Peer Worker Skills Bootcamp for Londoners

Skills Bootcamps for Londoners is a programme part or fully funded (subject to individual circumstances) by the Department of Education and overseen by the Mayor of London.

The Peer Support Worker (Mental Health) Skills Bootcamp is for individuals who are either employed or volunteering with mental health lived experience, who are looking to progress into Peer Support Worker job roles. Learners will achieve the accredited Level 3 Peer Support Worker Certificate as well as receive coaching to support and develop them in preparation for a role either volunteering or employed in peer support.

The course content includes:

• Creating the learning environment and its parallels in peer support practice.
• What is Peer Support
• Worldview and perspectives
• Peer support and recovery
• Peer support practice - holding to the grassroots approach
• Peer support practice - technical elements of peer support in practice
• Peer support practice - exploring the tensions
• Working in Mental Health Systems
• Supervision and Co-Reflection in Peer Support
• Soft skill support i.e., time management, employability, communication skills.

What Is A Peer Support Worker?

Peer support workers are people who have lived experience of mental health challenges themselves. They use these experiences and empathy to support other people and their families receiving mental health services either in a volunteering or employed capacity. Peer support workers offer and receive support, by building mutual and reciprocal relationships and sharing lived experience to create shared learning and understanding, inspire hope and provide mutual empowerment.

Why Is The Bootcamp In Place

The NHS Mental Health Implementation plan identifies opportunities for growth of peer support workers within the NHS with new roles across the NHS designed as part of the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions to meet the mental health needs of patients and service users. The bootcamp is in place to support the growth of demand for Peer workers who will be work ready for the roles. The peer support bootcamp equips individuals to shape the delivery of mental health services and play a role in helping people impacted by mental health conditions to build knowledge, develop skills and improve confidence to take greater control and improve their quality of life.

Who Is The Programme For:

The programme has three target audiences:

1. Employed Peer Workers looking to upskill in their role with the progression pathway onto the Peer Worker apprenticeship programme.
2. Volunteering Peer Workers currently volunteering who can be supported to develop in their role with the progression option into full time employment in a peer worker role.
3. Unemployed Individuals with an interest in becoming a peer worker either as a volunteer (during the programme) or employed as progression from the programme.

All the above should meet the requirements of having lived experience of mental health challenges themselves.

The bootcamps have limited funding available for learners in the Greater London Area and fringe areas for:

• Unemployed or Volunteering - Fully funded
• Employed – part funded vi the GLA, with an employer contribution of £336 plus vat per learners

London Fringe Areas

As well as the programme being funded for Greater London Area residents, we are also able to support learners in the fringe area of London that include the below:

*Pricing Per Learner if employed
Fully funded for unemployed and volunteers

Funding: Part-Funded

Academic Level: Level 3

Mode Of Delivery: Fully Online

Course Length: 10 Weeks