Published on: 19th June 2024
We're the first in Greater Manchester to recruit dedicated learning disability peer support workers. Together they'll care for some oof the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Four people have been appointed to the brand-new roles, which are part of our learning disability care hub.
The new recruits all have a learning disability or have used learning disability services.
Using their personal experiences, they’ll help service users set and achieve life goals, stay well, communicate what they think, want, and feel, and get involved with activities and groups. They’ll work across all our learning disability teams and help with service improvement projects.
The part-time roles are paid, and they’ll benefit from support to complete a qualification, learn lots of new things and develop new friendships.
Hello from Maddie
Maddie Wareing, 27, from Rochdale (pictured) is one of our new peer support workers. She said: “I’m really excited to be a new peer support worker. I really want to help other people with a learning disability, like me, to have a voice in their support. I have lived experience and I feel I can understand their needs and wants.”
In addition to the new roles, a lived experience group has been set up. Four other people who applied for the roles have agreed to join and will play an important role in shaping improvements.
Karen Maneely, network director of operations for specialist services, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our four new peer support workers. They’ll work with teams across our five boroughs and play a vital role in helping people achieve their full potential and lead happy and fulfilled lives.
“The roles received lots of interest from some exceptional people. One of our big ambitions is to have people with lived experience shaping every decision, so it’s great they’ve agreed to join our new lived experience group.
“We’re looking forward to working with them and making improvements based on their valuable knowledge and experiences. In return, we can provide them with valuable volunteering experience and new skills.”
The new recruits join 15 mental health peer support workers, who have been supporting a range of our adult and older people’s mental health services since 2022.
James Stephens, our peer support worker programme manager, said: “‘It’s fantastic our team of peer support workers has expanded to cover learning disability services. Our peers make a really positive difference using their lived experience to support people, and this will be especially true in these exciting new roles.”