Job Description

Lead Peer Facilitator

Application Deadline: 17 September 2026

Department: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: East Sussex - Lewes

Reporting To: Group Facilitator Team Manager

Compensation: £28,640 / year

Description

Location: Based at Lewes Wellbeing Hub, Western Road. Travelling across Lewes and Wealden neighbourhoods.

Salary: £28,640 per year (pro rata)

Hours: 25 per week

What you’ll be doing:

Southdown is one of the leading providers of mental health services in Sussex. We have transformed our services to provide easier access to mental health support for people across East Sussex. As Lead Peer Facilitator, you will use your lived experience of mental health challenges and seeking support from mental health services, to enable clients to find hope, connect with others and build their confidence.

You’ll demonstrate excellent group facilitation skills and the ability to create psychologically safe spaces for clients. Working with a Peer Facilitator (Entry), you will co-facilitate peer groups for people who are experiencing similar challenges and social spaces for people who have previously accessed support. These groups will use accessible activities to help participants to connect with each other and build confidence. You will mentor the Peer Facilitator (Entry) and take a leading role within the groups.

This role is based at our Wellbeing Centre in Lewes and involves regular working across a number of East Sussex locations, including Newhaven, Heathfield and Uckfield. The current service delivery pattern includes sessions at different sites throughout the week, from Tuesday to Friday, with some evening working currently taking place on Tuesdays. While this reflects the current service arrangement, working patterns and locations may be subject to change in line with service requirements.

Southdown will provide reflective practice, supervision and team meetings and ongoing training to support you in your role.

If you want to use your skills and experiences to support others’ in their mental health journey, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applications from candidates who have previously experienced mental health challenges or who live with enduring mental illness and have experience of accessing mental health support. We also welcome applications from candidates who have completed peer worker training but this is not mandatory.

Perks and benefits:

• Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
• Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
• Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
• Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
• Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
• 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

Knowledge, skills and experience

What you’ll need for the role:

• Excellent people skills and the ability to make people feel safe and welcome.
• Lived experience of mental health challenges and accessing mental health services.
• You have a genuine passion for facilitating groups.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown.

What would be nice:

• Peer Worker qualification.
• Experience of facilitating groups.

Training:

You’ll receive an initial induction, followed by regular in person training and supervisions to invest in your development and provide all the tools needed to succeed in this role. We’ll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.

How to apply:

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and fill out our simple one-page application form.

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.