STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING „EUROPEAN PROFILE FOR PEER SUPPORT WORKERS“

The aim of the project is therefore to create Europe-wide working standards for peer support workers, for example a job description, entry requirements, competence profiles as well as placement in companies and therapy teams. These standards will form the basis for qualification modules in education and training for peer support workers in psycho-social work.

Target groups of the project

To the direct target group belong already active or prospective peer support workers.

Indirect target groups are:

· clients of psychiatry on the mend of recovery

· institutions of psychiatric and psycho-social work

· social welfare institutions

· heads and teams of psycho-social institutions

· associations from the field of psychiatry or psycho-social work

· insurance carriers and policymakers

· training institutes and schools

The innovative character ...

… of this project results from the topic and the target group. The development of Europe-wide working standards for peer support workers, their competency profile as well as the description of their place in the organisation and teams should create transparency for the direct target group. The developed products support to a high degree of inclusion in the participating countries.

Sub-goals

· Description of the tasks of peer support workers in companies and teams.

· Evaluation of the different experiences and development statuses in the work of peer support workers in the participating countries in order to develop a joint qualification profile in terms of a competence matrix.

· Standardisation and recognition of the comparable competences of peer support workers from the participating countries.

· Development of a guideline for companies and therapeutic teams regarding the placement of peer support workers.

· The improvement of employment opportunities for existing or prospective peer support workers throughout Europe including the creation of a qualification module for managers of psychiatric and psycho-social work institutions regarding these employment opportunities.

Dissemination conference

On October 12, 2021, the Dutch project partner GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord organized a conference to disseminate the project results. Due to the Covid security measures, the conference took place online. The project and its results were presented at the event. Technical experts from several countries gave interesting lectures on the situation of recovery companions/ peer supporters in Europe. 

• Presentation of the project – European profile for peer-supporter
• Presentation – Associate Degree: Expert by experierence in health & welfare
• Presentation – Qualitiy system for the profession of peer support workers
• Presentation of IO1 – European standards for the work of peer support workers
• Presentation of IO3 – Differentiated competence profiles for peer support workers
• Presentation of IO5 – Recommendations for the position of peer supporters in companies and teams 
• Presentation of IO6 – Seminar concept for heads of psychiatric institutions and teams concerning the activities of peer support workers
• Presentation of IO7 – Guidelines for the European implementation of the advanced training concept for peer support specialists 
• Presentation of IO8 – Guidelines for the national implementation of the advanced training concept for peer support specialists 

Resulting products

• IO1 – European standards for the work of peer support workers:  In-depth analysis of the situation of peer supporters in Poland

• IO2 – Glossary: The Glossary in English; The Glossary in Polish

• IO3 – Differentiated competence profiles for peer support workers: The competence profile of a peer supporter

• IO4 – European qualification curriculum for peer support specialists: The framework for the qualification curriculum for peer supporters for level 4 and 5

• IO5 – Recommendations for the position of peer supporters in companies and teams: Recommendations for the position of peer supporters in the company and in teams

• IO6 – Seminar concept for heads of psychiatric institutions and teams concerning the activities of peer support workers (entry requirements, key competences, position in the company): Qualification module for managers and team leaders; Social, Organizational and Legal Determinants of the Profession of Peer Support Workers in Europe, A textbook for managers and team leaders

• IO7 – Guidelines for the European implementation of the advanced training concept for peer support specialists: Guide for the European implementation of the further training concept for peer support workers in mental health (EQF) levels 4 and 5

• IO8 – Guidelines for the national implementation of the advanced training concept for peer support specialists: The strategy for the implementation of the qualification curriculum in Poland (Polish; English)

Partners

Supportive partners

• Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wroclawiu (Medizinische Universität Breslau), Poland
• ASKLEPIOS European Network of Healthcare Organisations
• LebensART Münster, Germany