Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated peer mentor to join our community mental health service in the Wigan Borough called Living Well. The Living Well Service enables timely access to mental health services and provides support for people who might not traditionally meet the threshold or criteria of existing mental health services. The team is multidisciplinary and works in partnership with local VCFSE organisations.
The role of Peer Mentor has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health or a dual diagnosis such as mental health and substance misuse/Learning Difficulties/Autism to support others who may benefit from peer support in addition to other
treatment and interventions.
You will be supported by members of the leadership team including a peer mentor co-ordinator, team leader, operational programme manager and clinical lead. CPD opportunities are available and personal interests/skills will be supported to develop and grow. There is also an expectation that you will be involved in the on-going development of Peer Mentor/Support Worker roles at the Trust.
The Wigan Living Well Service is compassionately led, trauma informed, and recovery focused. Living Well has co-produced key values and principles that all staff and peers share.
As a result, our model is humanistic and person-centred. Our core values are based on creating open, honest, safe spaces and conversations where all people’s strengths are valued.
Main duties of the job
As a Peer Mentor you will act as a role model, mentor, and ambassador for Living Well in both clinical and non-clinical environments across a range of community settings. Through sharing wisdom from your own experiences, you will inspire hope and belief that living well is possible in others.
In this role you will also support and promote recovery from mental health as a user led concept. Emphasise hope and optimism, inspiring individuals to achieve their aspirations/goals. Value experiential learning alongside other people. Focus on strengths rather than deficits. Foster collaboration between those who need support and those who support them. Enable, and promote autonomy and self-management.
You will be required to document appointments held with the people we support and, therefore, require a basic understanding of computer systems ie, Microsoft office.
The successful candidate will be able to identify relevant information and document this accordingly in a clear, concise and timely manner.
Please note, this is a community based role and, as such, requires you to travel to various locations day to day,. The ability to travel to a range of locations within the service delivery footprint to attend sessions or appointments is essential.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 160 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
1. Pay Enhancements
2. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
3. Excellent pension
4. Cycle to work scheme
5. Salary sacrifice car scheme
6. Wellbeing programme
7. fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)
Person specification
Education/Qualification
Essential criteria
8. Competent in Maths and English at Level 1 Functional Skills (equivalent to GCSE grade D-E) and willing to work towards Level 2 (GCSE grade A-C)
9. Has undertaken the Trust Level 2 Award in Peer Support Work or is willing to do so as soon as the position is offered / or completed equivalent programme.
10. Competent in basic Microsoft Office applications, e-mail, Word, Teams.
Desirable criteria
11. Completed group facilitation skills training.
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Lived experience of mental health problems and/or dual diagnosis and have had a period of mental health stability.
13. Experience of accessing services and actively contributing to own treatment/interventions to support own recovery.
14. Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid).
Desirable criteria
15. Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
16. Experience of training others in the role of peer mentors and personal journeys to recovery.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
17. Demonstrate a basic understanding of various mental health conditions
18. Demonstrate an understanding of Peer Support.
19. Demonstrate an understanding of professional boundaries.
20. Have a basic awareness of equal opportunities legislation and understand the importance of recognising and respecting diversity and promoting inclusion.
21. Have a basic awareness of policies and procedures in relation to confidentiality, information sharing, and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Desirable criteria
22. Knowledge and understanding of the Trauma Informed Care Agenda in mental health.
23. Basic knowledge of psychosocial interventions, motivational interviewing.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
24. Communicate effectively with a wide range of people including people who use services, carers, other professionals, and members of the public.
25. Share own experiences appropriately in order to work in a trauma informed way, validating other’s experiences, listening and empathising, whilst promoting and empowering hope.
26. Motivate others and promote choice and empowerment
27. Handle challenging situations and behave in a professional manner.
28. Aware of the limits of own competence, and responsibilities and know when to consult with or seek support from others.
29. Show commitment to one’s own professional development.
Desirable criteria
30. Group work skills.
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
31. Ability to travel to a range of locations daily within the service delivery footprint to attend sessions or meetings in a timely and efficient manner.
Desirable criteria
32. Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
33. Ability to drive and access to a vehicle
The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.
The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.
We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.
Sponsorship
We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click .
If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.
The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it.
Do you have experience outside the NHS?
We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.
We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.