Certificate in Peer Support Worker: Theory and Practice - Level 3

The Peer Support Core Skills Development Programme is for individuals who are either employed or volunteering with mental health lived experience, who are looking to develop their theory and practice to enable progression in their Peer Support Worker roles. As part of the programme learners will achieve the accredited Level 3 Peer Support Worker Certificate.

What is a Peer Support Worker?

Peer support workers are people who have lived experience of mental health challenges themselves. They use these experiences and empathy to support other people and their families receiving mental health services either in a volunteering or employed capacity. Peer support workers offer and receive support, by building mutual and reciprocal relationships and sharing lived experience to create shared learning and understanding, inspire hope and provide mutual empowerment.

Why is the Peer Support Core Skills Development Programme

The NHS Mental Health Implementation plan identifies opportunities for growth of peer support workers within the NHS with new roles across the NHS designed as part of the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions to meet the mental health needs of patients and service users. The Peer Support Core Skills Development Programme is in place to support the growth of demand for Peer workers who will be work ready for the roles. The Peer Support Core Skills Development Programme equips individuals to shape the delivery of mental health services and play a role in helping people impacted by mental health conditions to build knowledge, develop skills and improve confidence to take greater control and improve their quality of life.

• Creating the learning environment and its parallels in peer support practice.
• What is Peer Support
• Worldview and perspectives
• Peer support and recovery
• Peer support practice - holding to the grassroots approach
• Peer support practice - technical elements of peer support in practice
• Peer support practice - exploring the tensions
• Working in Mental Health Systems
• Supervision and Co-Reflection in Peer Support
• Soft skill support i.e., time management, employability, communication skills.

The programme has two target audiences:

1. Employed Peer Workers looking to upskill in their role with the progression pathway onto the Peer Worker apprenticeship programme.
2. Volunteering peer workers currently volunteering who can be supported to develop in their role with the progression option into  full time employment in a peer worker role.

All the above should meet the requirements of having lived experience of mental health challenges themselves.

Successful completion leads to the award of the Level 3 Peer Worker Certificate.

*Pricing Per Person

Funding: Commercial

Mode Of Delivery: Fully Online

Course Length: 10 Weeks