Volunteering

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities or additional needs. We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of the people we support and welcome applications from individuals across all the communities we serve. Volunteers, like all people in the NHS workforce, are required to undertake recruitment checks, which include:

• right to work in the UK
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
• occupational health
• appropriate references

Please note that having something on your DBS does not automatically stop you volunteering - the Trust simply completes a risk assessment.

You’ll start by looking at volunteering opportunities available. When we have a vacancy, we list it here on our website.  When you find a role you like, you’ll complete a short application form, which you can download to apply. Pay particular attention to the requirements for the role. Once your application has been reviewed, you may be invited for an informal chat or interview to help us get to know you.

To keep everyone safe, all volunteers complete standard pre-volunteering checks outlined in the previous ‘Who can volunteer?’ section before starting. Our team can support and guide you through the recruitment process to complete these requirements.     

A volunteer role description will be available for you to review before completing your application form. This outlines duties, boundaries and requirements of the role you are applying for. A volunteer role enhances (but does not replace) paid staff.

At GMMH, we are committed to providing you with the required training, induction and support to enable you to work safely in an NHS environment as a volunteer. A named member of staff will be identified to support and supervise you. This helps ensure the volunteering experience is meaningful for you and supports safe practice for all, as our service users are often vulnerable adults and children. 

Once you have returned your completed application form to the contact detailed in the advertisement by the closing date, the process can generally take six to eight weeks, but sometimes longer. This includes time to receive clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), health checks and appropriate references. Before you start, you’ll complete some essential training and sign your Volunteer Agreement – which is a shared understanding of what you can expect from GMMH and what the Trust expects from you.

Service: Achieve Drug & Alcohol Treatment & Recovery Service

Location: Achieve Sites in Bury, Salford and/or Trafford

Supervisor: Jill Siddle

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Role Purpose

 To use your own lived experience, to offer harm reduction interventions, support and advocacy to substance users accessing the Needle and Syringe Exchange. To encourage those not already accessing, to engage with structured treatment and recovery options. To work under the direction of the Harm Reduction Lead.

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Key Responsibilities

Professional Responsibilities & Support

• Develop harm reduction interventions: Promote engagement under the direction of the Harm reduction Lead or clinical team.
• Carry out harm reduction equipment exchanges: Offer harm reduction interventions, support, and advocacy to substance users accessing or seeking to access substance use services
• Deliver recovery interventions: Assist GMMH staff in the community, including joint home visits.
• Organise service activities: Encourage service user / community member suggestions and help put their ideas into practice.
• Access community resources: Assist and encourage service users to utilize outside support.
• Manage new referrals: Gather information both face-to-face and over the phone.
• Publicise recovery opportunities: Support colleagues and liaise with external agencies regarding access criteria.
• Deliver information sessions: Support and facilitate presentations as required. 

  Clinical Safety & Risk Management

  Practice safe working: Follow community procedures and alert relevant authorities when required.

• Report concerns immediately: Escalate any potential risks directly to a GMMH colleague.
• Minimise lifestyle risks: Support service users to adopt safer practices and healthier habits.
• Staff needle exchanges: Maintain sufficient stock levels and identify when to reorder supplies.
• Manage healthcare referrals: Connect users to primary and secondary care for health problems and blood-borne viruses.
• Tailor vulnerable support: Enable high-risk users to attend appointments and interventions.

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Person Specification (Requirements for the Role)

Essential Criteria and Experience

• Lived experience: Possess personal experience of the effects of substance use.
• Support experience: Provide previous support to vulnerable or socially excluded individuals.
• Core values: Demonstrate respect, compassion, dignity, and a commitment to equal opportunities.
• Communication skills: Possess strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Teamwork: Work collaboratively and effectively as part of a team.

  Knowledge and Understandings

• Recovery process: Understand how to motivate and encourage service users through recovery.
• Professional boundaries: Maintain clear boundaries, confidentiality, and proper information sharing.
• Safeguarding: Comprehend basic safeguarding protocols for vulnerable adults and children.
• Digital literacy: Utilise basic IT skills, including email and online platforms.

  Mandatory Training and Development

• Peer training: Complete the GMMH Level 2 Peer Worker training course.
• Core compliance: Finish all mandatory training within 4 weeks of starting.
• Onboarding: Complete the local induction and any role-specific training.
• Specialised training: Complete or show willingness to take harm reduction and group work facilitation training.

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If you are interested in applying for this voluntary role, please complete the application form in the link below and email it to: Jill.Siddle@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755  

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This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

Please note: We strongly recommend that you check with the Benefits Agency that your commitment to volunteering does not penalise you in any way and does not affect your benefits. 

This role is unpaid, however, we will refund all travel expenses for training and volunteering in line with Trust Policy.

Role: Volunteer Carer Peer Mentor - Group Co-Facilitator

Service: Salford Early Intervention Team

Location: Wesley St, Salford

Supervisor: Rosie Mentiplay

 

Role Summary/Purpose

GMMH Salford Early Intervention Team work with people aged between 14 and 65 who have experienced a first episode of psychosis.

Each team has a range of roles to support service users and their families, including nurses, social workers, support workers, psychologists and psychiatrists.  An exciting opportunity has arisen to embed Volunteer Carer Peer Mentors into these diverse teams. 

  It is part of the NHS 10 Year Long Term Plan to integrate people with lived experience of mental health difficulties themselves into the workforce.  This includes people with lived experience of caring for somebody with mental health (including dementia) and/or addiction difficulties.

Carers, family/friends of our service users tell us that they would welcome support from someone who has experience of what they are going through in order to help them increase their resilience, develop support networks and to continue caring. 

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

 

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Thank you for your interest in this role. As part of the role we require you to:

·       Be available for at least 2 hours per week (hours are negotiable as this is a volunteer role but for continuity, we would ask for a weekly commitment)

·       Co-facilitate a group for service users and carers using your own lived experience of being a carer of somebody with mental health difficulties

·       Attend and complete our in-house Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship (8 weeks, 1 day per week)

·       To respect individual’s rights to choose the interventions/support networks that will help and support them in their own caring journey

·       To support people in these interventions via a group-based activity.

·       To comply with all Trust policies and procedures but in particular in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, and information sharing

·       To work as part of the Salford Early Intervention Team and receive and share information within that team in order to safeguard individuals and support them to work towards their goals

 

Requirements for the Role:

 

In order to fulfil the duties of this role we ask that you:

 

·       Have your own lived experience of being a carer of somebody with mental health difficulties.

·       Can commit to at least 2 hours per week as a volunteer

·       Can commit to the Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

·       Have a basic understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children

·       Have a basic understanding of confidentiality and information sharing legislation

·       Have a basic understanding of professional boundaries

·       Have respect and compassion for others and their right to choose and to be treated with dignity

·       Have good communication skills

·       Be willing to work as part of a team

This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

 

If you would like to apply for this voluntary role please complete the email below and email it to Rosie Mentiplay:

Rosie.Mentiplay@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755

 

Please note: we strongly recommend that you check with the Benefits Agency that your commitment to volunteering does not penalise you in any way and does not affect your benefits.

This role is unpaid, however, we will refund all travel expenses for training and volunteering in line with Trust Policy.

Service: Acute Inpatients and PICU – Adults of Working Age

Location: Meadowbrook, Salford

Supervisor: Senior Practitioner for Occupational Therapy

 

Role Summary/Purpose

GMMH Salford Inpatient Teams are there to support people experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties. Each team has a range of roles to support service users and their families, including nurses, social workers, support workers, psychologists and psychiatrists.

It is part of the NHS Long Term Plan to integrate people with lived experience of mental health difficulties into the workforce. This includes people with lived experience of supporting or caring for somebody with mental health (including dementia) and/or addiction difficulties. Carers, family members and friends of our service users tell us that they value speaking with someone who understands the realities of caring and the challenges that can come with supporting a loved one through difficult times.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to embed a Volunteer Carer Peer Mentor across the Wards at Meadowbrook. Carer Peer Mentors use their lived experience of caring to provide understanding, encouragement and hope to other carers. They offer a listening ear, share their own experiences where appropriate, help carers identify sources of support, and promote resilience, wellbeing and connection at what can often be a stressful and overwhelming time.

Meadowbrook consists of three Acute Wards and one Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU):

• Keats – Female – 18 beds
• MacColl – Male – 18 beds
• Eagleton – Male – 19 beds
• Chaucer – PICU – Male – 8 beds

 

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Thank you for your interest in this role. 

Currently, the service can offer commitment of 3 – 12 hours a week to our volunteers. To ensure adequate supervision, a maximum of 3-4 volunteer hours per day, 3 days a week can be supported.

Support from the team:

·       You will work alongside ward staff and the Therapy Team

·       You will receive regular supervision and support in line with Trust Policy  via the Therapy Team.

·       You will be invited and encouraged to attend relevant AHP team meetings,  volunteer forums and other service meetings where appropriate.

As Part of the Role We Require You To:

Hours and Commitment

·       Be available for at least half a day per week (3-4 hours). Hours are negotiable as this is a volunteer role, however for continuity we ask for a regular weekly commitment.

·       Attend and complete our in-house Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship and any additional training required for the role.  

Carer Peer Support and Engagement

Using your own lived experience of caring for someone with mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties, you will:

·       Offer one-to-one peer support conversations to carers, family members and friends of people receiving inpatient care.

·       Provide hope, understanding and encouragement through sharing your lived experience appropriately and safely.

·       Support carers to identify their own strengths, coping strategies, support networks and sources of information.

·       Help carers feel heard, valued and included within their caring journey.

·       Signpost carers to relevant support services, community resources and opportunities available both within GMMH and externally.

·       Promote self-care, resilience and wellbeing, recognising the impact that caring can have on individuals.

·       Respect each person's right to make their own choices regarding support, interventions and how they wish to engage.

·       Gather feedback from carers to help inform service improvement and development.

·       Promote relevant Trust services and opportunities, including the Recovery Academy where appropriate.

Carer Support Activities

·       Support the development and facilitation of carer support groups and drop-in sessions.

·       Assist in creating opportunities for carers to connect with others who have shared experiences.

·       Support the delivery of information sessions, awareness events and activities aimed at carers.

·       Help develop resources and materials that support carers in their role.

·       Consider how your own skills, experiences and interests can contribute to the support available for carers.

     Service Development

·       Bring a lived-experience perspective to discussions about how services can better support carers, families and friends.

·       Contribute to quality improvement projects and service development initiatives.

·       Support the development of carer-focused resources, activities and information.

·       Help create a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for carers accessing the service.

·       Share feedback and ideas that can improve the experience of carers within inpatient services. 

Requirements for the Role

To fulfil the duties of this role, we ask that you:

·       Have your own lived experience of caring for someone who has experienced mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties.

·       Are able to use your lived experience positively to support others whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries.

·       Can commit to at 3 hours per week as a volunteer.

·       Attend and complete the required training, including the Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship.

·       Have a basic understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

·       Have a basic understanding of confidentiality, information sharing and professional boundaries.

·       Have respect and compassion for others and their right to be treated with dignity and respect.

·       Have good communication and listening skills.

·       Are willing to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

·       Are able to receive supervision, support and feedback as part of your role.

  This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

 

If you are interested in applying for this role please complete the volunteer application in the link below and email to Holly Campbell holly.campbell@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755

 

Additional Information

  Please note that we strongly recommend checking with the Benefits Agency to ensure that volunteering does not affect any benefits you may receive.

  This role is unpaid; however, all agreed travel expenses for training and volunteering will be reimbursed in line with Trust policy.

 

 

 

Service: Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit - Male

Location: Meadowbrook, Salford

Supervisor: Ward Occupational Therapist

 

Role Summary/Purpose

 

GMMH Salford Inpatient Teams are there to support people experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties.  Each team has a range of roles to support service users and their families, including nurses, social workers, support workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. 

 

The Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides care and treatment for people experiencing acute mental health difficulties who require a higher level of support, observation and a safe, contained therapeutic environment. The PICU at Meadowbrook consists of 8 beds for Male patients.

 

It is part of the NHS 10 Year Long Term Plan to integrate people with lived experience of mental health difficulties themselves into the workforce.  This includes people with lived experience of caring for somebody with mental health (including dementia) and/or addiction difficulties. Carers, family/friends of our service users tell us that they would welcome support from someone who has experience of what they are going through in order to help them increase their resilience, develop support networks and to continue caring. 

 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to embed a Volunteer Peer Mentor into the PICU team.  Peer mentors use their lived experiences to offer hope, connection and a recovery-focused perspective. Within PICU this can be particularly valuable in supporting people who many be experiencing significant distress, restrictions or reduced access to their usual routines, relationships and meaningful activities.

 

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

 

 

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

 

Thank you for your interest in this role.

 

Currently, the service can offer commitment of 3 – 12 hours a week to our volunteers. To ensure adequate supervision, a maximum of 3-4 volunteer hours per day, 3 days a week can be supported.

 

Support from the team:

·       You will primarily work alongside the Therapy Team on the ward which consists of an Occupational Therapist and Support, Time and Recovery Workers.

·       You will receive regular supervision in line with Trust Policy

·       You will be invited and encouraged to attend regular AHP team meetings and other service meetings where appropriate.

 

As part of the role we require you to:

 

Hours and Commitment:

·       Be available for at least half a day per week (3-4 hours) (Hours are negotiable as this is a volunteer role but for continuity we would ask for a weekly commitment)

·       Attend and complete our in-house Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

 

Peer Support and Engagement :

·       Use your own lived experience of mental health difficulties and recovery to:

o   Offer one-to-one peer support conversations with patients, based on shared lived experience.

o   Act as a positive role model for recovery, demonstrating coping strategies and self advocacy.

o   Support patients to identify their personal strengths, goals and sources of support.

o   Support engagement with people who many be experiencing significant distress, finding it difficult to engage with the wider team, or experiencing restrictions associated with their care

·       Respect individual’s rights to choose the interventions/support networks that will help and support them in their own caring journey.

·       Gathering feedback to help the service learn and improve.

·       Promotion of the Recovery Academy where appropriate.

·       AND/OR use your own lived experience of being a carer of somebody with mental health difficulties to enrich the lives of other carers facing similar issues.

 

Ward Based Activities :

·       Support or co-facilitate activities and groups on the ward

·       Encourage engagement in ward routines and therapeutic activities, recognising that people’s ability to participate may fluctuate depending on their presentation and level of distress

·       Support people in individual interventions which may include psychosocial interventions and practical interventions such as accessing meaningful activities or welfare rights

·       Support opportunities for social connection, choice and ordinary everyday activity.

·       Consider how your own skills/interests could align with groups or the therapeutic offer on the ward

 

Service Development:

·       Contribute to creating a sensory-aware, therapeutic and welcoming ward environment, supporting initiatives that promote comfort, regulation and wellbeing.

·       Get involved in ward-based projects, quality improvement and service development, bringing lived-experience perspective to how services and environments could be improved.

·       Support the development of resources, activities and initiatives.

 

PICU’s can be a busy and sometimes challenging environment. You will need to be able to remain calm and professional within the environment, maintaining boundaries and be able to recognise your own limits; seeking support from the team when required.

 

Team Working :

·       To work as part of the Salford Inpatient Team and receive and share information within that team in order to safeguard individuals and support them to work towards their goals

·       To use lived experience within the wider team to strengthen therapeutic engagement, promote positive relationships and support least restrictive practice on the ward.

 

Professional Conduct :

·       Comply with all Trust policies and procedures but in particular in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, professional boundaries and information sharing

 

Requirements for the Role:

 

In order to fulfil the duties of this role we ask that you:

 

·       Have your own lived experience of mental health difficulties and recovery and/or supporting somebody with mental health and/or addiction difficulties

·       Have the motivation to support others in their recovery and promote their engagement in psychosocial and therapeutic activity

·       Can commit to at least half a day per week as a volunteer

·       Can commit to the Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

·       Have a basic understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children

·       Have a basic understanding of confidentiality and information sharing legislation

·       Have a basic understanding of professional boundaries

·       Have respect and compassion for others and their right to choose and to be treated with dignity

·       Have good communication skills

·       Be willing to work as part of a team

·       Be willing to engage in supervision and seek support from others as required

 

 

This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

 

If you are interested in applying for this role please complete the volunteer application in the link below and email to Holly Campbell holly.campbell@gmmh.nhs.uk

 

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755

Service: Acute Inpatients – Adults of Working Age

Location: Meadowbrook, Salford

Supervisor: Ward Occupational Therapist 

 

Role Summary/Purpose

GMMH Salford Inpatient Teams are there to support people experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse difficulties.  Each team has a range of roles to support service users and their families, including nurses, social workers, support workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. 

It is part of the NHS 10 Year Long Term Plan to integrate people with lived experience of mental health difficulties themselves into the workforce.  This includes people with lived experience of caring for somebody with mental health (including dementia) and/or addiction difficulties. Carers, family/friends of our service users tell us that they would welcome support from someone who has experience of what they are going through in order to help them increase their resilience, develop support networks and to continue caring. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to embed Volunteer Peer Mentors into the Acute Ward’s at Meadowbrook.  Peer Mentors use their lived experiences to offer hope, connection and a recovery-focused perspective. Our aim is to have one Peer Mentor per ward.

Meadowbrook consists of 3 acute wards:

-        Keats – Female – 18 beds

-        MacColl – Male admissions – 18 beds

-        Eagleton – Male admissions – 19 beds

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

 

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Thank you for your interest in this role.

Currently, the service can offer commitment of 3 – 12 hours a week to our volunteers. To ensure adequate supervision, a maximum of 3-4 volunteer hours per day, 3 days a week can be supported.

Support from the team:

·       You will primarily work alongside the Therapy Team on the ward which consists of an Occupational Therapist and Support, Time and Recovery Workers.

·       You will receive regular supervision in line with Trust Policy

·       You will be invited and encouraged to attend regular AHP team meetings and other service meetings where appropriate.

As part of the role we require you to:

 

Hours and Commitment:

·       Be available for at least half a day per week (3-4 hours) (Hours are negotiable as this is a volunteer role but for continuity we would ask for a weekly commitment)

·       Attend and complete our in-house Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

 

Peer Support and Engagement :

·       Use your own lived experience of mental health difficulties and recovery to:

o   Offer one-to-one peer support conversations with patients, based on shared lived experience.

o   Act as a positive role model for recovery, demonstrating coping strategies and self advocacy.

o   Support patients to identify their personal strengths, goals and sources of support.

o   Support engagement with people who many be experiencing distress, finding it difficult to engage with the wider team, or experiencing restrictions associated with their care

·       Respect individual’s rights to choose the interventions/support networks that will help and support them in their own caring journey.

·       Gathering feedback to help the service learn and improve.

·       Promotion of the Recovery Academy where appropriate.

·       AND/OR use your own lived experience of being a carer of somebody with mental health difficulties to enrich the lives of other carers facing similar issues.

  Ward Based Activities :

·       Support or co-facilitate activities and groups on the ward

·       Encourage engagement in ward routines and therapeutic activities, recognising that people’s ability to participate may fluctuate depending on their presentation and level of distress

·       Support people in individual interventions which may include psychosocial interventions and practical interventions such as accessing meaningful activities or welfare rights

·       Support opportunities for social connection, choice and ordinary everyday activity.

·       Consider how your own skills/interests could align with groups or the therapeutic offer on the ward

Service Development:

·       Contribute to creating a sensory-aware, therapeutic and welcoming ward environment, supporting initiatives that promote comfort, regulation and wellbeing.

·       Get involved in ward-based projects, quality improvement and service development, bringing lived-experience perspective to how services and environments could be improved.

·       Support the development of resources, activities and initiatives

Team Working :

·       To work as part of the Salford Inpatient Team and receive and share information within that team in order to safeguard individuals and support them to work towards their goals

·       To use lived experience within the wider team to strengthen therapeutic engagement, promote positive relationships and support least restrictive practice on the ward.

Professional Conduct :

·       Comply with all Trust policies and procedures but in particular in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, professional boundaries and information sharing

 

Requirements for the Role:

In order to fulfil the duties of this role we ask that you:  

·       Have your own lived experience of mental health difficulties and recovery and/or supporting somebody with mental health and/or addiction difficulties

·       Have the motivation to support others in their recovery and promote their engagement in psychosocial and therapeutic activity

·       Can commit to at least half a day per week as a volunteer

·       Can commit to the Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

·       Have a basic understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children

·       Have a basic understanding of confidentiality and information sharing legislation

·       Have a basic understanding of professional boundaries

·       Have respect and compassion for others and their right to choose and to be treated with dignity

·       Have good communication skills

·       Be willing to work as part of a team

·       Be willing to engage in supervision and seek support from others as required

This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

  If you are interested in applying for this role please complete the volunteer application in the link below and email to Holly Campbell holly.campbell@gmmh.nhs.uk

  https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755

 

 

Role: Volunteer Peer Mentor - Group Co-Facilitator

Service: Salford Early Intervention Team

Location: Wesley St, Salford

Supervisor: Rosie Mentiplay

 

Role Summary/Purpose

GMMH’s Early Intervention Teams are there to support people experiencing their first episode of psychosis.  Each team has a range of roles to support service users and their families, including nurses, social workers, support workers, psychologists and psychiatrists.  An exciting opportunity has arisen to embed Volunteer Peer Mentors into these diverse teams.  It is part of the national NHS Long Term Plan to integrate people with lived experience of mental health difficulties themselves into the workforce.  Our service users tell us that they would welcome support from someone who has experience of what they are going through in order to help them in their recovery journey.  We have feedback from service users and Volunteer Peer Mentors in other services that tells us that creating this connection between peers offers people hope, aspiration and motivation.

Please see below the requirements that you must be able to meet in order to apply for this role.

 

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

·       Be available for at least two hours per week.

·       Use your own lived experience of mental health difficulties and working with Early Intervention Teams in your own recovery to enrich your relationship with service users and mentor them within a group setting.

·       Attend and complete our in-house Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

·       To respect individual’s rights to choose the interventions that will help and support them in their own recovery journey

·       To co-facilitate a group for service users and carers.

·       To comply with all Trust policies and procedures but in particular in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, and information sharing

·       To work as part of the Early Intervention Multi Disciplinary Team and receive and share information within that team in order to safeguard individuals and support them to work towards their goals.

 

Requirements for the Role:

  In order to fulfil the duties of this role we ask that you:  

·       Have your own lived experience of being a carer of somebody with mental health difficulties.

·       Can commit to at least 2 hours per week as a volunteer

·       Can commit to the Level 2 Award in Peer Mentorship

·       Have a basic understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children

·       Have a basic understanding of confidentiality and information sharing legislation

·       Have a basic understanding of professional boundaries

·       Have respect and compassion for others and their right to choose and to be treated with dignity

·       Have good communication skills

·       Be willing to work as part of a team

This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.

 

If you would like to apply for this voluntary role please complete the email below and email it to Rose Mentiplay:

Rosie.Mentiplay@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755

 

Please note: we strongly recommend that you check with the Benefits Agency that your commitment to volunteering does not penalise you in any way and does not affect your benefits.

This role is unpaid, however, we will refund all travel expenses for training and volunteering in line with Trust Policy.

Service:  Achieve Drug & Alcohol Treatment & Recovery Service

Location: Achieve Sites in Bury and/or Trafford (Community and Online)

Supervisor: Ross Darbyshire

 

Role Purpose

To use your own lived experience to support, motivate, and encourage service users through their recovery journey, working safely within a clinical community team. 

 

Key Responsibilities

Professional Responsibilities & Support

• Develop recovery skills:  Promote engagement under the direction of a Recovery Coordinator or clinical team.
• Deliver recovery interventions:  Assist GMMH staff in the community, including joint home visits.
• Organise service activities:  Encourage user suggestions and help put their ideas into practice.
• Access community resources:  Assist and encourage service users to utilize outside support.
• Manage new referrals:  Gather information both face-to-face and over the phone.
• Publicise recovery opportunities:  Support colleagues and liaise with external agencies regarding access criteria.
• Deliver information sessions:  Support and facilitate presentations as required.
• Promote family involvement:  Actively encourage service user, family, and carer input in planning.  

Clinical Safety & Risk Management

• Practice safe working:  Follow community procedures and alert relevant authorities when required.
• Report concerns immediately:  Escalate any potential risks directly to a GMMH colleague.
• Minimise lifestyle risks:  Support service users to adopt safer practices and healthier habits.
• Staff needle exchanges:  Maintain sufficient stock levels and identify when to reorder supplies.
• Manage healthcare referrals:  Connect users to primary and secondary care for health problems and blood-borne viruses.
• Tailor vulnerable support:  Enable high-risk users to attend appointments and interventions.

 

Person Specification (Requirements for the Role)

Essential Criteria & Experience    

• Lived experience:   Possess personal experience of the effects of substance use.
• Support experience:   Provide previous support to vulnerable or socially excluded individuals.
• Core values:   Demonstrate respect, compassion, dignity, and a commitment to equal opportunities.
• Communication skills:   Possess strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Teamwork:   Work collaboratively and effectively as part of a team.

Knowledge & Understandings

• Recovery process:   Understand how to motivate and encourage service users through recovery.
• Professional boundaries:   Maintain clear boundaries, confidentiality, and proper information sharing.
• Safeguarding:   Comprehend basic safeguarding protocols for vulnerable adults and children.
• Digital literacy:   Utilise basic IT skills, including email and online platforms.

Mandatory Training & Development

• Peer training:   Complete the GMMH Level 2 Peer Worker training course.
• Core compliance:   Finish all mandatory training within 4 weeks of starting.
• Onboarding:   Complete the local induction and any role-specific training.
• Specialised training:   Complete or show willingness to take harm reduction and group work facilitation training.

    

If you are interested in applying for this voluntary role, please complete the application form in the link below and email it to:  Ross.Darbyshire@gmmh.nhs.uk

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n10672.docx&ver=13755 

 

This role description reflects the role at the present time and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. 

Please note: we strongly recommend that you check with the Benefits Agency that your commitment to volunteering does not penalise you in any way and does not affect your benefits.

This role is unpaid, however, we will refund all travel expenses for training and volunteering in line with Trust Policy.

 Recruitment day advert final.pdf