Peer Support Work

The peer support worker role was developed as part of the UK Government's commitment to increasing mental health and wellbeing support for patients.

Peer support workers are part of a patient care team who use their own lived experience of mental health issues to support individuals who are facing mental health struggles. You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team with a range of people living with mental health issues, either in hospital or in the community.

Peer workers not only have their own lived experience, but have usually received support from secondary mental health services themselves. This experience allows peer workers to share their own experiences, offer practical guidance, help people to develop their own goals, create strategies for self-empowerment, and take concrete steps towards better emotional wellbeing.

Training

You don't need to have specific qualifications but to help you develop the skills you need, you'll be required to undertake a training programme delivered by other people with lived experience, with support from the NHS, and may be provided with on-the-job training as appropriate.

In order to be accepted into the training programme, you will need to have relevant lived experience for the service you wish to work in, a desire to support others going through similar experiences, as well as good verbal and written communication skills.

The training courses are usually delivered by ImROC (Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change), in partnership with the service you wish to work.

Regulation

Peer support workers are not professionally regulated, and there there is no essential registration within this field but it's recommended you train on a course that is delivered by ImROC or the NHS.

Peer workers are not clinically trained, do not diagnose or treat patients, nor do they provide formal therapy or advice. Instead, they offer practical and emotional support based on lived experience and the skills attained through training.

However, CPD and professional training is encouraged if you would like to progress your career. A good start may be to undertake a course with the Personalised Care Institute, which offers a a range of courses for health and care professionals to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to help patients get more involved in decisions about their care.

Professional bodies

There is currently no specific professional body for peer workers, but you may want to join the following associations for further support, guidance or recognition:

UNISON is the UK's largest union, representing staff who provide public services.
National Alliance of Peer Leads (NAPL) is a new project delivered by Peer Hub aimed at leading and taking ownership of the professionalisation of peer support in England.

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