Applying for a peer support role - easy read guide

This guide can help you: 

• complete your application form
• use your own experiences in a safe way 
• understand what the job involves
• prepare for the interview
• feel more confident about applying 

You do not need to share every detail of your life. Only share what feels safe and useful. 

What lived experience is

Lived experience means things you have been through in your own life.

For this role, it means you have experience of mental health challenges and/or a learning disability.

You also need to be at a point where you can use your experience to help others.

When you apply, tell us:

• about your experience
• what you have learnt
• why you want the role.

Use real examples:

1. Say what happened. 
2. Say what you did. 
3. Say what you learned.
4. Say how this could help you support another person. 

Do not only list your skills. Explain your skills by using examples from your life. 

You could write about:

• what helped your recovery 
• what did not help 
• how you manage your wellbeing 
• how your experiences changed you
• why you want to support other people

Lived experience and recovery 

For this role, you need to:

• have your own experience of mental health challenges and/or a learning disability
• be able to talk about your recovery
• be able to talk about what you have learnt
• be ready to use your experience to give hope to other people.

You do not need to tell us:

• if you have a diagnosis
• the names of services you have used
• details about difficult or traumatic experiences.

Empathy and boundaries 

You also need to be able to:

• listen to other people
• build trusting relationships
• understand how other people may feel
• understand what is and is not part of your role
• support people to make their own choices
• share your own experiences safely and when it can help someone.

Reflection

Reflection means thinking about an experience and learning from it. 

You can reflect by using: 

• •supervision 
• journalling 
• planning 
• conversations with others 
• feedback from other people 

In your application, explain how reflection helped you change or improve something. 

Teamwork 

Give an example of working with other people. Your example could come from: 

• a job 
• volunteering 
• education 
• a community group 
• a sports team 

You do not need to have worked in peer support before.

Support people with their recovery

You will use your lived experience to help other people.

You will give people emotional support. This means listening and supporting people with how they feel.

You will give people practical support. This mean helping with everyday things.

You will help people work towards their own goals.

Build connections

You will listen to people and spend time with them.

You will help people feel less alone.

You may work with one person or a group of people.

Share things that help with wellbeing

You can share things that help you to look after yourself.

These might include:

• exercise
• daily routines
• meditation
• other things that help you feel better

Give hope and speak up

You can use your experience to show people that recovery is possible.

You can use what you have learnt to help us understand and support other people.

We understand if you have had a break from work. This will not count against you.

If you cannot get a reference from an employer, we may accept a reference from someone who knows you well.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role.

If you need to work different hours or days, you can talk to us about flexible working.

Your personal statement is important. Tell us about your experiences, what you have learnt and why you want the role. You do not need to focus only on your work or education. 

Using AI 

AI can help you organise your writing. 

Your application should still sound like you.

Use your own experiences and what you have learnt.

Try not to use general wording that could be about anyone. We want to hear about you and your experiences.

There are two parts to the interview:

• a group interview
• an interview on your own.

Group interview

In the group interview, you can show us how you:

• work with other people
• talk and listen to people
• manage your time
• use your lived experience to support people.

Interview on your own

You will also have an interview on your own.

You can answer questions and tell us about your experiences.

Sharing your experience safely

Talking about your lived experience with people you do not know can be difficult.

Only share what you feel comfortable sharing.

You do not need to tell us about difficult or traumatic experiences.