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The following content is intended for those working in YWHO Hubs in a peer support role. It provides the essential introduction to peer support work as well as key themes related to the role. These topics in addition to other content not featured here will be covered in greater detail during annual live virtual trainings.
Take a look at the values that have been identified as being important to young people across Ontario below. Take a minute to think about what you value and then write about what it looks like when that value is played out.
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WELCOME TO PEER SUPPORT
This unit will introduce you to the work that you will be part of as a peer support worker and give you the opportunity to reflect on how to engage in peer support in a way that honors your values, strengths and goals.
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Working as a Peer Support Worker [Foundry]
FOUNDATIONS
The goal of this unit is to give you tools and experiences that will allow you to reflect on information you receive in the training and experiences you hear from peers.
As a peer support worker, you will be part of caring for your community. This is important work, and it can also be complex and tough at times. Remember that we are all lifelong learners and there will be many more opportunities for you to learn as you do work in a good way.
Read more here.
CORE SKILLS OF PEER SUPPORT WORK
Read more on the core perspectives here.
RECOVERY
The Recovery Model is a services perspective that believes people can support their own mental health and wellness. Like the definition of recovery itself, treatment plans will be varied and different for everyone. The goal is to ensure there is a meaningful partnership between the person and their support network.
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RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Peer support is a process of relationship building. We cannot force someone to be ready to do the work with us, but we can hold space for them to show up whenever they are ready to. Sometimes all people need or are ready for is companionship and company and to share a safer space with someone they trust.
Read more here.
This video is helpful to further understand this topic.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS
When you trust someone, you can feel safe with them physically and emotionally. Their actions have shown you that they are reliable, and you have confidence that they will be there for you. Trust is a crucial component of relationship building and is critical to the relationship you will have with your peers.
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ACTIVE LISTENING AND ATTENDING
Attending means being present. Active listening is a crucial component to becoming a peer support worker because our peers deserve to be heard. There can be many blocks and barriers to open communication.
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Listening Skill Self-Assessment
Answer yes or no to the following questions:
- Do you listen primarily for facts or ideas when someone is speaking?
- Do certain words, phrases, or ideas activate your own thoughts or ideas so that you cannot listen objectively to what is being said to you?
- When you are puzzled or annoyed by what someone says, do you try to get the question straightened out immediately, either in your own mind or by interrupting the speaker?
- If you feel it would take too much time and effort to understand something, do you go out of your way to avoid hearing about it?
- Do you deliberately turn your thoughts to other subjects when you believe a speaker will have nothing interesting to say?
- Can you tell by a person’s appearance and delivery that she/he won’t have anything worthwhile to say?
- When somebody is talking to you, do you try to make him/her think you’re paying attention when you’re not?
- When you’re listening to someone, are you easily distracted by outside sights and sounds?
- If you want to remember what someone is saying, do you think it is a good idea to write it down as she goes along?
Read more here.
SELF-CARE
Everyone has a different notion of self-care; however, self-care is generally viewed as activities that we do on a regular basis that reduce our stress and enhance our well-being. Taking care of ourselves is vital to our work as peer support workers but self-care does not necessarily come to mind when we are busy or stressed. Self-care requires time to be set aside for us to support our wellness.
