To apply, please visit the Parents 1st UK website and complete the application form. Applications without a fully completed application form will not be considered.
An exciting opportunity to join our dynamic team of Link Workers in the Peer to Parent Network has arisen in the Southend Maternity Hub area covering Maternity leave from the End of October 2026.
The post is a hybrid role, working 27 hours per week, and travelling within Southend and surrounding areas. This is a fixed term contract to March 2027, with potential to extend further subject to funding.
Are you passionate about nurturing emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and beyond?
Parents 1st UK has been successfully delivering the Peer to Parent Network service over the past 3 years, working across the 5 Maternity Hub areas in Essex.
Being a parent can often feel overwhelming. Supporting the emotional resilience of mothers, fathers and partners during pregnancy and early parenthood is vital. Peer support is unique and highly valued by parents living in Essex.
Working in partnership with the NHS Perinatal Mental Health Team and Health, Social Care and Voluntary Sector professionals in Essex, you will hold a case load of parents who are referred into the Service.
Your personal qualities, ability to support parents facing challenges, and your experience of mental health issues are more important than formal qualifications. Full induction and training will be provided by Parents 1st UK.
If you live in Southend or surrounding areas and think you may be suitable for this role, we would love to hear from you.
Outline of Post
To strengthen peer support across the designated area of Southend to build emotional resilience during pregnancy, birth and beyond
Guided by the Programme Lead, the key responsibilities include:
· Enabling mothers, fathers, and partners to access peer support.
· Raising awareness of the benefits of emotional wellbeing and peer support.
· Identifying needs and helping to address gaps in peer support.
· Growing and strengthening peer support.
Enabling mothers, fathers, and partners to access peer support.
1. Respond to referrals carrying out initial holistic assessments to help parents identify their health and wellbeing needs and plan personal goals.
2. Help expectant and post birth parents to access local peer support appropriate to their needs.
3. Work closely with Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Teams, sharing information about peer support initiatives available, what they offer, and how to signpost / make referrals.
Raising awareness of the benefits of emotional wellbeing and peer support
1. Build mutually beneficial relationships with frontline NHS, early years, and VCS practitioners.
2. Plan, develop, organise, and deliver a range of activities in the community and alongside clinical settings that engage with expectant and post birth parents, and families.
Identifying perinatal mental health needs and helping to address gaps in peer support
1. Where appropriate, refer parents back to health professionals/agencies, when the parent’s needs are beyond the scope of peer support.
2. Work with a diverse range of communities, including those who experience health inequalities, and encourage parents to share their views and experiences, particularly those who are marginalised.
3. Identify barriers that parents face to improved emotional wellbeing and how these could be addressed
4. Help plan new perinatal peer support initiatives including for fathers, partners, and women experiencing higher risk mental health needs
Growing and strengthening peer support
1. Seek out groups and organisations offering perinatal peer support in the local area and encourage them to join and participate in the peer support network
2. Promote and deliver new perinatal peer-to-peer support including, face-to-face and virtual groups, and one-to-one peer support
3. Organise events and opportunities that help members of the peer support network to feel valued and involved
4. Participate in stakeholder meetings when required
General
1. To be proactive in ensuring that Parents 1st Equality and Diversity policy is applied to all aspects of work and positively promote the principles of the policy amongst colleagues, parents and other members of the community
2. Assist with marketing and communications
3. Ensure monitoring and evaluation data is accurately collected and forwarded to the Programme Lead
4. Efficient record-keeping in line with Parents 1st Record Keeping Policy and Procedure
5. Assist with training, taster courses and volunteer recruitment events, where applicable
6. Carry out your role safely and effectively, attending regular reflective supervision, following safeguarding procedures, ground rules, boundaries, and organisational policies and procedures
7. To ensure the safety and well-being of all users, staff, and volunteers through risk assessments for all activities
8. To be familiar with and apply Parents 1st Health and Safety procedures at all times within your work and to attend training in these areas
9. To contribute to the accountability of Parents 1st through assisting in the maintenance of agreed records including statistics, registers, risk assessment records, contracts, evaluations, accident books etc
10. To deputise for other staff as required
11. To be aware of and follow Parents 1st Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk procedures and attend regular training
12. To attend regular staff meetings and supervision as required
13. To attend training associated with the post as required
14. To ensure that appropriate confidentiality is maintained
NB This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. When shortlisting we are looking to interview people who show on their application form that they meet the criteria and competencies listed below. Priority is given to the essential criteria. We will use the interview and assessment process to explore this further and to cover those areas that cannot be shown on a written application.
The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and other legislation places responsibilities for Health & Safety on all employees. Therefore, it is the post holder’s responsibility to take reasonable care for the Health and Welfare of him/herself and other employees in accordance with legislation, policy, and Programme. Where the post holder is disabled, every effort will be made to supply all the necessary employment aids, equipment, or adaptations to enable him/her to perform the full duties of the job. If, however, a certain task proves to be non-achievable then job redesign will be given full consideration.
It is the responsibility of the individual to inform the CEO of Parents 1st UK (in strictest confidence) of their medical history and any changes, which could affect their work duties.
Personal Specification
Essential
· Lived experience of having a mental health issue or supporting someone experiencing a mental health issue
· Excellent listening skills, and experience of providing personalised, strengths-based support to adults
· No qualification is necessary.
· Ability to use MS Word, Internet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Email competently
· Ability to use social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter
· Good standard of written English
· Deep understanding and awareness of the emotional issues parents may experience around pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting
· Strong skills and personal qualities for enabling parents to overcome the barriers they may face when experiencing perinatal mental health issues
· A proven understanding of the issues of confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding and domestic violence
· Good organisational and planning skills, and an ability to prioritise when there are competing demands
· Confident and professional approach to working with Perinatal Mental Health Teams
· Potential to utilise resources and opportunities creatively
· Able to work hours in a flexible way when needed including occasionally at weekends/evenings, with reasonable notice, to meet the needs of the service
· Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal in a variety of contexts
· Has a driving licence, access to own transport and able to travel to a variety of locations
· Understands and is fully committed to equal opportunities, including anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice
· Absolute commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk, ensuring their needs are addressed / listened to
· Comfortable with Parents 1st working environment, ethos and approach
Desirable
· Previous experience as a peer supporter
· Ability to use MS Excel and Power Point
· Experience of multi-agency working with statutory and voluntary agencies
· Experience of delivering training
· Ability to facilitate and deliver online groups for ante-natal and post-natal parents
· Knowledge and awareness of current issues in community work
How to apply
Please send your completed application form and a covering letter to [email protected].
Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 15th September 2026
Interviews will take place on 25th September 2026.
This role is open to anyone who meets the job description criteria. We particularly welcome applications from people from minority groups.
If you have any problems downloading a copy of the application form or job description please get in touch with us directly.
For an informal chat about the role or for more information, please email Kirsty Heard, Programme Lead at [email protected].
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £13.85 per hour
Expected hours: 27.0 per week
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Southend
