Freedom of Information Request – Ref: GHC-16122024-355965
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
1. How many peer support workers are employed within acute inpatient mental health settings
Our response:
We have no PSWs employed in acute inpatient settings. GHC has approximately 19 Lived experience Practitioners (LXP) or Peer Support Workers (PSW) employed in other GHC mental health services. (NB – We have one who has just started doing a few hours weekly on the staff bank at Laurel House and Honeybourne, but don’t think this counts as acute and we are not sure how permanent arrangement this is).
You asked:
2. Are the posts voluntary or paid and if paid at what banding?
Our response:
GHC does not have any paid or voluntary posts currently working in acute in-patient settings. However, PSW’s & LXP’s employed in other GHC mental health services include paid and voluntary roles.
You asked:
3. Are there any vacant peer support worker posts in these settings and if so how many?
Our response:
There are no vacancies in acute in-patient setting as there are no posts that have been developed at this time.
You asked:
4. What strategies and policy documents do you have in place in relation to supporting peer support workers in their roles?
Our response:
GHC does not currently have a Peer Support Worker Strategy or specific policy in relation to supporting peer support workers in their role or a specific strategy for in-patient PSWs. As an organisation, we recognise the value and multiple benefits of peer support workers as part of quality service delivery and want to grow and develop this workforce. During 2024, we completed some research into experiences of peer support worker roles within the organisation. We now recognise and have acknowledged that peer support workers roles require improved leadership and support structures. As a result, we have started task groups involving several of our peer support workers to co-creating a Peer Support Worker Strategic Framework and to explore and develop leadership, training, support infra-structures.
All peer support workers are subject to the same mandatory and service specific and relevant training, supervision, and support as GHC clinical staff. The GHC Supervision Policy (Clinical and Non-clinical) ensures that any supervision carried out in the Trust is aligned with Trust core values and includes understanding of the personal needs of the supervisee within the context of their own professional and personal capacity. Currently all GHC employed PSW’s, whether on a paid or voluntary contracts, have the following support for their roles, that would extend to any future PSW’s employed in acute in-patient settings:
- GHC 8-day training programme, based on HEE’s Competence Framework.
- A one-day risk awareness training for band 3 PSWs
- Regular networking opportunities for PSW’s & LXP’s
- Ad hoc- as required training / preparation ‘package’ for teams to support with recruitment.
LXPs / PSWs trained in peer supervision (but currently no Trust wide provision to offer this across teams)
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.