What helps successful community groups (involving peers support workers) to develop?
| Published date | 09 May 2016 |
| Pages | 126-134 |
| Date | 09 May 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-10-2015-0038 |
| Author | Kris Deering,Jon Fieldhouse,Vanessa Parmenter |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
What helps successful community
groups (involving peers support workers)
to develop?
Kris Deering, Jon Fieldhouse and Vanessa Parmenter
Kris Deering,Jon Fieldhouse
and Vanessa Parmenter are all
based at Facul ty of Health and
Applied Sciences, University of
the Westof England, Bristol,UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore features of successful peer supported community support
groups hosted by St Mungo’s and partners.
Design/methodology/approach –Literature review and theme construction.
Findings –Overall the review confirmed existing findings that successful support groups foster mutually
supportive, reciprocal relationships capable of inspiring hope among group members. This paper will
concentrate on findings that co-production was indicative of successful groups in terms of shared aims,
negotiated agendas, clear communication, and engagement with the wider community.
Research limitations/implications –A group’s success was seen in terms of growth in members’
self-esteem, empowerment, and optimism, which this paper proposes could become part of a conceptual
framework of a learning organisational culture.
Originality/value –Developing understanding of a rapidly growing phenomenon in community-based
mental health care and presenting this in terms of a particular organisational culture.
Keywords Social inclusion, Peer support, Community groups, Organizational learning culture
Paper type Literature review
Overall project aim
1. to develop an understanding of what worked well in terms of peer involvement and
leadership in community groups; and
2. to inform the work of St Mungo’s Broadway and partners in further developing the
community group network and in influencing the local commissioning of such services.
Two inter-related inquiry processes
In order to meet the above aims St Mungo’s and partners commissioned the University of the
West of England (UWE) to conduct two inter-related forms of inquiry:
1. participatory action inquiry into the characteristics of those BANES groups deemed to
be most “successful”; and
2. review of the literature on peer leadership and involvement in community groups in order to
inform and complement the participatory action inquiry.
Search terms. The search terms and synonyms in Table I were developed from preliminary
searches of relevant literature and appropriate references lists.
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VOL. 20 NO. 2 2016, pp. 126-134, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-10-2015-0038
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