Published on: 12th April 2024
People with a learning disability will soon have improved support, thanks to the first peer support workers in Greater Manchester.
Applications are now open for three paid learning disability support worker roles.
Peers support workers will provide emotional and practical support. This includes helping people set and achieve life goals, stay well, and communicate what they think, want, and feel.
Peer support workers will also help to plan and run activities or groups. The overall aim is to help people be healthy, happy, and as independent as possible.
The peer support workers will be paid for their work, complete a qualification, learn lots of new things, develop friendships and feel good about helping others.
The roles have been developed in partnership with Pathways Associates, which provides support and advocacy to people with a learning disability and autism across Greater Manchester.
Gareth is a peer support worker for Pathways Associates. He said: “Peer support is important because it's about using your experience to help others. It helps people move on from where they are.
"Peer support workers can help others to gain more information, confidence, and skills to live a good life.”
Jeremy Bentham, associate director for Pennine Care’s learning disability services, said: “People with lived experience are involved in lots of our work, so we know the valuable role they play.
“We’re the first in Greater Manchester to offer paid peer support roles for learning disability services. It’s taken lots of time and collaboration to get the roles just right, so we’re really excited we can finally start welcoming applications and taking the next step in our service transformation journey.”
How to apply
You can apply if you are aged over 18 years and have a learning disability or you have used a learning disability service before.
The deadline for applications is 25 April 2024.
You may be invited for an interview to see if you are right for the job.
If you are not successful, you can still get involved in other opportunities.
It’s likely there will be more paid roles in the future, as we want to have a peer support worker in every service.
More information is available in easy read format; supported by a short animation: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/peersupport