COURSE
L3 Peer Worker
The Level 3 Peer Worker occupation is only open to those who have expertise through lived experience. The broad purpose of this occupation is to work alongside other professionals in hospital, justice and community settings, providing peer support for individuals using knowledge gained from their own lived experience of health or social problems and/or using services.
Working within clearly agreed boundaries, Peer Workers purposefully share their own experiences, and through the mutual sharing and commonality of experience, they can embody hopefulness. They maintain equality with, and work alongside, others facing similar experiences and challenges in their health and wellbeing. The Peer Worker supports individuals through significant changes in their life circumstances and facilitates access to different sources of support to build or re-establish trust and relationships with services. Using effective communication, they support individuals to understand their rights and choices, so they are in a better position to self-advocate.
Peer Workers support individuals across all age groups who may be experiencing:
- severe mental distress
- mental health crises
- perinatal mental health difficulties
- long term conditions
- addiction problems
- problem gambling
- rough sleeping
They work as a part of a team reporting to the Team Manager/Care Co-ordinator and provide peer support in combination with the individuals’ service-led care and support plans. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation has direct contact with individuals as well as their families and carers. They interact with the wider team working alongside other professionals such as GPs, Practitioner Psychologists, members of the nursing team, housing support workers, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, custodial and probation services, police, and teachers. Peer Workers may also interact with external partnership agencies, local Recovery Colleges, employment programmes, self-help groups, education setting, and leisure and community centres that promote social inclusion opportunities.
Job Roles this qualification is suitable for:
Examples of a job role this qualification is suitable for but not limited to are:
- Carer Peer Support Worker
- Lived Experience Practitioner
- Peer Care Navigator
- Peer Coach
- Peer Link Worker
- Peer Mentor
- Peer Support Worker
Entry Requirements:
- Apprentices must have lived experience relevant to the role.
- Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
- For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.
- British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualification for whom this is their primary language.
How long will it take to complete?
The qualification takes around 15 months on-programme plus 3 months EPA to complete. The apprentice must be on-programme for at least a year excluding the end-point assessment duration.
Aims of this qualification
The aim of this qualification is to support the apprentice’s understanding of the 3 key areas covering Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours by focussing on the following occupational duties of the Peer Worker:
- Duty 1 – Establish safe, supportive and respectful relationships with individuals, carers and families.
- Duty 2 – Safely discloses personal experiences with individuals and models self-help and self-management skills.
- Duty 3 – Use co-production and lived experience to support individuals and groups to identify and work toward their self-defined goals.
- Duty 4 – Empower individuals to self-advocate and understand their rights and choices.
- Duty 5 – Identify, facilitate access to or signpost resources within the service and communities that promote choice, informed decision-making and are aligned to personal goals.
- Duty 6 – Represent and promote peer support within development activities and service development.
- Duty 7 – Work as part of the team and contribute to service improvement.
- Duty 8 – Maintain their peer perspective by using personal development and supervision to reflect on the role.
- Duty 9 – Maintain the safety of themselves and others and encourage positive risk taking putting the best interests, needs and preferences of the individual first.
- Duty 10 – Communicates effectively with individuals, colleagues, and other services in the context of peer support and provides feedback to individuals.
How is it delivered?
Apprentices will be allocated a qualified tutor to support the full completion of the apprenticeship and prepare them for the end-point assessment (sometimes 2 tutors will be required at different times for teaching different elements). The tutor will undertake engaging and interactive teaching, learning and support sessions with the apprentice on a regular basis (at least every 4-5 weeks) remotely via Zoom or in the workplace if appropriate to conduct teaching, learning and assessments. These will be planned with the apprentice and employer.
The tutor will manage a portfolio of evidence using an online electronic system called OneFile and give regular updates about progress. Apprentices can contact their tutor in-between visits to discuss any aspect of their qualification and will be able to access their online portfolio 24/7.
Learning Outcomes:
- Level 3 Peer Worker Apprenticeship Standard
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English
- Level 2 Functional Skills in maths
On Programme Learning:
On-programme assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours will lead to the final synoptic end-point assessment.
Assessment Gateway
Before the apprentice is adjudged ready to undertake the end-point assessment by their employer and training provider, they will need to:
- Achieve Level 2 in English and maths Functional Skills.
- Receive confirmation from the employer that the apprentice is working consistently at or above the level set out in the Peer Worker apprenticeship standard.
- Submit a portfolio of evidence for the observation with questions and the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
The purpose of the end-point assessment is to test (in a synoptic way) the skills, knowledge and behaviours of the apprentice as set out in the apprenticeship standard.
The end-point assessment provides apprentices with a showcase opportunity to provide oral and documentary evidence of their knowledge, skills and behaviours developed throughout the apprenticeship. Enables the independent assessor to assess the skills and behaviours of the apprentice by observing the apprentice in the course of their normal work. Tests the knowledge acquired by the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.
End Point Assessment
An end-point assessment will be conducted by staff from an Independent End-Point Assessment Organisation (IEPAO) approved by the Register of End-Point Assessment Organisations.
The end-point assessment will comprise two assessments. All assessments must be individually passed for the apprentice to be deemed competent:
- Observation of practice with questions:
The observation of practice with questions is a holistic assessment method that lasts for 2 hours and 15 minutes and will cover two sessions. An independent assessor observes an apprentice in their workplace (for example their employer’s premises) while the apprentice completes their day-to-day duties under normal working conditions. This allows the apprentice to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method through naturally occurring evidence. Video conferencing can be used by the independent assessor to assess session 2.
The independent assessor will ask at least 4 questions after each session to clarify any areas from the observation and to assess the depth and breadth of skills and knowledge. Follow-up questions are allowed.
Grading for Observation of practice with questions: Pass
- Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:
A professional discussion is a 75 minutes formal two-way conversation between an independent assessor and an apprentice. It gives the apprentice an opportunity to demonstrate their depth of understanding across the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade. The professional discussion will take place at the EPAO’s or employer’s premises or by video conferencing.
The independent assessor will ask at least 10 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed. The purpose of the independent assessor’s questions will be to assess the following four themes:
- to provide peer support to individuals, families or carers
- positive risk-taking, health and safety and safeguarding
- team working and service improvement
- personal development and supervision
Grading for Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: Pass/Distinction
Overall apprenticeship standard grade: Pass/Distinction
Progression routes:
On completion of the Level 3 Peer Worker Apprenticeship, you can progress onto the following apprenticeship standards:
- Leve 3 Team Leader or Supervisor
- Level 3 Learning and Development Practitioner
- Level 5 Coaching Professional
- Level 5 Nursing Associate (NMC 2018)
- Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree (NMC 2018)