A day in the life of a peer support worker: endings
| Published date | 14 March 2016 |
| Pages | 17-21 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-01-2016-0001 |
| Date | 14 March 2016 |
| Author | Emma Watson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
A day in the life of a peer support
worker: endings
Emma Watson
Emma Watson is Peer Support
Worker at Nottingham NHS
Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of a day in the life of a peer support
worker based within an NHS trust and to use these experiences as a basis for reflection on key issues in
recovery focused practice and peer support.
Design/methodology/approach –A reflective approach is used to consider the experience of ending peer
support relationships and the emotion which this creates for both parties.
Findings –Reflections are offered relating to boundaires, grieving and the experience of endings within peer
support and other contexts.
Originality/value –As a narrative account of the experience of a peer support worker,this paper adds to the
small number of reflective pieces in this area.
Keywords Peer support, Mental health, Boundaries, Endings, Supportive relationships
Paper type Viewpoint
“Can you meet me on Beech Road by the chippy? I’m there now”.
I text my reply: “Course, I’ll come now, see you in 10 minutes”.
I am very intrigued; this is my last meeting with Lizzy and I think she has been making plans for
our afternoon. I was expecting to visit her at her flat or in town. We have never met on Beech
Road before, it is miles away from anywhere. I am nervous about meeting today and about our
ending. We have had a busy past few weeks furnishing Lizzy’s new flat and buying Lizzy some
much needed winter clothes to fend off the cold. We have held this ending in our sights like an
uncomfortable third party in our relationship that we would rather not talk about. From the
beginning we have both known that 12 weeks is our limit, but I think we must have had about
double that now.
It’s become a longer relationship because of a mix of things. There has been so much happening
in Lizzy’s life that there has never seemed to be a good time to broach the subject of ending our
meetings. We have also been growing closer as the weeks have gone on, so with each meeting
that passes an ending feels more difficult to discuss. I think a part of it is down to my discomfort
at bringing up the subject. I am not afraid to have big conversations about big feelings, but it
seems that I am afraid to add to big feelings by introducing more adversity into Lizzy’s life, by
reminding her that we cannot meet forever.
As the weeks have passed though, the ending has become a bigger and bigger elephant in the
room and we have begun to discuss it. We have agreed to think of it as a celebration, to reflect on
distance travelled and what we both have gained. I have said to Lizzy that, within the confines of
working hours, the ending is in her control. She can choose what she would like us to do, for how
long and where. She has told me that she has some ideas about what she wants to do but unlike
other peers I have known, she has not filled me in on any details or asked for any input from me.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-01-2016-0001 VOL. 20 NO. 1 2016, pp. 17-21, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 17
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