the Neurology Service, participating in awareness events, peer support activities and initiatives that improve the experience of carers.
- To contribute to the co-production, development and delivery of carer support groups, education sessions and health and wellbeing initiatives across Bedfordshire.
- To participate in community engagement activities and work collaboratively with local voluntary, community and statutory organisations to improve support available to carers of people living with progressive neurological conditions.
- To maintain accurate and timely clinical records using SystmOne and work in accordance with Trust policies, professional standards and information governance requirements.
Person specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential criteria
- ELFT Accredited Peer Support Worker training or Peer Support Worker experience or willing to undertake the training within 6 months of employment
- Good standard of English and Mathematics.
Desirable criteria
- Other relevant qualifications e.g. health and social care.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Lived experience of caring for friend or family member with a neurological condition.
- Experience of working within a team (either physical health or non-physical health team).
Desirable criteria
- Prior experience (paid or unpaid) working in the health and social care sector or prior experience working with vulnerable adults.
- Prior experience, paid or unpaid, in peer support roles.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work with service users on an individual or group basis to support them in their personal recovery.
- Ability to enable and empower patients in a way that increases their self-esteem, raises their confidence and help them to identify positive qualities in self.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to recognise stress in oneself and others and manage appropriately accessing additional support where necessary.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
Other
Essential criteria
- Be motivated to continue with expanding clinical knowledge base. I.E. Developing knowledge in regard to mental health illnesses.
Desirable criteria
- Be able to maintain motivation to deliver the highest standards of care in a service that faces constant change from internal and external sources.
- Understand that in the working environment all resources must be utilized as economically as possible
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Leander Webb
- Job title
- Lead Nurse for Specialist Nurses
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07812730241
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