Peer Support in Mental Health MINDFUL EMPLOYER. Peer Support in Mental Health

Background Overview of where Peer Support was developed Development of the Multi-agency Recovery Charter for Mental Heath across Cardiff and Vale Part of the IMROC network across the UK Development of a Recovery Education Unit Developing employment opportunities for clients with serious mental illness

Benefits for individuals (Peer Support workers) Increased self esteem Recognised training in Peer Support Accredited qualification at level 4 Opportunities for employment in many sectors Job satisfaction Giving something back and feeling worthwhile Managing their lives and maximising potential

Benefits for the Organisation Meets Mindful employer status, Equality protected characteristics Evidence that admission rates can reduce where employment of Peer support workers Recovery focussed working Empowerment, independence and confidence of service users in contact with PSW’s Improvements in social networks and social integration Positive outlook to reducing stigma about mental ill health Reduction in use of physical restraint Improved communication between professionals and ‘patients’ and reduction in staff workload

Challenges Maintaining boundaries Power imbalances Stress levels for PSW’s Understanding by organisation of episodes of poor mental health for PSW’s and working with this. The right to ‘Confidentiality’ Funding for posts Agreement in the organisation of benefits

Progress to date Successful open day Successful recruitment for PSW training Completion of training by 12 of the 16 individuals who participated in the level 4 course Employment in 3rd sector and Local Authority of 3 of the cohort Work experience offered to participants Development of a Project group Development of job description An accredited course being developed locally. Due to be operational in Spring 2013 Evaluation by academic underway.

Overall Aim To maximise employment to a marginalised vulnerable group To embed recovery and recovery principles into the heart of the service with employment of PSW’s Be a provider of quality level 4 training for service users Development of virtual Multi-Agency Recovery Education unit