Job overview
Have you ever wondered if you could use your lived experience of supporting a child with an eating disorder to help other parents/carers?
This opportunity could be for you!
please note; only applicants who have had lived experience of supporting a child with an eating disorder will be took through to interview.
Alder Hey Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service are looking to recruit, train and develop a team of Parent Carer Peer Support Workers (PCPSW). PCPSWs work with parents/carers to empower them to access appropriate information, advice, support and services, helping reduce isolation and offering hope when life can feel quite hopeless.
As a leading provider of Children's and Young People’s Mental Health Services, Alder Hey is committed to developing lived experience roles and working in partnership with our parents and carers. These pioneering roles will help us achieve our goal of continuing to have parent/carer support led by those with lived experience. The roles will also ensure that the parent/carer voice is at the heart of Service Development.
Will I be paid? Yes, these are paid roles matched at Agenda for Change Band 3. The hours available are flexible in recognition of the vital role of lived experience.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for someone who:
- Has lived experience of supporting a child who has experienced an eating disorder. • Is passionate about helping others and building positive relationships. • Is emphatic and can connect to other parents/carers from a range of backgrounds and experiences. • Can communicate with other professionals, parents/carers and community groups. • Is able to work on their own, prioritising their workload and work as a part of a team. • Has a desire and willingness to develop skills. • Values supervision, support, and self-care.
This role may include:
- Running parent/carer support groups, including some evening groups.
- Providing support and resources through social media.
- One-to-one supportive conversations with other parents/carers on the phone, virtually and face-to-face.
- Representing parent /carer voice in Service Development.
- Being willing and able to draw on experiences to help develop and deliver training.
- Being actively involved in the recruitment of new staff members.
- Access supervision and relevant training specific to the role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see Job Description and person specification for further information in relation to main duties and responsibilities.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Use a range of communication skills to ensure young people and families are engaged in a meaningful way.
- Use of lived experience to role model to young people, inspire hope, share life
- Facilitating peer recovery and other recovery-focused groups.
- An ability to recognise and manage own stress.
- Ability to demonstrate and model selfcare skills
Desirable
- Providing tailor made packages of peer support to allocated service users.
Knowledge
Essential
- A range of self-management or goal based tools and techniques
- Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality, health & safety legislation, complaints management and risk management.
- Service user involvement and participation and why it is important.
Desirable
- Current issues that impact on children and young people’s mental health, including the impact of stigma and discrimination.
Experience
Essential
- Experience and/or significant knowledge of mental health conditions and recovery.
- Understanding of the CYPMH services and pathways, including treatment and support for mental health for young people
- Experience of using a range of selfmanagement or recovery tools and techniques
- Experience of working in a team
- lived experience of supporting a child with an eating disorder
Desirable
- • Experience working with children and young people
- • Experience of working across different organisational boundaries
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Maintain discretion and confidentiality
- Flexible, adaptable and able to work on own initiative as well as in a team
- Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect
Education and Training
Essential
- Satisfactory level of Secondary education to GCSE English A-C grade or 9-4 grade or equivalent
- Good ability in written and spoken English
- Level 3 recognised PSW Training or willingness to undertake this within 6 months of appointment to role
Desirable
- Mental health or Health and Social Care related qualification.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Parent/Carer Peer Support Worker with Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 pro rota. The contract type is Permanent: 11 hours per week. The application deadline is 02 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (18 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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