ELFT Peer Support Training First to be Accredited by RCPsych

ELFT Peer Support Training First to be Accredited by RCPsych

The Tower Hamlets Peer Support Training Programme has received Royal College of Psychiatrists CCQI accreditation. It is the first such accreditation in this field offered by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

A Peer Support Worker is someone with lived experience of a health condition who is trained and employed to support other patients’/service users. They are invaluable support to fellow patients11.5 and can support them in navigating their way to recovery or to an optimum quality of life.

Paul Binfield, Associate Director for People Participation is thrilled. "I am really excited about this opportunity to work with RCPsych to develop this profession to new levels’. The training is a great foundation and focuses on engagement, connecting, empathy, confidentiality and supporting others."

Dr Rahul Bhattacharya, Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Director in Tower Hamlets is delighted. "Having the right training for Peer Support Workers (PSW) in place is critical to ensure that PSWs are equipped with the right skills and competencies to do their job professionally. I am excited that our training programme is the first in the country to get the Royal College of Psychiatrists seal of approval!

"ELFT has been in the forefront of research and development around recovery, co-production and working with people with lived experience to instil hope, break barriers and promote wellbeing. This is another significant step in that journey!"

Peer Support Workers don't work just in mental health settings. There are Community Peer Support Workers in place in Continence Services and Diabetes Services.

The ENRICH research project inspired Tower Hamlets Peer Support Training Programme (ETHoS Training Programme) is funded by Health Education England (HTT).