Aims
Competences covered in this unit:
Ability to draw on knowledge of the team’s shared goals, values, culture and practice.
Ability to draw on knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of other team members.
Ability to work as part of the service or organisation while retaining the perspective and ethos of peer support.
Ability to work effectively with colleagues to:
- enhance existing services and the care and support on offer
- identify and resolve potential conflict or disagreement regarding the support or care provided to a person
- improve their knowledge and understanding of the peer support worker role, how they fit within the team, and the values and principles underpinning peer support
Ability to consider how best to respond to team dynamics that may challenge effective working within the team.
Ability to draw on basic conflict resolution strategies to help resolve difficult team dynamics.
Ability to raise concerns about unsafe staff practice by following the service’s policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively with the team (both verbally and in writing) about the support they are currently providing to people.
Ability to draw on knowledge that a concurrent record of progress for each person being supported should be entered into the person’s clinical record (usually after each contact), in line with the requirements of the local service, to:
- document progress
- communicate important information to other members of the team
Ability to ensure that records are maintained after each contact with the person being supported (or where relevant, with professionals connected to them).
Ability to write a concurrent record of progress.
Ability to discuss challenges to team communication (for example, with a colleague or supervisor) and to consider how these can be best managed.
Underpinning understanding and knowledge for peer support workers
Communication and engagement skills
Working in partnership. Supporting people as a peer support worker
Self-care and support
Optional skills – using psychological approaches to support personal recovery