Peer support workers are individuals who use their lived experience to make a difference in the lives of others.
They may face similar changes, be familiar with the same treatment services, or have experience with the same supports as individuals in care. They are able to use this common understanding and shared respect to play a powerful role in the life and wellness of individuals receiving services.
This unique position can also create uncertainties in maintaining healthy, professional relationships with individuals in care, especially if peer support workers are of a similar age as the person they support or if they share common friends.
What is the role of peer support workers and people receiving services?
Peer Support workers are not clinicians and should not be assigned any responsibility that a clinician is responsible for. They should be included in all treatment team meetings, case conferences, and care planning sessions.
At a high level:
| Peer Support Workers Should | Peer Support Workers Should Not |
| Connect people to support groups/services | Be a peer’s representative payee |
| Educate people on multiple recovery paths | Write a treatment plan |
| Facilitate peer-led support groups | Facilitate individual or group counseling |
| Role model behavior and coping skills | Complete intake assessments |
| Assist with applying for benefits | Provide clinical or medical advice |
When utilizing peer support workers, it’s critical to educate all agency staff on the role of the peer support worker and to ensure there are clear definitions of the purpose and responsibilities of peer support workers in your agency.
Include peer supports in the same training, at the same frequency, as other employees in the agency.
Our new Spotlight on Prevention offers expanded guidance on establishing professional boundaries between peer support workers and individuals receiving services.
Inside, you’ll find:
Inside, you’ll find:
- An overview of the peer support worker’s role
- Sample job description and hiring tips
- Best practices and guidelines for using peer support workers
- Educating people receiving services on the role of peer support workers
- Case studies
- Sample templates/documents
- And additional resources
Access the interactive toolkit
