PEER MENTORING WALES

Peer Mentoring Wales, (PMW), is an exciting & innovative addition to existing substance misuse services. A Welsh Government pan-Wales initiative funded by the European Social Fund,, the overall purpose of  PMW is to encourage, support and enable current and ex drug and alcohol users, and those affected by the substance use of loved ones, to achieve economic independence by gaining sustainable employment.

 Drugaid is the lead agency in a consortium delivering this programme across Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent; the partner agencies are TEDS and Kaleidoscope.

 A team of Peer Mentors has been employed to offer individual, intensive support to people referred to the service and, in order to ensure that they are able to meet the diverse needs of the service user group, they have all attended a 12-week bespoke, Agored Cymru Accredited training programme; potential volunteer Peer Mentors have also accessed the accredited training which is currently being delivered for the fourth time. To date, 13 volunteer peer mentors have been offered placements following completion of their training.

 In addition to specific peer mentoring training, Peer Mentors also had an intensive week of team building and induction, and individual training and development programmes are formulated in order to extend and consolidate their knowledge, skills and expertise. Click here for photos of the team

The Peer Mentoring Team incorporates an excellent skill mix among its staff, with more than half of the Peer Mentors being ex service users. In addition to the Peer Mentors, the team is comprised of experienced Case Work Supervisors, Training & Employment Workers, an Administrator, a Recruitment/Employment Specialist and a Service Manager.

 In May 2010 PMW had an official launch to coincide with Europe Day. The launch was held in the Phoenix Centre in Caerphilly and was extremely well attended by Welsh Government officials, representatives from a wide range of organisations and by service users.

 Following short welcome speeches from the Welsh Government, the Head of the Community Safety Partnership and Drugaid’s director, there was a Q & A session, with PMW team members responding to questions from those attending and providing information in respect of the service. After this, fun and creative activities were offered to those participants who attended. A number of people were involved in decorating one of the external walls of the Phoenix Centre with graffiti, while others decorated ceramic tiles, which were later incorporated into a mosaic which now hangs in the Centre; a pizza oven was also built on the patio by participants. Click here for photos of the launch. 

In order to celebrate Europe Week in 2011, the team promoted PMW via market stalls in Abertillery, Pontypool, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd and Caerphilly. A great deal of interest was raised among the general public in these areas and a number of referrals were subsequently received. Photos of Market Stalls

 PMW is an open-access initiative which aims to provide a warm and welcoming environment within which participants can explore their needs, goals and aspirations. Having identified the input they may need in order to achieve those goals, Peer Mentors will help and support them every step of the way, facilitating their access to programmes aimed at building their confidence and self-esteem as well as developing the essential skills needed for employment.

 To this end, every new participant is required to attend a Personal Empowerment training session within the first week of their engagement with the service. Following this, In-house Confidence & Motivation training is delivered on a rolling-programme, which all participants are encouraged to attend, and access to a wide range of externally delivered training courses is available, with peer mentors actively encouraging and facilitating attendance.

 Networks have been established and developed with a wide range of organisations offering Education and Training, and also Volunteering placements, in order to open up access to the opportunities that participants need in preparation for the world of work. The ultimate aim of PMW is to support participants in gaining paid employment, however, supported, understanding and appropriate guidance, training and education are essential if PMW service users are to be assisted in becoming job-ready.

 With this in mind, an exciting new initiative was recently introduced aimed specifically at providing a specialist recruitment and employment service to participants. This arm of PMW will be known as Recruit Plus, and will work with job-ready participants to support them back into the world of work, organising work trials and supporting and guiding them throughout the job-seeking process and following their return to work.

 Recruit Plus will also work closely with employers, offering a free recruitment service, guaranteeing the provision of candidates who have been given work preparation training and guidance, and providing post-recruitment support for both new employees and participating employers.

 Referral forms are available to agencies and professionals, however, self-referrals are welcomed, as are referrals from family members, friends and individuals affected by, and concerned about, the drug use of others. Link to referral form 

 In order to be eligible for PMW, individuals need to be 18 or over and reside in one of the areas covered by the initiative.

 Criteria for entering the Scheme are that participants:

• Have a current or past substance misuse problem
• Or have been affected by the drug or alcohol use of a loved one
• Have achieved abstinence or an appropriate level of stability in their drug &/or alcohol use
• Be committed to making positive lifestyle changes
• Have the motivation to access appropriate interventions to enable their individual goals to be achieved
• Are prepared to comply with the requirements of the service

 In order for this new and exciting initiative to continue to grow and succeed, it needs to be integrated and to work in partnership with existing service providers. PMW aims to complement and enhance service provision, and thus to maximise positive outcomes for service users.

 PMW is able to provide real and effective through and aftercare, which has historically been difficult to access for stable substance misusers wishing to make positive changes in their lives. The opportunity to refer individuals who have achieved stability &/or abstinence to a service which can offer needs-led help, guidance and practical support in their journey towards economic independence also increases capacity in treatment services.  

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