Job summary
The Recovery College Practitioner Trainer plays a key role in delivering high-quality educational opportunities that support recovery, wellbeing, and self-management for people accessing the Trust's mental health services, their families, carers, supporters and staff. Working in partnership with Peer Trainers, the postholder will co-design, co-produce, and co facilitate Recovery College courses and workshops, ensuring that lived experience and professional expertise are valued equally. The Practitioner Trainer will promote a culture of hope, empowerment, inclusion, and shared learning, supporting students to identify and build upon their strengths, skills, and aspirations.
This Role requires the practitioner trainer to work across all 5 Boroughs, Wandsworth, Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Richmond.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
Co-facilitate Recovery College face to face and online courses alongside Peer Trainers across venues that are used by the Recovery College in Wandsworth, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton.
Deliver engaging and interactive learning experiences that encourage active
participation, reflection, and self-directed learning.
Support students to identify suitable courses and learning opportunities that align with their individual recovery goals.
Promote self-management approaches that enable students to develop confidence, resilience, wellbeing, and independence.
Ensure learning environments are welcoming, inclusive, psychologically safe, and accessible for all students.
Details
- Date posted: 29 October 2026
- Closing date: 08 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 5
- Salary: £38,488 to £46,852 a year per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 294-COMM-8383413-EB
- Job locations: Springfield University Hospital, 15 Springfield Drive, London, SW17 0YF, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
Co-Production and Course Development
Work in equal partnership with Peer Trainers to design, develop, review, and deliver Recovery College courses and learning materials.
Contribute professional expertise whilst recognising and valuing the expertise that comes from lived experience.
Support the ongoing development of innovative, recovery-focused courses that reflect student feedback and identified needs.
Student Engagement and Support
Encourage participation from diverse communities and support increased access to Recovery College opportunities.
Help students identify strengths, goals, and resources that support recovery and wellbeing.
Recognise and respond appropriately to individual learning needs, ensuring reasonable adjustments are considered where required.
Partnership Working
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Trust services, community organisations, voluntary sector partners, and other stakeholders.
Act as an ambassador for the Recovery College, promoting its vision and values across internal and external networks.
Support engagement activities that maximise student enrolment and participation across all Recovery College courses.
Quality, Governance and Evaluation
Contribute to the Recovery College Quality Assurance Framework.
Support the collection and analysis of student feedback and outcome measures to inform service improvement.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Person Specification
Training& Qualification
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a field relevant to mental health, recovery, education, health, social care, or community development.
Desirable
- Professional qualification in Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, Psychology, Education, or another relevant Allie
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working alongside people with lived experience in mental health
- Experience of facilitating recovery focused training and/or group work
- Experience of co - production of self management courses
- Experience of managing competing priorities and organising own workload effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of co facilitating recovery focused training in mental health settings
- Experience of facilitating groups in a safe, interactive and engaging way that supports active learning
- Experience of developing or co producing courses or learning materials.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Good understanding of recovery-oriented practice and self-management approaches in mental health
- Understanding of co production principles and commitment to working in equal partnership with Peer Trainers.
- Ability to facilitate groups in an engaging, inclusive, and empowering manner.
- Ability to identify and build upon people's strengths and aspirations.
Desirable
- Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and their application within learning environments.
- Knowledge of the Recovery College model
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
About us
Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Employer details
- Employer name: South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
- Address: Springfield University Hospital, 15 Springfield Drive, London, SW17 0YF, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/