Employer: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Salary: Band 5 £37,259 – £45,356 per annum incl. of HCAs pro rata
Job Type: Full-time, Part-time, Fixed term: 12 months (12 months funded in the first instance from 01/10/2025 to 30/09/2026, with good chance of renewal for further 12 months)
Work location: London, England
FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
‘Let’s Talk’: Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial of a peer-delivered intervention for internalised stigma in psychosis patients
Applications are invited for 2 or more Band 5 part-time Peer Support Workers (PSWs) for 1 year in first instance (SLaM). A job-share will be possible (minimum: 0.4wte (2 days a week); maximum: 0.8wte (4 days)). PSWs will be responsible for delivering a support intervention for addressing stigma in people with psychosis, under supervision.
The post is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new NIHR-funded trial, ‘Let’s Talk’, following a pilot study (Pyle et al, 2024). It will evaluate the intervention at 4 sites: South and North-East London, Avon & Wiltshire, and Manchester. It is led by experts in the field of Psychosis, Peer Support and Stigma research (Melissa Pyle and Tony Morrison at Manchester (lead site); Emmanuelle Peters at London site). We have a strong Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team leading the research. The intervention is adapted from the Honest, Open and Proud Programme (HOPP): To Erase the Stigma in Mental Illness, originally developed in the US.
You will be part of a local team of 2 Research Workers, PSWs, a Clinical Psychologist and a Prof of Clinical Psychology, and a national team across sites. You will be trained in the delivery of the intervention, underpinned by Peer Support principles. You will have regular supervision and the opportunity to work on a trial that will advance the field of stigma research.
You will be primarily responsible for delivering a semi-structured intervention for people with psychosis who are experiencing internalised stigma, and who report concerns about talking about their psychosis experiences or concealing their experiences because of stigma.
You will also work jointly with the Research Workers in liaising with clinical services and voluntary services across the Trust to raise the profile of the study and aid recruitment of trial participants.
You will have lived experience of psychosis and experience of working in a relevant peer support role. You will be able to work in an independent and autonomous fashion handling a diverse caseload. You will uphold peer values of supporting and promoting recovery as an expert-by-experience led concept, emphasise hope and optimism, value learning through lived experience and focus on strengths rather than deficits.
You will be managed and supervised on a weekly basis by the Clinical Psychologist on the London team, and a Peer Specialist at the lead site. Initial training will be provided by the Manchester site. You will work closely with the London team, including researchers, clinicians and experts-by-experience, attending and participating in monthly site meetings.
As the post may involve travel across SlaM, the ability to travel independently of the public transport system is important.
The posts will be for a fixed term of 12 months initially, but there is a good chance of extension for a second year.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you including:
Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
Counselling services
Wellbeing events
Long service awards
Cycle to work scheme
Season ticket loan
Childcare vouchers
Staff restaurants
For a full list of our benefits please visit: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/media/421262/Working%20at%20SLaM.pdf
See attached document, but in brief:
The role of the Peer Support Workers (PSW) has been developed specifically for individuals who have lived experience of psychosis and internalised stigma with associated impact on wellbeing. You will have gained experience of a peer support role and be ready and able to support other colleagues through a supervised, structured psychological intervention. You will have experience of working with people who have been in mental health services and have the ability to carry a caseload of people who may live with multiple unmet needs.
Through sharing wisdom informed by experience and knowledge you will:
- Support and promote recovery as a user led concept
- Emphasise hope and optimism, individual aspirations and goals
- Value experiential learning
- Focus on strengths rather than deficits
- Foster collaboration between those who need support and those who support them as an alternative to coercion
- Enable and promote autonomy and self-management
Application Process
If you’re interested in this role, check out more information on the Official website and apply now!