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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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