Role of peer support workers in care services for young people
Helen Oldknow Project manager at Doncaster children and young people’s mental health service, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
James Gosling Peer support worker at Doncaster children and young people’s mental health service, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Karen Etheridge Assistant director at Doncaster children and young people’s mental health service, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Kevin Williamson Nutritionist at Doncaster adult health service business division, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Helen Oldknow and colleagues present a personal account of a young man with a learning disability who has become a role model for service users
The employment of peer support workers by mental health organisations is becoming increasingly common in the UK and internationally. The children and young people’s mental health service at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust has employed seven peer support workers, including one who works with the trust’s learning disability team. This article describes the experiences of the peer support worker before and after his employment, and explores the benefits this specialist role brings to clients and the value his employers place in him.
Learning Disability Practice.
17, 6, 28-30.
doi: 10.7748/ldp.17.6.28.e1551
Correspondence
helen.oldknow@rdash.nhs.uk
Peer review
This article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interest
None declared
Received: 02 April 2014
Accepted: 07 May 2014
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