Peer Workforce

Centre Of Excellence Peer Support

Anthony Stratford

2015

What is peer support?

“Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful…It is about understanding another’s situation empathetically through the shared experience of emotional and psychological pain”

-Mead, S. (2003)

 

 

A brief history in Australia

• 1970 - 1980’s emergence of peer support and self help organisations (Grow, Arafmi, Eating Disorders) all peer workers

• 1993 First Consumer Consultants - Rozelle Hospital Sydney

• 1986 Understanding and Involvement (U&I) project (VMIAC,)

• 1996 Victoria all area mental health services funded

• 2006 – PHaMs national

• 2012 MH: Carer Support and respite National

Roles

Evolving: Titles / roles

Systems changers • Consultants• Advocates• Senior Adviser

Service providers• Peer support workers• System navigation• Support groups and networks• Mentoring and coaching• Practitioners• Support in housing• Support in education and employment• Support in crisis• Artistic, cultural and social activities• Individual recovery• Peer bridges• Support during times of transition• Warm lines (phone support)

Better outcomes

Repper and Carter (2011) literature demonstrates that receiving support from peer support workers (PSWs) can lead to a reduction in admissions for consumer.

What PSWs appear to be able to do more successfully than professionally qualified staff is promote hope and belief in the possibility of recovery;

empowerment and increased self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-management of difficulties and social inclusion, engagement and increased social networks

(p.400).

Doughty and Tse (2011) “Overall consumer-led services reported equally positive outcomes for their clients as traditional services, particularly for practical outcomes”

Better Outcomes

• Decreases the number of missed appointments• Increases attendance in community / education• Decreases use of long-term and ‘high end care’• Increases self-assessment of ‘practical knowledge’ about resources

and ‘care coordination’ • Decreases stress level (Purdy, 2011) • Saved costs on hospitalisation

Example: Employment of peer bridges drops hospital re-admission by 91% (Optum Health, 2012)

Common Concerns and Myths

• Too fragile / Become unwell / relapse

• More sick days

• Can’t do the same work as others / could do harm

• Wont be able to handle stress

• May be triggered

• Cannot work full time / loss of benefits

• They are not professional workers

• Won’t understand boundaries

• Dual relationships / conflict – if prior service user

Scottish Recovery Network

Brainstorm other concerns

Which of these do you feel your organisation would be most concerned about?

Are there any other myths or barriers?

Think about some of the difficult HR situations you have experienced – were these peer worker???

Top four indicators for success

• Organisational readiness• Where does it fit / how does it fit + agreement

• Position descriptions• Training• Supervision