Peer support workers (PSWs) use personal recovery, person-centred and values-based approaches that do not focus on diagnoses or diagnostic classifications used by mental health professionals.
However, it is helpful for them to have a working knowledge of these systems, to help them understand and work with people in the culture and context in which they are located.
An ability to understand that the peer support role is rooted in working alongside the person to develop an equal and trusting relationship, characterised by:
- respect – being non-judgemental and not making assumptions about or pathologising the person’s experiences or beliefs
- reciprocity – a willingness to give and receive support, and learn from difference, with both parties sharing their experiences and benefitting from this
- mutuality – a non-hierarchical relationship that is of equal value to both parties, and is based on shared experience of service use and recovery
An ability to draw on experiential knowledge that peer support is based on the following principles:
- building safe and trusting relationships based on sharing lived experience of mental health difficulties and services, and using this to develop connections
- working progressively to help people learn from their experience and better equip themselves for living well
- working inclusively by helping people to become (re)integrated into their communities or to overcome the challenges they may face around this