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Impact of Being a Peer Recovery Specialist on Work and Personal Life: Implications for Training and Supervision

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Abstract

Peer recovery specialists are an important resource in community mental health settings. This study, which was part of a larger statewide assessment, evaluates how the role impacts work and personal lives of peers, with implications for improving the training and supervision of this service. The importance of peer work has been investigated through client outcomes, however less work has investigated outcomes on peers themselves, which impacts the work force and service delivery. Nine focus groups were conducted with peer recovery specialists. A two-stage qualitative analysis led to two overarching themes, work and personal, and six subthemes. Findings suggest being a peer presents unique benefits and challenges in work and personal life. Peers benefit from more training and supervision, consistency within the role, and maintaining boundaries. Additionally, work environment roles may be improved by attention to needs of supervisors in terms of skills for effective supervision and clarification of supervisory roles.

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Funding

This study was funded by RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services (Grant No. RI-EOHHS-3509167).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA

    Marie C. Tate, Amanda Roy, Meinca Pinchinat, Emma Lund, Sara Cottrill & L. A. R. Stein

  2. Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, 41 West Rd, Cranston, RI, 02920, USA

    Judith B. Fox & L. A. R. Stein

  3. Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, and Dept. of Behavioral & Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    L. A. R. Stein

  4. Rhode Island Training School, 57 Power Rd, Cranston, RI, 02920, USA

    L. A. R. Stein

  5. University of Rhode Island, 6 Rhody Ram Way, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA

    Annemarie Vaccaro

Authors
  1. Marie C. Tate
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  2. Amanda Roy
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  3. Meinca Pinchinat
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  4. Emma Lund
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  5. Judith B. Fox
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  6. Sara Cottrill
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  7. Annemarie Vaccaro
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  8. L. A. R. Stein
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Correspondence to Marie C. Tate.

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Tate, M.C., Roy, A., Pinchinat, M. et al. Impact of Being a Peer Recovery Specialist on Work and Personal Life: Implications for Training and Supervision. Community Ment Health J 58, 193–204 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00811-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00811-y

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