Peer Support Worker (London)

We are Hestia. We make a difference. At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence.

Right now, we are looking for a Peer Support Worker to play a pivotal role in our Ealing Mental Health Crisis Alternative Service in Ealing. Ealing MHCA is a drop-in mental health crisis support service based in Ealing Hospital, for anyone in Ealing aged 18 and over who is experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. The service provides a safe, calm, and welcoming space where individuals can receive immediate support without needing to attend A&E. Our aim is to reduce distress, help people feel heard, and support them to regain stability in the moment. Visitors can access one-to-one emotional support, help creating short- and long-term safety plans, guidance and signposting to other relevant services, and access to refreshments. The service may also offer group activities, such as peer support sessions, creative groups, or wellbeing-focused activities, which create opportunities for connection, expression, and recovery in a supportive environment.

Please note that this role is an out-of-hours position, and you will be expected to work between 2pm and 10pm on a rota, including weekends.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of issues affecting individuals with a wide range of mental health conditions and will be able to communicate and provide support with dignity and respect. They will be an effective team player who can also work independently, take initiative, and support the induction of new staff and volunteers. The role requires the ability to work confidently with statutory services, alongside excellent listening skills and strong verbal and written communication abilities. Candidates should demonstrate effective partnership-building skills with both statutory and voluntary/community sector organisations, as well as experience in risk assessment, case management, and working under pressure in a dynamic environment. Strong organisational, prioritisation, and time-management skills are essential, alongside good IT proficiency—including MS Word, Outlook, and internet use—and solid literacy and numeracy skills. A good understanding of recovery tools, local mental health and wellbeing services, and safeguarding principles is also required, with the ability to address safeguarding concerns appropriately.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect. Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do! Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based. Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed. We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.