What is Peer Support?Back upPeer 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.
What is recovery?Back upThe 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.
What is a Peer Support Worker?Back upA 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:
- What does a Peer Support Worker do?Back up
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.
Peer Support for carersBack upNHFT 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.
- How can Carer Peer Support help?Back up
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.
Peer Support trainingBack upPeer 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
- When and where will the training take place?Back up
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.
- What will the training involve?Back up
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
- Course structure and overviewBack up
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
- How do I find out more?Back up
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:
What is a Lived Experience Volunteer?Back upA 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.
Peer Support and The Recovery CollegeBack upThe 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
How do I request a Peer Support Worker or Carer Peer Support Worker?Back upThere 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.
Mental health, learning disability and autism services
- Acute Liaison Mental Health Service
- Adult ADHD, Autism and Tourettes Team (AAATT)
- Adult Acute Inpatients
- Adult Inpatient Specialist
- Adult Inpatient PICU
- At Risk Mental State Service
- Community Mental Health Adult - Early Intervention NSTEP
- Complex PTSD service
- Community mental health team
- Crisis cafés
- Crisis Houses: The Warren and The Martins
- Crisis Response Unit
- Eating Disorders Service
- ECT and Ketamine Therapy - The Treatment Centre
- Forensic Team
- Health Based Place of Safety
- IPS Employment Service
- Learning Disabilities
- Liaison Psychiatry for Older People
- Maternal Loss Psychology Service
- Memory Assessment Service
- The Mental Health Number
- Northants Personality Disorder Hub
- NHS Northamptonshire Talking Therapies
- Older Adults Community Mental Health Services
- Older People’s Inpatient Acute
- Peer support service
- Police Liaison and Triage
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Recovery College
- Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service
- Urgent Care and Assessment Team
- Younger Persons with Dementia Team