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 offer an exciting opportunity for a Full Time Band 3 Peer Support Worker to join our Structured Clinical Management (SCM) Team in Oldham. The SCM Team supports individuals with complex emotional and relational needs. We offer an evidence-based treatment over 12-18 months, including one-to-one sessions and skills groups. If you’re motivated, empathetic, and have personal experience with mental health difficulties—including using mental health services—we’d love for you to bring your unique perspective to our team.
As a Peer Support Worker, you will work with individuals facing complex emotional and relational needs, drawing on your own recovery journey to offer hope, understanding, and practical support. You will empower service users to take greater control and responsibility over their own wellbeing and to successfully achieve their personal goals.
Our clinical leads recommend taking a period of approximately 12 months after completing a CERN intervention (e.g. SCM) to consolidate gains made, prior to applying for this Peer Support Worker role. This is a recommendation, and all applications will be reviewed on an individual basis.
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
* Support Recovery: Use your lived experience to provide emotional and practical support, helping service users identify and work towards their personal goals.
* Build Connections: Offer empathy and companionship, working one-on-one and in groups to empower individuals and reduce feelings of isolation.
* Share Self-Management Tools: Draw on the techniques you’ve used to manage your own wellbeing and share these with others in a hopeful, strengths-based way.
* Be a Role Model: Inspire belief in recovery by modelling wellbeing and acting as an ambassador for service users within our team.
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.
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
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.’
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.
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.