Peer Support Mentor

Job Introduction

Job Introduction

Can your lived experience help someone take the next step from hospital to home?

Lincolnshire County Council is recruiting for three exciting new Peer Support Mentor roles.  The roles are known internally as Peer Support Mentor - Autism & Mental Health Inpatient Transitions roles  - they offer a unique opportunity to use your lived experience to make a genuine difference to the lives of autistic adults and adults experiencing mental health challenges. 

Two will be based in Lincoln and one in Spalding.

This is more than a support role. It is an opportunity to walk alongside people during some of the most important moments of their recovery journey, helping them navigate their transition from inpatient settings back into their local communities with confidence, hope and the right support around them.

As a Peer Support Mentor, you will use your own experiences, insight and understanding to build trust, promote independence and empower people to identify their strengths, goals and aspirations. Working closely with individuals, families, health professionals and community organisations, you will help ensure that people feel heard, understood and supported throughout their transition.

If you are passionate about recovery, believe in the power of lived experience and want to help others build meaningful lives beyond hospital, we'd love to hear from you.

About the role

This brand-new role forms part of Lincolnshire's commitment to improving outcomes for autistic adults and people with mental health needs as they move from inpatient care back into their communities. Working across Lincolnshire's integrated health and care system, you will provide practical, emotional and peer-led support that complements clinical and professional interventions. 

You will:

• Build trusting, strengths-based relationships with people during their inpatient stay and transition into the community.
• Provide encouragement, guidance and practical support through the sharing of relevant lived experiences.
• Help individuals prepare for discharge and navigate community services and support networks.
• Support people to identify their goals, build confidence and develop greater independence.
• Work collaboratively with health professionals, social care teams, families and partner organisations.
• Promote recovery, self-management and wellbeing through peer-led approaches.
• Help people access local opportunities, community activities and sources of ongoing support.
• Contribute to the development of a positive and sustainable peer support culture across the Mental Health Service.

No two days will be the same. One day you may be supporting someone to prepare for discharge planning meetings within an inpatient setting, and the next helping them connect with community resources and opportunities that support their ongoing recovery and independence.

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
• Full-time and part-time opportunities available

About you

We're looking for compassionate, resilient people who understand the value of lived experience and the positive impact peer support can have on someone's recovery journey.

You will bring:

• Personal lived experience of autism, mental health services, or caring for someone with these experiences.
• The ability to use your lived experience safely, appropriately and constructively to support others.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• An understanding of the challenges people can face when transitioning from hospital back into community life.
• A person-centred, strengths-based and recovery-focused approach.
• The ability to build trust with people who may be experiencing anxiety, uncertainty or distress.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage your own workload effectively.
• A commitment to inclusion, equality and autism-affirming practice.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals, partners and community organisations.

Most importantly, you will be someone who can offer hope. Someone who inspires confidence through empathy, understanding and genuine connection, helping others to see what is possible for their future.

If you believe your experiences could help someone else build a life beyond hospital, this could be the role for 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: 25th October 2026.

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.