Promoting Service User involvement in Delivering Effective Care Processes-Highly CommendedLyn Skipper, Recovery Lead at Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust nominated Justine Brown, Peer Support worker co-ordinator, and Service User (Peer Tutor) Nikki Sullivan. Here, Lyn describes the work that Justine and Nikki have been doing:
“Justin and Nikki have worked tirelessly to co-produce, and co-deliver the Trusts new Peer Support Worker training Course. The course runs for 12 weeks and includes clinical placements in inpatient and community mental health teams. Peer Support Workers are a new role within Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust and so included in developing the training the pair have worked hard to ensure that staff, and students are prepared for this new role. What has impressed me so much is the true co- production of the work they deliver on and the professional manner in which the pair operates and delivers the training, supervision and support that the students get. They role model co production in a way that inspires, creates confidence and possibility in the Peer role within clinical teams.”
An aspect of the evaluation asks: What do you feel you have discovered about yourself in the training?
- Better awareness of strengths. Through the course and training and placement I learnt a lot about myself. The key is just exposure, a greater confidence in my ability to do the role.
- The training has enabled me to look at the way I work in a positive way having been working 11years as a support worker there are areas within my role that will improve through this training.
- Confidence
- That I have a lot of talents I had forgotten I had,
- I managed triggers and stress better than I thought I would. Learned more about my strengths and weaknesses; learned new ways of managing my MH.
- I have learnt to live with my illness and realise I'm not ill but in Recovery.
- That I am extremely passionate about the role and the change that can take place
Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust now have 15 Peer Support Workers in place with a further 18 posts being recruited to. They have just commenced delivering training to 30 Peer Support Worker students in preparation for the new ‘Wellbeing Service’ within Norfolk; spreading the Recovery message across Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust service lines.http://www.cpaa.org.uk/