What Is The Peer Workforce Pillar?

Peer Facilitators, Peer Volunteers or “Peers” are people who use their own lived experience of mental health difficulties to support others.

Peers provide emotional and practical support to service users or those in the community, in order for them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery

Peer Support is based on working alongside the service users or community members to develop an equal and trusting relationship.

Research shows that peer support can improve people’s well-being, meaning they have fewer hospital stays, larger support networks, and better self-esteem, confidence and social skills (Mental Health Foundation, 2023)

We will support service users to access opportunities that promote their wellbeing and recovery

We will work with colleagues to embed person-centred care approaches, promoting the voice of lived experience

We will support people, promoting independence, hope and control

We will champion people’s experiences through story telling

Core Values Of Peer Support 

Being non-judgemental and not making assumptions about the person’s experiences or beliefs.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

A willingness to give and receive support, and learn from difference, with both parties sharing their experiences and benefiting from this.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

A non-hierarchical relationship that is of equal value to both parties, and is based on shared experience of service use and recovery.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

Helping the person find solutions that work for them, rather than suggesting solutions.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

Focusing on and building a person’s strengths and their ability to make use of the resources available to them.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

Creating hope and building autonomy. Empowering the person being supported to define, lead and own their recovery. Enable them to identify and work towards their life goals within their communities.

Read The Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers

Peer Duties 

  • Listen, show empathy, share experience and inspire hope and build trust.
  • Help identify and develop achievable and meaningful personal recovery goals.
  • Support service user to gain skills to support recovery.
  • Help service users identify goals.
  • Support with signposting to other services such as employment or housing.
  • Advocate-join ward round reviews or care reviews where the patient may struggle to advocate for themselves.
  • Feedback from friends and family. FFT
  • Support service users to develop a WRAP (wellness recovery action plan)

What Peers Don't Do?

Clinical tasks such as, activity planning, personal care, medication.

 Contact us to find out more

Please reach out to a member of our senior peers team to find out more on how you could look to recruit a peer on your inpatient ward.

Community.roots@lscft.nhs.uk

01772 695 365 

Claire - Peer Facilitator

Having worked as a peer for over 3 years there has been lots of wonderful moments, there is of course challenges to overcome, each day can be different. Dominoes and cards are always on hand. I have also been lucky enough to run groups including health and wellbeing and meditation, the role gives me immense satisfaction especially when I see a patient smile. I feel that the peer role is invaluable we are much needed and make a huge difference.