Peer support service

Peer Support Service

Peer Support Workers are people with personal experience of mental health conditions who are trained and employed to work in a formalised role to support others during recovery.

Overview
How do I register for this service?
Contact us
Meet the team
Reviews and feedback

Type

Peer Support Service

Peer support workers are people with personal experience of a mental health condition. They are trained to help others by sharing their experiences and offering support.

Who can access this service?

Service users: People who are getting help for their mental health
Carers: Family members or anyone looking after someone with mental health needs.

How do I register for this service?

Click here for more information.

Contact us

If you would like to get in contact with our Peer Support Service about training and employment you can email: admin.peersupport@nhft.nhs.uk

Meet the team

Our core team support Peer Support Workers, Carer Peer Support Workers and the development of the service. The team includes:

Sarah Ferris, Peer Support Lead
Emma Franklin, Senior Peer Support Worker
Nicola Oliver, Service Manager
Zoe Steele, Peer Support Administrator

Reviews and feedback

If you would like to let us know your thoughts, you can do this via our Patient Advice and Liaison Service or email us: admin.peersupport@nhft.nhs.uk

Feedback on our training courses

Lyn:

"I loved the Peer Support Training, it opened my eyes and helped me not just professionally but on a personal level when talking to friends and family."

Pat:

"My peer support training was the best thing I did as a carer. It gave me the opportunity to learn from people using services and seeing the situation from a 360 degree view. Understanding my frustration but also seeing my advocacy succeed. My whole outlook when dealing with mental health challenges within my family, friends and peers is one of calm, joy, listening ears and empathy."

Waverley:

"When someone mentioned Peer Support to me 6 months ago I had no idea how life changing it would be. Having spent over 3 years out of work focussing on my recovery, enrolling to the Peer Support program was my first big step back into the world of employment. My training experience was extremely positive. The trainers and my fellow cohort were great and I learnt something from everyone I spoke to. One of the key principles of Peer Support is Mutuality and throughout the course I came to really understand what this meant. Not only were my eyes opened to the huge impact having a peer can have on peoples recovery and navigating them through crisis, but I realised the positive impact it would have on me and my own recovery. I found an outlet for my passion for mental health and have grown more confident and future focused as a result. Yesterday I was offered a job as a Peer Support worker. The next big step on my recovery journey is about to begin and hopefully, in turn, someone else's with the utilisation of peer support."

Denise:

"It's been one of the most enjoyable courses I have ever been on and its taught me so much about myself. I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in peer/carer peer support roles. I am now looking forward to offering hope and support to carers and their loved ones on their own recovery journey."

What is Peer Support?

Peer support is support for service users and carers, provided by people with similar lived experiences.

It's when someone uses their own lived experience to support others who are having similar experiences. This personal experience can help others on their own recovery journey by offering understanding, support, and hope. Peer support is based on person-centred care and provides a safe space where everyone's experiences are equally important, and you feel accepted and understood.

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What is recovery?

The recovery journey is not just about clinical recovery from symptoms. It is a process of change towards wellbeing and finding a sense of hope, control and purpose in life that looks beyond long-term conditions and illness. Recovery is about all of a person's life, not just their symptoms and can mean different things to different people. Everyone's recovery journey is unique and personal to them.

Peer support can offer hope that recovery is possible, working with someone who understands what recovery looks like and has lived experience of achieving it, can be powerful. Not only are peer support workers able to give hope that recovery is achievable, but they can also support service users and their carers in getting there.
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What is a Peer Support Worker?
A Peer Support Worker (PSW) is someone who has personal experience of living with a condition such as mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, gender dysphoria or neurodiversity, including ADHD and Autism. They may have experienced these things themselves or be a carer for someone who has and will usually have had support from secondary services.

Peer support workers have perspective and understanding of recovery and living well with long term conditions, including what can support recovery journeys.

This personal experience can help others on their own recovery journey by promoting hope and providing support based on shared experiences. Peer support workers are recruited because of their journey, experiences and passion for supporting others

Peer support workers are in a stage of their recovery where they can manage their own well-being. They have developed techniques and strategies to keep themselves well long term, and feel able to support others without harming their own well-being.

Peer support workers understand their own personal strengths and limitations and seek appropriate support if needed.

For more information about the Peer Support take a look at these videos:

Peer Support - Charlie's story:

Recovery - Rachel Perkins lecture:

Peer Support in mental health services - Dr Julie Repper:

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- What does a Peer Support Worker do?
  
  A peer support worker supports others on their path to recovery by sharing lived experience. Peer support is based on person-centred care. NHFT works with peer support workers who have been trained to use their own lived experience of mental health challenges and / or long-term conditions to work collaboratively with service users and carers.
  
  Peer support complements the support given by healthcare professionals and other services, to guide others with their recovery and plan for their future. They may work 1-to-1 and as part of the wider team. When you are talking to a peer support worker you are talking to someone who has an understanding of the challenges you are facing and can offer you empathy and support. Our aim is to provide you with a safe space to support you to find and reach your own individual goals.
  
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Peer Support for carers
NHFT recognises the essential role that carers take on in supporting people with mental health problems. The Trust also recognises the impact that caring responsibilities have on carers and families and therefore, there is often a need to support them.

To support families and carers of those who suffer with mental illness the trust has employed Carer Peer Support Workers (CPSW's) who are trained to use their lived experience as carers to support other carers. When carers are talking to a CPSW they are talking to someone who has an understanding of the challenges they are facing and they can offer them empathy and support.

A CPSW's goal is to work collaboratively with carers and support them as they navigate the Mental Healthcare pathway. Carers may find that they put most of their thought and energy in caring for their loved one and their needs and whilst we understand that caring is a vital role, we also want to support carers and their needs as much as possible.
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- How can Carer Peer Support help?
  
  A Carer Peer Support Worker's (CPSW) role is to work alongside carers and their families while their loved one is having support with their mental health. They aim to work with local support services, and directly with carers, to develop effective partnerships and ensure that carers are well informed and supported. They empower carers and their families to recognise their rights, access support and take care of their own well-being.
  
  Many carers and families don't realise that they are entitled to:
  
  The opportunity to see a clinician on their own
  
  The right to their own confidentiality when talking to a professional
  
  Encouragement to feel a valued member of the care team
  
  Confidence to voice their views and any concerns they may have
  
  Emotional and practical support
  
  An assessment of their own needs
  
  A CPSW can:
  
  Support in navigating the NHFT Mental Health Services Pathway
  
  Support with discussing what help a carer may need
  
  A set number of 1-to-1 sessions. These may be virtual or in person
  
  Empower carers to know and understand their rights as a carer
  
  Help carers to appreciate that they are an expert in their loved ones care
  
  Help in accessing support for themselves
  
  Carers groups where carers can come together to support and learn from each other
  
  Signpost to further help
  
  Support in getting a Carers Assessment
  
  Support carers own health and wellbeing
  
  A CPSW cannot offer any diagnosis of any illness or medical advice regards medication but they can support open communication between yourself and your loved ones care team and empower a carer to get their voice heard. They are legally bound to respect the confidentiality of loved ones, however can empower carers to make their voice, views and concerns heard.
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Peer Support training
Peer Support Workers share the wisdom from their own lived experiences to inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in other service users and carers.

NHFT offers individuals with lived experience (either as a service user or carer) the opportunity to undertake Peer Support training.

This training provides attendees with the qualifications needed to apply for Peer Support Worker positions as they become available in NHFT.

Please note: Training does not lead directly into a paid role.

Jobs are advertised on the NHS jobs website and NHFT vacancies page. You can also sign-up for alerts from the Peer Support Team by completing the register your interest form.

We are interested in applications from people with a variety of lived experiences

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- When and where will the training take place?
  
  Training takes place at various times throughout the year and is currently delivered online, with some self-directed study. The training takes place one day a week over a period of 10 weeks and students are expected to attend all sessions.
  
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- What will the training involve?
  
  The accredited course is provided by ImROC (Implementing Recovery through Organisation Change) and is facilitated by qualified and experienced teams with peer and professional qualifications.
  
  The course includes sixteen modules. Training days will run from 10am until 4pm and include short breaks and a one-hour lunch break. Two modules will be delivered on each full day of training.
  
  Each module includes:
  
  Online teaching sessions (2.5 hours each)
  
  An assignment to be submitted at the end of the course
  
  The Level 3 Certificate in Peer Support Work (Mental Health) will allow participants to:
  
  Recognise and value the expertise they have gained through their own lived and life experience
  
  Understand and implement the evidence-based principles and values that underpin peer support
  
  Draw on their lived and life experience to offer safe, effective, person-centred and recovery-focused support to help people live the life they want and live it well
  
  Utilise strengths-based, progressive approaches that focus on the potential of every individual they support to find their own personal route towards recovery
  
  Promote inclusion and respect difference to deliver equitable peer support to people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
  
  Promote the rights of people they support and inspire recovery-focussed practices in the workplace
  
  Work in a collaborative and co-productive manner with other professionals and services
  
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- Course structure and overview
  
  The course includes sixteen modules and an online induction. Trainees will need to attend at least 80% of the online classroom sessions, as well as completing weekly tasks and a final assignment in order to graduate. This means that they can only miss a maximum of 3 half-days. If a trainee falls under the 80% attendance requirement, they will be withdrawn from the course. Trainees must be available to attend the first day of the training.
  
  Training days will be full days running from 10am to 4pm and include short breaks and a one-hour lunch break. Two modules will be delivered on each full day of training.
  
  The first 8 modules focus on the core principles and skills used in peer support.
  
  The remaining 8 modules focus on the practical aspects of working in peer support.
  
  List of Modules
  
  Module 1: Mutuality, connection and the 8 Core Values
  
  Module 2: Reciprocity and sharing our lived experience
  
  Module 3: Recovery-focused and progressive
  
  Module 4: Finding strength in self and others
  
  Module 5: Safe and boundaried peer support
  
  Module 6: Being non-directive
  
  Module 7: Finding strength in community
  
  Module 8: Overarching principles: equity and trauma-responsive
  
  Module 9: Person-centred communication skills
  
  Module 10: Understanding our own story and supporting others to do so
  
  Module 11: The arc of the peer support relationship
  
  Module 12: Working in systems, recognising rights
  
  Module 13: Distress and the right to be safe
  
  Module 14: Alternative approaches to mental distress & holding a wider perspective
  
  Module 15: Thriving in peer support work
  
  Module 16: Consolidating our skills and preparing to move forward
  
  To graduate as an ImROC accredited peer support worker, each trainee will need to:
  
  Attend at least 80% of the classroom days
  
  Complete an assignment at the end of the course
  
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- How do I find out more?
  
  If you are interested in applying for Peer Support training please complete our register your interest form.
  
  For further information please take a look at these useful resources or contact our team at admin.peersupport@nhft.nhs.uk .
  
  For further information please take a look at these useful resources:
  
  NHS England, Peer Support Workforce, Training and Education
  
  ImRoc: Preparing organisations for Peer Support
  
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What is a Lived Experience Volunteer?

A Lived Experience Volunteer (LEV) is someone who gives their time for free and by choice.

They have skills or knowledge that they want to share and use their lived experience of mental health difficulties to offer hope. Lived experience can either be as someone who has accessed mental health services or still has access to services or someone who has cared for someone accessing services.

We have opportunities to volunteer sharing lived experience either as a carer or service user. To become a Lived Experience Volunteer, you must first complete the ImROC Peer Support Worker training.

LEV's can help in many ways and there are many roles' volunteers can take on in our Trust. LEV's make a difference by working on our wards, supporting groups, offering befriending services and other opportunities.

Becoming a Lived Experience Volunteer for NHFT can also be a direct route into part or full-time employment or further training.

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Peer Support and The Recovery College

The Recovery College offers a range of helpful courses which may be of interest, including the course 'Peer Support - Using Lived Experience to Support Others'.

For course dates and to find out more information about enrolling, please visit the Recovery College website page or contact the Recovery College for more information at recovery.college@nhft.nhs.uk

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How do I request a Peer Support Worker or Carer Peer Support Worker?

There are Peer Support Workers and Carer Peer Support Workers embedded in some of the mental health services within NHFT.

If you want to access a Peer Support Worker or Carer Peer Support Worker, please speak to a member of the team you are supported by and ask to be referred.

Your referral will be treated in line with our code of confidentiality.
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Peer Support Service

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How do I register for this service?

Contact us

Meet the team

Reviews and feedback

For more information about the Peer Support take a look at these videos:

Mental health, learning disability and autism services

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Mental health, learning disability and autism services

Peer support service information

Type

How do I register for this service?

Contact us

Meet the team

Reviews and feedback

For more information about the Peer Support take a look at these videos:

Mental health, learning disability and autism services

Useful links

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