Peer Worker Roles and Risk in Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Comparative Case Study

Holley, Jessica; Gillard, Steve; Gibson, S. L.

doi:10.1007/s10597-015-9843-y

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Alternatively, from the service users' perspective, engaging with and then witnessing a PSWs mental health deteriorate may be a painful process, impacting on hope in their own recovery process. Working in this role may also pose other health-related challenges for individuals as highlighted by this and previous research (Berry et al, 2011;Holley, Gillard, & Gibson, 2015). It is essential that organizations implement individualized reasonable adjustments in consultation with the PSW to support the PSW from experiencing any deterioration in their mental health while facilitating an active contribution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Tokenistic or genuinely effective? Exploring the views of voluntary sector staff regarding the emerging peer support worker role in mental health

Kilpatrick

Keeney

McCauley

2017

Psychiatric Ment Health Nurs

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Aim Peer support worker (PSW) roles are gaining recognition internationally as a valuable component in mental health service delivery. The aim of this study was to explore the views of mental health voluntary sector staff regarding the emergence of this role. Method A qualitative research design was used. A purposive sample was employed. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 staff members in various positions in two voluntary mental health organizations. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically. Results Views varied on the PSW role with some participants stating that it was tokenistic, whereas others highlighted the value of its contribution. Participants' expressed concerns regarding professional boundaries and organizational cultural challenges that PSWs may encounter in their role. The provision of reasonable adjustments was recommended as an integral support mechanism. Conclusion Successful integration of the PSW requires careful consideration of the role, the workplace environment and the unique needs of the peer, to prevent the role becoming constrained and diluted. Implications for practice The PSW role may impact the traditional delivery of mental health nursing services. It is therefore essential that nurses are cognizant of these potential challenges to successfully facilitate the integration of PSWs in practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Tokenistic or genuinely effective? Exploring the views of voluntary sector staff regarding the emerging peer support worker role in mental health

Kilpatrick

Keeney

McCauley

2017

Psychiatric Ment Health Nurs

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“…Moreover, peer workers’ experiences working in healthcare organizations can add value to their own recovery process, by offering them: (i) more self‐confidence, (ii) more self‐esteem, and (iii) a widening of their social network (Holley et al . ; Walker & Bryant ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As peer workers themselves prove that recovery is possible, they can increase care providers' faith in their patients' recovery possibilities (Tambuyzer et al 2014). Moreover, peer workers' experiences working in healthcare organizations can add value to their own recovery process, by offering them: (i) more self-confidence, (ii) more self-esteem, and (iii) a widening of their social network (Holley et al 2015;Walker & Bryant 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The transition from patient to mental health peer worker: A grounded theory approach

Debyser

Berben

Beeckman

et al. 2018

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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Peer workers are increasingly being engaged in contemporary mental healthcare. To become a peer worker, patients must evolve from having a patient identity to a peer worker identity. This study aims to understand how mental health peer workers experience their transition and how it affects their view of themselves and their direct working context. A grounded theory approach was used. Seventeen mental health peer workers in Belgium were recruited through theoretical sampling. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed according to the constant comparative method. The results indicate that novice peer workers experience peer work as an opportunity to liberate themselves from the process of mental suffering and realise an acceptable form of personal self‐maintenance. As peer workers become more experienced, they are confronted with external factors that influence their self‐maintenance and personal development. Experiencing clarity in their duties and responsibilities, equality, and transparency in the workplace reinforce their experience of self‐maintenance and positively influence their self‐development. Experiencing a lack of clarity in their duties and responsibilities, inequality, and lack of openness discourage peer workers’ self‐development process. These experiences challenge their personal motivations to become peer workers, which are usually linked to building a meaningful life for themselves. The insights can encourage organisations to build up a supportive environment collaboratively with peer workers and ensure that peer workers can exert their authentically unique role in mental healthcare.

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“…Skilled, sensitive supervision and support is essential for the success of such roles (Simpson et al, 2014). Furthermore, recurrence was not only a potential risk for PSWs themselves but also for service users (Holley et al, 2015). Thus, to ensure PSWs' well-being and minimise risks, mental health services need to specify or adjust their policy to the needs of PSWs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participants’ employment status and experiences in the year after the Experienced Involvement training

Hegedüs

Seidel

Steinauer³

2016

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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Peer Worker Roles and Risk in Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Comparative Case Study

Cited by 23 publications

References 36 publications

Tokenistic or genuinely effective? Exploring the views of voluntary sector staff regarding the emerging peer support worker role in mental health

Tokenistic or genuinely effective? Exploring the views of voluntary sector staff regarding the emerging peer support worker role in mental health

The transition from patient to mental health peer worker: A grounded theory approach

Participants’ employment status and experiences in the year after the Experienced Involvement training

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