HIV Peer Support Worker

About Trade

Trade Sexual Health (Trade for short) is a small health and wellbeing charity based in Leicester. We currently have eight staff and more than 40 volunteers.

Trade began as a grassroots gay community response to HIV in Leicester in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, Trade worked creatively to spread information about sexual health and HIV prevention to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the city (GBMSM).

Trade has been a registered charity since 2000. Over the last 25 years, our core work has focused on improving the sexual health of gay and bisexual men across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. We have always taken a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the range of issues that might impact gay and bisexual men’s ability to look after their sexual health. As a result, we started a counselling service – Approach Counselling – to support community members in improving their mental wellbeing.

We now draw on this experience to tackle wider health inequalities related to sexual health and HIV, and to provide peer support for anyone living with HIV in the areas where we work. For a small charity, Trade has always ‘punched above its weight’ and we have a national profile for the innovative sexual health work we do.

We currently hold contracts to deliver sexual health promotion and HIV prevention outreach in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland to LGBTQ+ people, asylum seekers, and a range of racialised communities that experience significant inequalities in relation to their sexual health.

We have a history of providing peer support to people living with HIV, and this is now becoming a growing strand of our work. This post is central to the delivery of HIV Peer Support in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (and builds on our experience of delivering similar services in Northamptonshire).

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to deliver first-line peer support to people living with HIV, of all genders and backgrounds, in Leicestershire. The postholder will be based at the Trade offices in central Leicester and will work closely with clinical staff at the Jarvis Clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary. They will ensure that people who have been recently diagnosed, are struggling with their diagnosis, or are re-engaging with HIV care feel supported and have the information they need to live well and thrive with HIV.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), bringing personal knowledge and experience to the role.
• Collaborate with a small group of volunteer peer mentors to support people living with HIV.
• Assist in recruiting new volunteers and ensure patients needing ongoing peer mentoring are matched with suitable mentors.
• Support individuals in developing self-management strategies, addressing stigma, reducing social isolation, and improving wellbeing.
• Develop a catalogue of services, groups, and support options for signposting.
• Encourage engagement with HIV treatment and care, improving ART adherence and promoting viral suppression.

Job Activities

• Triage new patients to identify specific support needs.
• Coordinate appointments between mentors and mentees.
• Refer or signpost individuals to specialist services (e.g. mental health, housing, benefits, immigration).
• Support the British HIV Association Standards of Care and National Standards in HIV Peer Support.
• Contribute to innovative approaches to peer support delivery.
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and secure records.
• Assist in compiling quarterly monitoring reports for Leicester Public Health.
• Represent Trade professionally at forums and meetings.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with partners.

Accountability

• Reports to the Chief Executive Officer.
• Receives peer staff supervision for project-specific needs.
• Accountable to the Trade Board of Trustees.

General Competencies and Conditions

• Competent in using software for word processing, data management (e.g. Excel), and social media.
• Able to work across various venues in Leicester and Leicestershire.
• Full driving licence preferred but not essential.
• Capable of independent decision-making and appropriate signposting.
• Maintains professional boundaries and handles client distress sensitively.

Working Conditions

• Primarily based at Trade offices, with regular visits to the HIV clinic.
• Expected to attend team meetings, training days, and key events (e.g. World AIDS Day, National HIV Testing Week).
• Shares domestic tasks with staff and volunteers.
• Undertakes other duties as reasonably required by the Board of Trustees.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested upon appointment.

Person Specification

Genuine Occupational Requirement:
The postholder must be living with HIV (as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Experience

• Lived experience of HIV and understanding of its impact – Essential
• Experience supporting vulnerable or marginalised communities – Desirable
• Experience working collaboratively with NHS services, charities, or support organisations – Essential

Skills

• Effective communication with diverse individuals and organisations – Essential
• Ability to work independently and use initiative – Essential
• Mentorship skills to support and motivate others – Desirable
• Strong organisational and time management skills – Essential
• Ability to deliver and develop a peer mentoring scheme – Essential

Knowledge and Understanding

• Knowledge of HIV and the support needs of people living with HIV – Essential
• Understanding of peer support benefits for long-term health conditions – Essential
• Familiarity with safeguarding policies and practices – Desirable
• Awareness of the benefits and challenges of volunteering – Essential

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to personal development – Essential
• Alignment with Trade’s mission, vision, and values – Essential
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion – Essential
• Supportive of team and volunteer development – Essential

We will shortlist for interview week commencing 3rd November, all candidates will recieve a response at this time.

We plan to hold interviews the week commencing 10th November