Lived Experience Practitioner in Trauma Informed Approaches

Job overview

The Wellbeing and Recovery Partnership, which is a formal partnership between Dorset HealthCare and Dorset Mental Health Forum are excited to recruit into this new Lived Experience Practitioner role in Trauma Informed Approaches.

We are looking to recruit an individual who has experience using their Lived Experience in a work or clinical setting and has experience of distress which could be understood as ‘personality disorder’, complex emotional needs, and/or dissociative experiences. This role requires the intentional sharing and use of their own Lived Experience expertise in all aspects of the work.

The purpose of the partnership is to ensure that Lived Experience perspectives are acknowledged and valued alongside clinical and technical expertise at all levels in the design and delivery of Mental Health services in Dorset.

The successful candidate will work with and be line managed by our Lived Experience Leads in Trauma Informed Approaches.

This post is a temporary post to cover maternity leave. We are currently looking for someone to work with us up until 31 March 2026. We have up to full time hours available but will consider part time hours.

Main duties of the job

The Lived Experience Practitioner will support the implementation of the WaRP strategy through the delivery of Trauma Informed Approaches across DHC and into the wider Dorset system including communities.

They will participate in the development, delivery, and evaluation of high quality Trauma Informed Training with a focus on Trauma, Complex Trauma and Safety. This includes staff training and working with and into our Recovery Education Centre, the REC is Dorset’s Recovery College. The practitioner will support the offer of supervision and reflection for trainers with Lived Experience and/or Clinical Experience in DMHF and within DHC.

The Lived Experience Practitioner will work closely with the Lived Experience Leads in TIA and with WaRP colleagues to promote, develop and embed lived experience, TIA, and the principles of recovery orientated practice.

This post will also contribute to the development of lived experience perspectives to challenge stigma and perceptions of people with experiences of complex trauma in Dorset.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only.  Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.  When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working in partnership with The Prince’s Trust to support people getting into work, as part of this partnership, we are offering an employability service to support individuals between 16-30 years old with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support please do contact [email protected]