Joint Learning between staff

and service users is a

powerful and effective
approach for system change
(2)

Recovery Skills Workshops

Collaborative working between NHS staff and Peer Specialists.
Occupational Therapy, Acute Care Pathway

IN BRIEF
For as long as people have used mental health services they have provided each other with friendship, shared
coping strategies and supported each other through dark times (3)
Short recovery focused workshops were co-produced and co-delivered by people who have lived experience of a mental
health condition and NHS staff.
Workshops were delivered on Waterston Ward, Dorchester (Acute Assessment Unit) and at the Recovery House,
Weymouth (Crisis House).
Workshops were based on evidence based interventions and focused on the expertise of the person with lived experience
of mental health problems.
THE WHAT AND WHYS?
WHAT IS RECOVERY?
In mental health recovery describes the process of people finding ways of living a meaningful and satisfying life
with their condition.
This may mean living with or without on-going symptoms of mental illness. The focus is on hope, control and
opportunity.
WHY WORK WITH PEER SPECIALISITS?
Peers are in a unique position to inspire hope to those experiencing mental health problems. Peers have also
identified that the role provides social contact, a sense of being valued and a positive sense of identity, enhancing
their own wellbeing (1).
WHAT WERE THE WORKSHOPS?
Hour long sessions looking at skill development for those under the acute care pathway, with an educational
approach.
Sessions included, Urge Surfing, Emotion Management and Value Directed Living.
Workshops were evidenced based, using theory from approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
Workshops running weekly on Waterston ward.
Client feedback indicates that workshops have been beneficial in skill
development.
Workshops on Waterston ward have been accessed by up to 50% of clients on
the ward.

Workshops in the Recovery House required more clarity around inclusion
criteria.
Clients may move very quickly through the acute care pathway, therefore
clients are not always able to access workshops.


WHAT NEXT?
Implement workshops in the wider West Dorset area.
Explore the integration of Skills Workshops into Crisis
Response Home Treatment team, West.
Develop more workshops for inpatient and community
settings.
Continue to offer workshops on Waterston Ward and at the
Recovery House.
Having a course run by
someone with lived
experience makes a
massive difference, it
gives you so much hope
1. Repper.J et al.. Peer Support Workers : Theory and Practice . ImROC. June 2013.
2. NHS Federation Mental Health Network.. Supporting Recovery in Mental Health. Report number: 244, 2012.
3. Davidson I, Bellamy C, Guy K, Miller R . Peer Support among persons with severe mental illness: a review of
evidence and experience.. World Psychiatry 2012 June; 11(2): 123-128
Heather Stacey, Lead Occupational Therapist, Acute Mental Health, West. (heather.stacey@dhuft.nhs.uk
Emma Baxter, Occupational Therapist, CRHT West (emma.baxter@dhuft.nhs.uk)