Supervision Styles for Successful Peer Programs
Peer Support Supervision training is essential to Peer Program Success. An external Peer Organization Supervisor, a Peer (lived experience) Supervisor, or a Clinical Supervisor are each supervision models that can promote program success.
Supervisors of Peer Support Programs understand the people they employ, and their jobs. The role of the Peer Supporter is credentialed by their lived experience of recovery that is lifelong, especially from mental health illness, substance abuse illness, and other life related factors including the impacts of trauma and stigma. Supervisors need to understand recovery (non-linear, lifelong, and that Peer Supporters work everyday to model ongoing recovery and manage its challenges). “I wouldn’t have the experiences to pull from otherwise, and that is what makes expertise in Peer Support.”
Peer Supporters, like other team members, grow professionally, and need development through Peer Model trained Supervisors. Clinical supervision is concerned with safeguarding the vulnerable, the Peer Supporter and the clinical organization or hospital. Clinical supervision monitors service provided, its documentation and works from a medical team as well as community perspective.
Clinical supervision follows an ethical standard of care and is concerned with teaching the knowledge, skills, and attitudes important to tasks. However, it is essential for Peer Support teams to work from Peer standards and Values that are best supported from their own Community. Debriefs on demand may be best provided by a Lived Experience Supervisor trained in the same Peer Supervision best practices, but able to support and Mentor from a Peer perspective. Peer Supervisors have the same ethical standards of care, but will often provide an advocacy role in interdisciplinary teams, and for policy updates to be aligned with recovery oriented values, practices and cultures.
Peer Supervisors believe in the expansion of Peer Support work.
They are excited by growth and development of Peer Support work.
Successful Supervisors promote individual choice; integrate Peer Support values; and are a champion of Peer staff.
Peer (lived experience) Supervisors’ training includes the supervision skills needed in a culture of accountability. With both Models, Supervisors provide knowledge of how to perform tasks for the organization, the role expectations, and the Peer role in relation to others on the team.
Supervisors teach the Peer team toward placement review and beyond. Supervisors are trained in the core competencies and broad work of Peer Support; participate in Peer delivery support services; and take part in Peer training.
Guidelines for Peer Supervision are at the National Association of Peer Supporters (USA); and the Canadian Mental Health Association in conjunction with Support House, Ontario.
Mentor/Mentee Canada provides Peer Model Supervision Training for the success of your Peer program.
