Join LENs
Bring your lived experience to work that can use it
Have you used health or social care services, or cared for someone who does? You can apply to join LENs as an Expert by Experience.
You will use what you have learned to help services get better. This is paid work, and we support you while you do it.
Paid Expert by Experience work with LENs
It is paid
You are paid for every piece of work. We agree the rate with you before you start.
No qualifications needed
What matters is your lived experience, and being willing to listen as well as share.
Support around you
Regular check-ins, team meetings and peer supervision with other Experts by Experience.
What the role means
What is an Expert by Experience?
An Expert by Experience knows about health or social care from their own life. You might have been a patient, used a service, or cared for someone who did.
You only speak for yourself. Nobody expects you to speak for every patient or carer.
You do not need any qualifications to apply. What matters is your lived experience, and being willing to listen as well as share.
You can read more about what an Expert by Experience is before you apply.
Who can apply
Your experience is what counts
You can apply if you have lived experience of:
- being a patient in a health or social care setting
- using health, mental health, autism, learning disability, social care or related services
- caring for or supporting someone who uses services
Unpaid carers are welcome. So are people who have stayed in hospital as an in-patient, including in secure care. If you have been in hospital, we will ask roughly when you left. It is never an automatic no.
Different work needs different experience, so not every piece of work will suit everyone. Applying does not promise you work.
Ways to take part
What the work can look like
- 01Visiting a service and helping to review it
- 02Listening to feedback from patients and carers
- 03Joining an advisory board or steering group
- 04Helping to redesign a service in a workshop
- 05Reviewing policies, leaflets, training or other documents
- 06Helping with interviews, focus groups or research
- 07Testing a product, service or website
- 08Speaking at a training session, panel or event
- 09Working in an agreed role inside an organisation
Work can be in person, online or both. In some roles, LENs employs you and you work inside another organisation. Other work is a single piece of work. We always explain how it will work before you say yes.
Pay, support and adjustments
Paid work, with support around you
Pay
You are paid for every piece of work. We agree the rate with you before you start.
Pay goes through payroll and includes holiday pay. We also pay agreed travel and expenses.
If you get benefits, talk to us before you start, because paid work can affect some benefits. You can check for free with the Turn2us benefits calculator (opens in a new tab).
Support
You will not be on your own. You get regular check-ins with a manager, team meetings, and peer supervision with other Experts by Experience.
You can also make a wellbeing plan with us. It says what helps you when things are hard.
Adjustments
Tell us what helps you take part. We make reasonable adjustments, like changing how we contact you, how meetings run, or how much time you have.
You can tell us when you apply, or at any time after.
Need help now?
LENs cannot give urgent help. If you need to talk to someone now, call:
- Samaritans: 116 123free, day or night
- NHS 111: 111choose option 2 for mental health (England and Wales)
- Emergency: 999or go to A&E if a life is in danger
After you apply
What happens after you apply
01
Fill in a short form
It takes about a minute to give us your contact details. Then you answer a few questions about your lived experience. You can save it and come back later. You do not need a CV.
02
We read it
We look at whether your experience fits the kinds of work we do. We may get in touch to find out more.
03
We do some checks
If we go ahead, we check your identity and right to work, ask for references and do a DBS (criminal record) check. We explain each step as we go.
04
We match you to work
When there is work that fits your experience, we tell you what it involves and ask if you would like to do it.
Frequently asked questions
Joining LENs FAQs
Is the work paid?
Yes. You are paid for every piece of work, at a rate we agree with you before you start. Pay goes through payroll and includes holiday pay. We also pay agreed travel and expenses.
Will working affect my benefits?
It might. Talk to us before you start. You can also check for free with the Turn2us benefits calculator, or ask a benefits adviser.
Do I need to have worked in health or social care?
No. What counts is your lived experience as a patient, as someone who uses services, or as a carer. A few roles need extra skills, and we will tell you if so.
Does my experience have to be recent?
Not always. It depends on the work. Tell us enough for us to see where your experience could fit.
Do I have to share my whole story?
No. You choose what to share. We will talk with you about what is useful for each piece of work.
Will I speak for all patients or carers?
No. You bring your own experience. Nobody can speak for everyone.
Is the work in person or online?
It can be either, or both. It depends on the work.
Who will employ me?
Some Experts by Experience are employed by LENs and work inside another organisation. Other work is a single piece of work. We explain how it works before you agree.
Are there checks before I start?
Yes. We check your right to work, ask for references and do a DBS check. Some roles may need more.
Does applying mean I will get work?
No. Work depends on the projects we have and the experience each one needs.
How do I apply?
Press the "Apply to join LENs" button on this page and fill in the short form. If you have a question first, email info@lens-network.com.
Want to know how LENs looks after the people it works with? Read How to support and supervise Experts by Experience ethically.
Apply to join LENs
It takes about a minute to give us your details, then a few questions about your lived experience. You do not need a CV or a formal application.
Apply to join LENs