Another rather than other: experiences of peer support specialist workers and their managers working in mental health services
Abstract
Purpose
The integration of peer support workers with lived experience of mental health problems into existing mental health services has been found beneficial in some ways. However, some peer support workers have experienced unique challenges in terms of role confusion and limited opportunities for networking and support. Qualitative research and evaluation regarding peer support worker integration is limited. This paper aims to address this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The current paper presents a qualitative evaluation of the experiences of two peer support specialist (PSS) workers and their managers within one UK mental health trust. The PSS workers and managers were interviewed individually using a semi‐structured format. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts.
Findings
In agreement with prior research and evaluation, positive experiences and challenges were identified in relation to PSS employment, both for PSS workers and their teams. Overarching themes concern the PSS worker as “other”, the PSS worker as a “change agent”, and “readiness for PSS worker employment”.
Originality/value
The evaluation is limited by the small sample size but the findings could be used to inform the integration of PSS workers into other existing services. This evaluation begins to untangle some of the tensions around the integration process. Strategies to support PSS integration based on the recommendations of participants and the findings of the current evaluation are presented.
Keywords
Citation
Berry, C., Hayward, M.I. and Chandler, R. (2011), "Another rather than other: experiences of peer support specialist workers and their managers working in mental health services", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 238-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465721111188269
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited