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The Roles, Responsibilities and Tasks of Peer Support Workers in Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT): A Service Review
Dunkerley, Laura Jordan, Martin
Dunkerley, Laura
Jordan, Martin
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Affiliation
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
Other Contributors
Cooper, Stacy
Willington, Gary
Willington, Gary
Publication date
2024-11
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Service Review
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Abstract
Background: Peer support worker roles were introduced into the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT) workforce in January 2021. A subsequent review highlighted concerns among peer support workers and their employers around the lack of clarity regarding the roles, responsibilities, and tasks of peer support workers.
Aim: The aim of this service review was to explore the similarities and differences between the role of peer support workers and their multi-disciplinary team colleagues, and the extent to which there was clarity around peer support worker roles. Additionally, the service review aimed to investigate the broader impact of peer support workers beyond their formal roles, responsibilities and tasks.
Methods: A qualitative approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with peer support workers, multi-disciplinary team colleagues, and service users. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. The service review was coproduced, involving peer support workers at all stages.
Results: Three focus groups and six individual interviews were conducted with sixteen participants. Thematic analysis revealed similarities between peer support worker and multi-disciplinary team colleagues’ roles, as well as key differences in the use of lived experience and the unique approach of peer support workers. Role clarity improved with increased exposure to peer support workers and better access to role-related information, however, the need for further role clarity was emphasised. Additionally, peer support workers were found to have a significant impact beyond their formal roles, specifically through shaping team culture and providing authentic, person-centred and recovery focused support to service users.
Conclusions: This review highlights the ongoing development of peer support worker roles, responsibilities and tasks in CWPT. Recommendations to further develop peer support worker roles include improving role clarity, emphasising the value of lived experience, and supporting effective collaboration between peer support workers and multi-disciplinary team colleagues to improve service delivery.
Citation
Dunkerley, Laura, and Jordan Martin. The Roles, Responsibilities and Tasks of Peer Support Workers in Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT): A Service Review. Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, Nov. 2024.
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Report