Apply for a Parent Carer Peer Support Worker Grant

Grant Funding Opportunity for Parent Carer Peer Support Workers

Charlie Waller Trust invites applications from PLACE Member organisations for funding to contribute to the salary of, and free training for, a lived experience parent/carer peer support (PCPS) worker in their children and young people’s mental health support system. This grant can be used to fund a worker who is already employed or to appoint a new Parent Carer Peer Support Worker (PCPSW).

Our aim is to support the expansion of PCPS as an essential aspect of local service models across all pathways, from early intervention and signposting through to crisis and home treatment. We believe that the support PCPS workers can offer families and their positive impact on the mental health of children, parents, and carers, and any services they work alongside, is best delivered by PCPS services working in an integrated way with other local CYPMHS.

We believe that PCPS should be led by lived experience and professionally supported.Although this grant can be used to fund a worker who could be employed by an existing or new Parent Carer Peer support group, within the voluntary sector, statutory sector, such as an NHS Trust, Local Authority Children’s Service, or within Education, they must be supported by professionals from their local CYPMHS.

What is the Charlie Waller Trust offering?

  • Funding for two services to contribute to the salary of a part-time PCPS worker for three years. We estimate that the funds available to each site of £12,000 per annum would fund 16 hours per week at the entry point of NHS Agenda for Change 3 or 18 hours per week at B4. The successful organisations will need to fund on-costs, extra hours if required and salary progression year on year.
  • Fully funded training for the PCPSW and their CYPMH Professional Supervisor
  • An opportunity to support the growth of the PCPS workforce and to promote your service as one that offers live experience support to families.

Getting started with your application

The Charlie Waller Trust is committed to ensuring the posts can be integrated flexibly to help meet the needs of your local community. The eligibility criteria and commitments for the Grant Funding can be downloaded below.

Applications are to be made by the employing organisation in partnership with a parent or carer and will close on Friday 28 November.

Grant application outcome decisions will be shared on or before Tuesday 9 December.

As part of the grant funding award process, we may arrange a brief interview with you.

Please note, once your online application has started, you cannot save and return to your application.  

Want to view the application questions before you apply online?

To help you to prepare for and structure your responses to your application, below we have provided you with a copy of the grant application questions.

Download a copy of the grant application questions for organisations that fall outside of CYPMH NHS Services.

Download (PDF opens in new tab)

Download a copy of the grant application questions for CYPMH NHS Services.

Download (PDF opens in new tab)

 

Apply for grant funding

For applications from organisations that fall outside of CYPMH NHS Services, such as VSCE Services, Education-Based Services, Local Authority Children’s Services, and Acute NHS Trusts, please submit your application by completing application form 001 below.

Complete application

For applications from CYPMH NHS Service, please submit your application by completing application form 002 below.

Complete application

More about the Grant funding

With support from our donors, the Trust has already part-funded three part-time parent/carer peer support workers over the last three years to support local parents and carers. Positive outcomes included directly supporting more than 1400 families, achieving high user and professional satisfaction, and reducing the use of GPs and A&E by families now better able to cope.

Over the next three years, we will fund a further two sites to help more families support the needs of their child with greater confidence, and continue to build the evidence base for a PCPS model that can be rolled out nationally.

The two part-time individual PCPSWs will be funded for three years from the date their application is successful. These individuals will support a caseload of parents and carers in their locality. Based on data from existing sites, it is envisaged they will deliver:

  • Weekly group support
  • Individual work such as walk & talk sessions, moral support, sharing tips & ideas, help to navigate the system, and support in professional meetings.
  • Social media peer support
  • Psychoeducation training and involvement opportunities - for example working with local CYPMH services to understand the importance of involving parents appropriately in the care of their child, with local schools and FE colleges to explain the issues from a parent’s perspective.

New parent carer peer supporters will be offered places on the next available Parent Carer Peer Support Workers training program.

Successful organisations will be asked to support the growth of the workforce by presenting to services and commissioners regarding their model, and will be integral members of the PLACE Network. Data from successful sites, including case studies, will contribute to briefings and presentations by the Charlie Waller Trust.

The Charlie Waller Trust recognises that our Lived Experience Partners (LXPs), by virtue of their prior involvement with the Trust, awareness of the previous grant funding, and knowledge of our successful bid for an additional three years of funding, may wish to apply for one of the three available Parent Carer Peer Support Worker grants.  

As we will be working alongside an LXP during the initial project setup phase, this situation presents a potential conflict of interest. To ensure a fair, transparent, and equitable process for all applicants, the following measures will be implemented:  

  • Decision-Making Exclusion: The LXP will not be involved in any decision-making regarding the criteria of the application process.   

  • Independent and Anonymous Shortlisting: All applications will be anonymised and shortlisted by individuals outside the Families Team to reduce the risk of unconscious or conscious bias.   

  • Open Communication: Any applicant interested in applying for a grant is welcome to contact the project team with questions prior to submitting their application.  

These steps are designed to uphold the integrity of the process and maintain trust among all stakeholders.