Peer Support Worker

As a Peer Support Worker, you'll use your personal experience of health, wellbeing or recovery to support others who may be facing similar challenges. You'll build supportive relationships, share hope and practical strategies, help people develop confidence and independence, and connect them with services and opportunities in their community. It's a rewarding role for someone who is empathetic, a good listener and passionate about helping others achieve their goals.

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 or A-Levels

Apply directly

How to become

There are several ways to become a Peer Support Worker, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.

The key elements are having relevant lived experience connected to the service you want to work in, wanting to support others who may be facing similar challenges, and being willing to complete training to help you use your experiences safely, professionally, and effectively to support others.

Useful qualifications include GCSEs in English and Maths and courses in Health and Social Care, although qualifications are not always essential. Many employers place a strong emphasis on your lived experience, personal qualities and ability to build supportive relationships.

Volunteering and work experience are highly valued by employers. You could volunteer with community organisations, charities, support groups or health and care services related to your area of lived experience. This can help you develop skills such as active listening, communication, empathy, maintaining boundaries and supporting wellbeing.

You may also choose to complete a college or training course in areas such as mental health awareness, health and social care, safeguarding or peer support. These can help build your confidence and understanding of the role.

Many people move into Peer Support Worker roles from volunteering, community support, caring responsibilities, support work or other health and care roles. The skills gained through supporting others, building trust, sharing information and encouraging people to achieve their goals can all transfer well into a Peer Support Worker role.

Where can this role lead

From your role as a Peer Support Worker, you could go on to specialise in supporting particular communities or needs by moving into roles such as Learning Disabilities Support Worker, Physical Sensory Impairment Support Worker, Refugees and Asylum Seekers Support Worker, or Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker. These roles build on your experience of supporting people through challenges and helping them access the right support.

If you enjoy helping people improve their wellbeing and connect with opportunities, you could move into roles such as Social Prescriber, Health Trainer, Care Navigator or Community Development Support Worker, using your relationship-building and motivational skills in different settings.

For those interested in taking on greater responsibility, longer-term progression routes could include Social Worker, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, or Mental Health Nurse, building on your understanding of recovery, mental health and person-centred support.

If you'd prefer to move away from direct support work, roles such a Care Navigator, Welfare Rights Officer or Employment Advisor offer opportunities to continue helping people through advice, advocacy, signposting and service coordination rather than ongoing one-to-one support