Peer Recovery Navigator

Could you inspire hope for people who are struggling with their mental health?

Second Step is a leading mental health charity in the Southwest offering housing, support and hope to people with mental health and support needs. Our vision is that we believe in a world where everyone affected by mental health problems can create a positive future. We promote mental health and wellbeing by supporting people and communities to build brighter futures.

We are recruiting a Peer Recovery Navigator to join our Weston, Worle and Villages MINT Team based in Weston-Super- Mare Coast Resource Centre to provide a flexible, person-centred one-to-one peer mentoring offer for adults aged 18+ experiencing mental health challenges in the Weston Worle MINT locality initially and then the wider area of North Somerset.

This is an exciting new role, delivered in partnership with Changes Bristol to improve access to peer support, making positive use of lived experience of mental health recovery in a purposeful, boundaried and hopeful way to support people to work on their own mental health recovery. The post holder will work collaboratively with colleagues in the MINT Team, with Changes Bristol and across primary and secondary mental health services, social care and community partners to deliver support that is trauma-informed, recovery-focused, culturally sensitive and tailored to individual preference and need.

About the role
We are committed to working with a recovery-based approach and supporting people to meet their individual needs. Why not join our team to support our clients on their recovery journey. The post holder will;

• Deliver weekly one-to-one peer mentoring for adults aged 18+ across the Weston, Worle MINT (and later Woodspring) locality for up to 12 weeks, holding a caseload of up to 8 people at any one time.
• Use lived experience of mental health recovery in a purposeful, safe and boundaried way to inspire hope, build trust and support people to identify their strengths, goals and next steps.
• Work collaboratively with each person to develop practical, person-centred goals linked to confidence, emotional wellbeing, independence, social connection and community engagement.
• Complete Support Conversations and use outcome tools to understand needs, review progress and evidence outcomes.
• Support people to connect with Changes Peer Support Groups and other community groups, social prescribing offers, peer groups, primary care, MINT colleagues and other statutory or community resources.

This Peer Recovery Navigator post will work for 22hrs, over 3 days a week, although we can be flexible with days and hours worked. We have funding for this role for 18 months. We expect this role to be flexible to meet the needs of the people we support and so there will be travel required across North Somerset.

Full details of this exciting opportunity can be found in the role profile.

About you

You will

• Have the ability to use your lived experience of mental health recovery safely, purposefully and appropriately within a boundaried peer support relationship.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills, including active listening, empathy, curiosity, reliability and the ability to build trust with people who may feel anxious, isolated or unsure about accessing support.
• Have the ability to support people to identify goals, strengths, practical next steps and self-management approaches.
• Have the ability to work collaboratively with MINT colleagues, VCSE partners and community assets

• be passionate about improving the lived experience and health of people using mental health services
• have proven knowledge of support needs of people with mental health needs

What we offer

• to be part of a friendly team, with direct support from a Senior Recovery Navigator and multi-disciplinary MINT Colleagues
• support from our Peer Support Office and other Peer colleagues
• in-depth induction to Second Step and all the relevant training and support you need to do your job well.
• monthly one-to-one sessions with your line manager
• monthly group reflective practice with your wider team

If you are interested in this role but are concerned that you may not have the experience or knowledge please contact us for an informal conversation, we would very much like to hear from you. Please contact: Chris Kinston, Senior Operations Manager, via email chris.kinston@second-step.co.uk

About us

We are taking positive action to increase diversity throughout our organisation, and to nurture a culture of inclusion for all our people and the clients that we support.

We welcome applications from everyone who meets the criteria and strongly encourage individuals who identify as being of Black, African, Caribbean or Asian descent to apply as these groups are currently under-represented at Second Step.

To ensure fairness and consistency, all applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidate’s skills and qualities.

Closing date: Wednesday 30th September

Interview dates: Week Commencing 12th October 2026

For more detailed information about these roles and to apply, please see our website www.second-step.co.uk. Second Step is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community and from people who have personal experience of using mental health services. Unfortunately, Second Step is unable to sponsor applicants from outside the UK.

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.