Expert by Experience - Mental Health

Job Introduction

Job Introduction

Can your lived experience help shape the future of Mental Health services across Lincolnshire?

Lincolnshire County Council is launching an exciting new Expert by Experience - Mental Health role, offering a unique opportunity to influence how Adult Social Care Mental Health services are designed, delivered and improved.

This is more than a traditional advisory role. We are looking for someone who can use their personal lived experience, insight and passion to ensure the voices of people who access services, unpaid carers and local communities directly influence decision-making at every level.

As our Expert by Experience, you will work alongside senior leaders, practitioners, commissioners and partners, acting as a critical friend and champion for co-production, inclusion and meaningful engagement. Through constructive challenge, relationship building and the sharing of lived experience insight, you will help shape service improvement, influence strategic direction and ensure people remain at the centre of everything we do.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for others and want to play a key role in shaping the future of Mental Health services, this is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference.

About the role

This brand-new position offers the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on Mental Health services across Lincolnshire.

Working across both strategic and operational activity, you will champion the voice of lived experience and help ensure that services are shaped by the people who use them.

You will:

• Champion the voice of people with lived experience across Working Age Adults Mental Health services (Social Care).
• Design and support engagement and co-production activities that shape future services.
• Work alongside senior leaders to influence strategy, commissioning and transformation programmes.
• Build effective relationships with people who access services, unpaid carers, voluntary sector organisations and community groups and partner agencies.
• Gather and analyse feedback and insight to inform service improvement.
• Facilitate workshops, focus groups and engagement events.
• Promote person-centred, strengths-based and recovery-focused approaches throughout the organisation

No two days will be the same. One day you could be facilitating a co-production workshop with people who access services, and the next presenting lived experience insight to senior leaders to influence strategic decisions.

Additional information:

• Core office hours: 08:45–17:15 (Monday–Thursday), 08:45–16:45 (Friday)
• Hybrid working: a combination of home and office-based working, with office attendance as required
• Travel is essential; mileage is reimbursed for journeys from the office to appointments

About you

We're looking for someone who understands the value of genuine participation and the difference meaningful co-production can make.

You will bring:

• Personal lived experience of mental health challenges, or significant experience of representing and amplifying the voices of people with lived experience.
• A passion for improving services and outcomes for others.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence change.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals, communities and organisations.
• Experience of gathering feedback, identifying themes and translating insight into meaningful action.
• A commitment to equality, inclusion and person-centred practice.

Most importantly, you will be someone who believes services are strongest when they are shaped by the people who use them and who is motivated to make a positive difference to the lives of others

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

About the team

Our Mental Health Service is committed to delivering strengths-based, person-centred support that improves wellbeing, independence and positive outcomes.

Our team includes Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Community Care Officers working across three localities in Lincolnshire. Together, we bring a range of experience, skills, and perspectives, creating a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone’s contribution is valued.

You will be joining an ambitious service at an exciting time of development and transformation. Working closely with operational teams, strategic commissioners and partner organisations, you will play a key role in embedding co-production and lived experience throughout our work.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape a role from the ground up, influence how services develop in the future and leave a lasting legacy for Mental Health services across Lincolnshire.

About the Offer

We celebrate our Team's achievements and share our experiences. It is important that Practitioners feel appreciated and supported – our staff are our most valued asset. We provide 1-1 meetings and monthly team meetings.

Along with a competitive salary we offer;

• A generous pension scheme
• Reimbursement for professional registration fees
• Career progression opportunities including the opportunity to progress to a Qualified Social Worker.
• A generous annual leave entitlement
• “Green book” Local Government terms and conditions
• Comprehensive benefits package including salary sacrifice for cars, cycles, plus excellent discount schemes
• 37 hour working week (as full time) including flexible and hybrid working
• A generous leave entitlement with a minimum of 25 days plus bank holidays and the option to buy more
• Free financial wellbeing advice

If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role then please contact: Elita.Cozens@lincolnshire.gov.uk 

Closing date: 25/10/26.

Interviews: TBC.

At Lincolnshire County Council, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a rewarding package designed to support your work–life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and career growth. Find out more about our offer to you in the attached brochure.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check. 

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty 

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.