Peer Support films launch

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News, Recovery and wellbeing on 17th January, 2025

Peer Support WorkersPeer Support has been growing across Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) and the wider NHS in recent years. Here at DPT we have over 50 peer colleagues in more than 30 different services across Devon. Described by NHS England as a 'highly adaptable self-management intervention', the role of Peer Support Worker brings lived experience into the heart of a service.

Due to its adaptability, relational nature, and relative newness as an NHS profession, most Trusts find it a real challenge to measure Peer Support’s impact. Our Peer Lead team presented their hopes for this to the DPT Board last July, resulting in publication of the first Peer Support Impact report. The finished report was presented to the December Quality, Governance and Assurance committee just before Christmas. Using data from patient and colleague surveys, the report celebrates many wins along with some recommendations for development.

One area for development was clarity about the Peer Support role. Two Peer Support videos have been co-produced with experts by experience. The first is intended for those who are considering peer support, either as a career for themselves, or as a service within their team. The second shows some examples of best practice in the words of peer support workers themselves.

Em Flint, Peer Lead said: “A huge thank you to everyone who took part in these videos; it is no small ask to tell your story on camera. We’ve always known that the peer support workforce has a lot of heart, which really shines through these two films. It’s great that we can now back this up with some solid data to show what’s working for colleagues and for people who access our services.”

Watch the two new films below or click on the images:

Peer Support at Devon Partnership NHS Trust

What Peer Support means to me

Still from Peer Support film

Still from Peer Support film

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