Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Trust Peer Support Lead

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust Service User and Carer Experience and Engagement Team at GMMH and help us grow our Peer Support Workforce across the Trust in line with our Together Strategy priorities. The successful postholder will join a passionate, creative team who lead our priorities to improve collaborative care, learn from service user and carer experiences, co-produce service improvements with people with lived experience, and co-deliver our services through lived experience roles including peer support roles.

Band 7/8a - Subject to job evaluation

Main duties of the job

This specific postholder will develop and lead the peer support workforce within the Trust. The Peer Support Lead will contribute their 'lived experience', specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting the organisation to deliver peer-led recovery-focused services, optimising the contribution of the trust peer workforce. They will ensure the provision of peer support services offered across GMMH in line with the principles and ethos of co-production, recovery, and social inclusion.

About us

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.

Details

Date posted

16 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

437-7620701

Job locations

The Curve, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust,

Bury New Road, Prestwich

Manchester

M25 3BL


Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification:

  • 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Excellent pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary sacrifice car scheme
  • Wellbeing programme
  • Blue Light Card Discounts

Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification:

  • 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Excellent pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary sacrifice car scheme
  • Wellbeing programme
  • Blue Light Card Discounts

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Master's level in relevant subject, or equivalent experience.
  • Training in Peer Support and Recovery.
  • Involvement in research organisationally or wider.
  • Training in Psychological Interventions

Desirable

  • Leadership training.
  • Teacher training qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Lived experience of mental health challenges; and a willingness to positively share own life experiences
  • Experience as a Peer Support Worker or Peer Support Trainer
  • Significant post qualification experience working in mental health services (statutory or voluntary sector)
  • Experience of leading change and working across organisational boundaries and with a wide range of professional groups at a senior level to achieve a shared goal
  • Experience of analysing organisational or team issues and developing and implementing change strategies
  • Experience of supervising and appraising staff (individual and group)
  • Experience of teaching and facilitating groups

Desirable

  • Management of complex HR issues and workforce planning
  • Experience in strategy development and delivery
  • Experience in guidelines and policy development
  • Experience of coaching

Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent understanding of theory and practice of peer support and the benefits of lived experience within the mental health workforce.
  • Knowledge of how to build community links and networks.
  • Understanding of issues affecting people from different backgrounds and cultures and the impact on their mental health
  • Knowledge of different interventions to support recovery and good mental health
  • Knowledge of the NHS long term plan and the contribution of peer support work
  • Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, including information guidance

Desirable

  • Excellent knowledge of the local area and local services available including public services, community lead services and third sector/charitable services

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form professional relationships with service users, staff, friends and families/carers
  • Effective active listening skills
  • Ability to manage complex behaviours and trauma in a sensitive and safe way
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to engage with and motivate others to widen participation
  • High level of emotional intelligence and the ability to manage competing priorities in a compassionate and professional way
  • Creative with a solution focused approach
  • Excellent facilitation skills
  • Ability to write reports in a professional, informative and succinct way
  • Self-care techniques to keep self psychologically safe

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel between locations across the Trust footprint
  • Able to work flexibly lead by the service and workforce needs
  • Demonstrates a commitment to personal development
  • Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
  • Resilient and able to seek support when needed
Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Master's level in relevant subject, or equivalent experience.
  • Training in Peer Support and Recovery.
  • Involvement in research organisationally or wider.
  • Training in Psychological Interventions

Desirable

  • Leadership training.
  • Teacher training qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Lived experience of mental health challenges; and a willingness to positively share own life experiences
  • Experience as a Peer Support Worker or Peer Support Trainer
  • Significant post qualification experience working in mental health services (statutory or voluntary sector)
  • Experience of leading change and working across organisational boundaries and with a wide range of professional groups at a senior level to achieve a shared goal
  • Experience of analysing organisational or team issues and developing and implementing change strategies
  • Experience of supervising and appraising staff (individual and group)
  • Experience of teaching and facilitating groups

Desirable

  • Management of complex HR issues and workforce planning
  • Experience in strategy development and delivery
  • Experience in guidelines and policy development
  • Experience of coaching

Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent understanding of theory and practice of peer support and the benefits of lived experience within the mental health workforce.
  • Knowledge of how to build community links and networks.
  • Understanding of issues affecting people from different backgrounds and cultures and the impact on their mental health
  • Knowledge of different interventions to support recovery and good mental health
  • Knowledge of the NHS long term plan and the contribution of peer support work
  • Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, including information guidance

Desirable

  • Excellent knowledge of the local area and local services available including public services, community lead services and third sector/charitable services

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form professional relationships with service users, staff, friends and families/carers
  • Effective active listening skills
  • Ability to manage complex behaviours and trauma in a sensitive and safe way
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to engage with and motivate others to widen participation
  • High level of emotional intelligence and the ability to manage competing priorities in a compassionate and professional way
  • Creative with a solution focused approach
  • Excellent facilitation skills
  • Ability to write reports in a professional, informative and succinct way
  • Self-care techniques to keep self psychologically safe

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to travel between locations across the Trust footprint
  • Able to work flexibly lead by the service and workforce needs
  • Demonstrates a commitment to personal development
  • Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
  • Resilient and able to seek support when needed

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

The Curve, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust,

Bury New Road, Prestwich

Manchester

M25 3BL


Employer's website

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT

Address

The Curve, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust,

Bury New Road, Prestwich

Manchester

M25 3BL


Employer's website

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Service User Carer Experience & Engagement

Claire Watson

Claire.Watson@gmmh.nhs.uk

01619385122

Details

Date posted

16 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

437-7620701

Job locations

The Curve, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust,

Bury New Road, Prestwich

Manchester

M25 3BL


Supporting documents

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