Job overview
Do you have lived experience of mental health difficulties?
Would you like to use this experience to support others?
We are delighted to be advertising this new opportunity for two full-time roles for Band 3 Peer Support Workers. We are looking for individuals who are proactive and enthusiastic with lived experience of mental health challenges to join our male low secure units, Prospect Place (Rochdale) & Tatton Unit (Tameside).
The Peer Support Worker role has been developed specifically for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties. If you have lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties, including experience of inpatient/ward based mental health services and drug and alcohol difficulties, then this role could be for you.
As a Peer Support Worker, you will work directly alongside service users on a 1:1 and/or group basis. This will primarily be on the ward but sometimes you may also work with service users out in the community when they are utilising Section 17 leave.
As a Peer Support Worker, you will be acting as a role model by sharing your own lived experience of navigating mental health difficulties, inspiring hope and optimism to demonstrate that a positive and meaningful life is possible. You will empower service users to take greater control and responsibility over their own care and to successfully achieve their personal goals.
Part time and flexible working could be considered for this role.
Full details of the job role and responsibilities can be found in the job description.
Main duties of the job
· The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users’ and their carers and have a clear understanding of professional boundaries.
· To act as a positive role model, showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards service users, their families and carers and colleagues, always demonstrating the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust values.
· To use active listening skills to help service users develop self – understanding and identify their personal recovery goals.
· Ensure your peer’s goals are integrated and are reviewed on a regular basis, liaising with the multi – disciplinary team as necessary.
· To communicate effectively with individuals and their carers.
· Model personal responsibility, self – awareness, self – belief, self – advocacy and hopefulness via the telling of own recovery journey to inspire and install confidence in peers.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
* Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
* Access to Continued Professional Development
* Involvement in improvement and research activities
* Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
* Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· To raise awareness of a strengths - based approach and associated language modelling positive strengths based, non – discriminatory, non – jargon, trauma informed language in all areas of work.
· Participating as a co – facilitator on more structured and formal group – based interventions.
· Through their interaction with service users advise staff of changes in risk, mental health and/or behaviour.
· Prioritise, manage and monitor own workload and handle the day-to-day organisation of workload with the support of the Team Manager.
· To accompany service users to appointments/meetings of their choice and perform a range of practical tasks, aligned to recovery goals and promote choice at all times.
· To facilitate access to community groups and networks that enable service users to participate in community activities, in order to maximise opportunities for taking on socially valued roles and positive identify.
· To be available for 1:1 sessions with service users when not engaged in structured/planned activities.
· To support individual service users to collaboratively write up their care plans with qualified practitioners and identify their needs, goals and hopes for the future.
· To support individual service users to work on identified needs in their personal care plans, utilising and celebrating their strengths and reviewing their progress.
· To offer support to attend clinical review meetings and empower service users to feedback progress on their recovery goals. To offer support to empower individuals to work towards leading on their own clinical review meetings.
· Share/ teach coping, self – help and self-management techniques within the peer relationship.
· Use own initiative, personal experience and job-related training in deciding on the approach and interventions required when working with a service user in delivering peer support, with supervision from the multi – disciplinary team.
· Support other members of the multi – disciplinary team in promoting a recovery orientated environment and in identifying recovery focused activities facilitating the sharing of information/education as required.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
* GCSE English to GCSE standard or equivalent.
* Commitment to completing or completion of Accredited Peer Support Worker training course.
Desirable criteria
* •Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support
Experience
Essential criteria
* Lived experience of mental health challenges, accessing mental health services for support and an ability to reflect on these experiences.
* Wide range of life experiences and the ability to bring a positive viewpoint to others
* Experience of using a range of selfmanagement tools and techniques for personal wellbeing.
* Experience of being part of a team or group environment.
* Belief that people can live a life that is meaningful to them.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of reflecting on own experiences and working practices in oneto-one or group settings (as an attendee or facilitator)
* Experience of supporting others to identify and work towards their own goals.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy.
* Awareness of challenges faced by individuals presenting in crisis.
* Ability to understand the perspectives of service user’s and their families.
* Ability to handle challenging situations and behave in a professional manner, including the ability to manage own emotional response in the face of others’ distress
* Ability to work in a trauma informed way through validating others’ experiences, listening, and empathising whilst inspiring hope.
* Demonstrate a clear understanding of professional and personal boundaries in relation to sharing of recovery stories
* Demonstrate an understanding of the value of peer support work and the impact of stigma and discriminationq
* Ability to reflect on practice and willingness to engage in regular group and individual supervision.
* Excellent written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills.
* Computer literate and willingness to learn record keeping systems.
* Ability to prioritise workload
Desirable criteria
* Understanding of person-centred and recovery focused practice.
* Knowledge and understanding of the diverse cultures and communities the Trust serves.
* The ability to work in an enabling and creative way, where the service user is the expert in their own recovery
* Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and adults at risk.
📝 Application support - We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.
✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with. These include:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.
If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.
🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -
The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
📣 Additional Information -
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.
If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.
Please note:
* We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
* We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181