We are looking for a Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user with lived experience of mental health services to join the John Denmark Unit as a Peer Support Worker.
Working alongside the Senior Peer Support Worker and the wider multi-disciplinary team, you will provide practical, emotional and recovery-focused support, help improve access to accessible information and communication, and act as a positive Deaf role model within both inpatient and community settings.
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Main duties of the job
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about recovery, inclusion and empowering others to build confidence, independence and hope
This is a unique opportunity to use your personal experience, insight and recovery journey to support Deaf people with mental health needs, including those who may also have additional needs such as autism, learning difficulties or substance misuse
The Peer Support Worker will use their lived experience and Deaf identity to provide practical, emotional and recovery-focused support to Deaf people accessing the John Denmark Unit.
The role includes building supportive peer relationships, helping individuals identify strengths and goals, promoting hope and self-management, and supporting access to community opportunities and Deaf networks.
The post holder will also work closely with the wider multi-disciplinary team to improve accessible communication, contribute to recovery-focused care planning, maintain clear records, and support the ongoing development of peer support within Deaf mental health services.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 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 read the job description and person specification for full details.
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
- 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. Competent in Maths and English with a willingness to work towards 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) as appropriate. Competent in basic Microsoft Office applications e.g. e-mail, Word, Teams. Capable of using the world wide web to search for information. Demonstrate Fluent British Sign Language (BSL) skills.
Experience
- Personal lived experiences of mental health difficulties and knowledge of Deaf mental health services. Experience of accessing services and actively contributing to own treatment/interventions to support own recovery
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Has experience/knowledge of inpatient deaf specific mental health services. Experience of actively supporting peers/individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting (paid or unpaid
Knowledge and Skills
- Be a Deaf BSL user, with excellent BSL skills. Be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including; service users, carers, other professionals, and members of the public. Willingness to share their own experiences appropriately in order to work in a trauma informed way, validating others experiences, listening and empathising, whilst promoting and empowering hope. Able to motivate others and promote choice and empowerment. Be able to handle challenging situations and behave in a professional manner.Demonstrate an understanding of what Peer Support work is. Demonstrate an understanding of professional boundaries. Knowledge of how to links with the deaf community and networks to support service users. Have a basic awareness of equal opportunities legislation and understand the importance of recognising and respecting diversity and promoting inclusion. Have a basic awareness of policies and procedures in relation to confidentiality, information sharing, and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
- Basic psychosocial intervention skills e.g. Motivational Interviewing, Behavioural Activation, Node Link Mapping, Solution Focussed Approaches Group work skills
Important Information about working for GMMH:
All positions within the Trust are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, for further information on the checks required please visit the NHS Employers website www.nhsemployers.org
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 – clickhere .
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 here .
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.
Please note, this vacancy may be closed at any time if sufficient applications have been received
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.
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