diff --git a/app/helpers/search_helper.rb b/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
index fe21b7d35..d81c25311 100644
--- a/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/search_helper.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 module SearchHelper
-  def check_posts_permissions
-    (current_user&.is_moderator || current_user&.is_admin ? Post : Post.undeleted)
+  # @param user [User] user to check
+  def get_accessible_posts(user)
+    (user&.is_moderator || user&.is_admin ? Post : Post.undeleted)
       .qa_only.list_includes
   end
 
   def search_posts
-    posts = check_posts_permissions
-
+    posts = get_accessible_posts(current_user)
     qualifiers = params_to_qualifiers
     search_string = params[:search]
 
diff --git a/test/helpers/search_helper_test.rb b/test/helpers/search_helper_test.rb
index a82e92f6f..f09395e48 100644
--- a/test/helpers/search_helper_test.rb
+++ b/test/helpers/search_helper_test.rb
@@ -35,4 +35,22 @@ class SearchHelperTest < ActionView::TestCase
       assert_equal expect, date_value_sql(input)
     end
   end
+
+  test 'get_accessible_posts should correctly check access' do
+    admin_user = users(:admin)
+    mod_user = users(:moderator)
+    standard_user = users(:standard_user)
+
+    admin_posts = get_accessible_posts(admin_user)
+    mod_posts = get_accessible_posts(mod_user)
+    user_posts = get_accessible_posts(standard_user)
+
+    can_admin_get_deleted_posts = admin_posts.any?(&:deleted)
+    can_mod_get_deleted_posts = mod_posts.any?(&:deleted)
+    can_user_get_deleted_posts = user_posts.any?(&:deleted)
+
+    assert_equal can_admin_get_deleted_posts, true
+    assert_equal can_mod_get_deleted_posts, true
+    assert_equal can_user_get_deleted_posts, false
+  end
 end