About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 3 apprenticeship trains peer workers - people with lived experience of mental health, substance use, or other challenges - to support others in their recovery. You will use your own experience as a therapeutic tool while working alongside clinical teams in health or social care settings. It can lead to senior peer worker roles, care coordination, or further professional qualifications in mental health.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Using lived experience constructively and professionally in support roles
Recovery-focused approaches and person-centred support
Boundaries, self-care, and wellbeing in peer work
Mental health, substance use, and trauma-informed practice
Co-production and working within multidisciplinary teams
Risk awareness and safeguarding in health and social care
Equality, diversity, and inclusion in peer support practice
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Build trusting relationships with people using your own lived experience
Support individuals to set and work towards personal recovery goals
Facilitate peer support groups or one-to-one sessions
Contribute to care planning and review meetings alongside clinical staff
Help people navigate services and access community support
Maintain accurate records of support provided
Attend supervision and reflective practice sessions regularly
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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