Job overview
Do you have lived experience of mental health challenges?
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Part-Time Band 3 Peer Support Worker to join our Structured Clinical Management (SCM) Team, part of the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). 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.
Main duties of the job
As a Peer Support Worker:
* 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.
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
Who We’re Looking For
* Lived Experience: You’ve faced mental health challenges, accessed mental health services, and can reflect on your recovery journey to inspire others.
* Empathy and Resilience: You’re able to connect with people, handle challenging situations professionally, and maintain boundaries while offering support.
* Team Spirit: You’ve worked in a team or group setting and can collaborate effectively with colleagues and service users.
* Reflective Nature: You’re open to supervision and keen to grow by reflecting on your experiences and practice.
Person specification
Education & Qualification
Essential criteria
* Educated to GCSE standard (including English) or equivalent.
* Completion of Accredited Peer Support Worker Training or commitment to completing
Desirable criteria
* Willingness to undertake further training in line with the development of peer support and opportunities to enhance ongoing personal development.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Lived experience of mental health challenges, accessing mental health services for support.
* Awareness of challenges faced by individuals presenting in crisis.
* Wide range of life experiences and the ability to bring a positive viewpoint to others.
* Experience of using a range of self-management tools and techniques for personal wellbeing.
* Belief that people can live a life that is meaningful to them.
Desirable criteria
* Ability to use personal experiences to support others and demonstrate empathy.
* Ability to reflect on experiences and working practice in one-to-one or group settings (as an attendee or facilitator).
* Experience of supporting others to identify and work towards their own goals.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
* Understanding of the issues and concerns of mental health faced by service users 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, validating others’ experiences, listening, and empathising whilst promoting and empowering 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 discrimination.
* 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 of local policies in respect of safeguarding children and adults at risk.
Work Related Circumstances
Essential criteria
* The ability to lone work in line with Trust policies and procedures.
* Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs.
* Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
📝 Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
We understand that some candidates may use AI tools to help prepare their application. This is not restricted, however, any AI support should only be used to enhance your own writing and must reflect your genuine skills and experience. You will be asked to talk about your application at interview. Applications that contain false or misleading information may be removed from the recruitment process.
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 this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.