Lived Experience Carer Voice Representative

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities.

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

What’s the Role

Lewisham Council is seeking to recruit four unpaid carers, one from each neighbourhood, to become Lived Experience Carer Voice Representatives. This flexible, paid role offers an opportunity for carers to use their personal experience to help shape local services, represent the views of unpaid carers, and influence decision-making across health, social care and community support in Lewisham.

Working alongside the Council, NHS and voluntary sector partners, representatives will champion the voice of carers through engagement, co-production and community networking. The role is open to people with lived experience of caring who are passionate about improving support for carers and ensuring that diverse voices are heard. Full details of the role, eligibility criteria, remuneration, application process and key dates are set out in the advert below.

This is a Claims -Based Role. There are 4 roles available. One per neighbourhood.

Job Advert – Lived Experience Carer Voice Role

London Borough of Lewisham

Lived Experience Carer Voice (4 roles available – one per neighbourhood)

Claims-based contract - Approx. 5 - 16 hours per month - 6-month term

Hourly rate: £15.00 (or voucher scheme available)

About the role

Lewisham Council is looking to recruit unpaid carers from across the borough to take on a new Lived Experience Carer Voice role. This is a unique opportunity to use your lived experience of caring to help shape services, influence decision-making, and improve support for unpaid carers.

This is a flexible, part-time role (approximately 5–16 hours per month), supporting key meetings, engagement activity, and partnership working across Lewisham.

The role is not a clinical or support role and does not involve casework. Instead, it focuses on engagement, co-production, and representing the views of carers.

In this role, you will:

• Act as a voice for unpaid carers in your neighbourhood
• Gather and represent carers’ views to inform council decisions
• Help shape the Lewisham Carers Forum agenda and discussions
• Build connections with local carer groups and community networks

Support partnership working with organisations such as:

• NHS South East London ICB
• Voluntary sector providers (e.g. Imago)

• Promote awareness, recognition and visibility of carers
• Support co-production activities and engagement across diverse communities

Who we are looking for

We particularly welcome applications from individuals who:

• Have lived experience as an unpaid carer
• Live in one of Lewisham’s four neighbourhoods
• Are passionate about improving support for carers
• Are confident engaging with a wide range of people and partners
• Have experience (formal or informal) of community engagement, listening, or co-production
• Value equality, diversity and inclusion and can help ensure all voices are heard

What we offer

• Flexible, claims-based working arrangements
• Induction, training and ongoing support
• Opportunity to influence local services
• Experience of working with council, NHS and voluntary sector partners
• A chance to make a meaningful difference for carers in Lewisham

Important information about this role

This is a claims-based recruitment process.

• Applicants do not need to complete a standard application form

Instead, you are required to submit:

• An up-to-date CV
• A supporting statement explaining how you meet the role requirements, not exceeding 1000 words.

How to apply

Please send your CV and supporting statement to: [email protected]

Please do not apply via Lewisham council website.

Your supporting statement should clearly explain:

Your experience as an unpaid carer

• Your connection to your local community in Lewisham and which neighbourhood you will be able represent
• How you would represent the voice of carers
• Any experience of engagement, listening, or working with groups

Application deadline - Tuesday 25th August at 5.00pm

Interviews will be on Thursday 3rd September 2026. We aim for the interviews to be online but can offer an in-person meeting if preferred (at The Albany in Deptford), please indicate your preference when submitting your application.

We propose the successful applicants will start in the role on 21 September 2026.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact [email protected].

Please click here to view the Job Description and Personal Specification.

Salary

£15.00 per hour (or voucher scheme available)

Additional information

Lewisham Council is committed to equality and diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be supported throughout the recruitment process where required.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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