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"Shared experience makes this all possible": documenting the guiding principles of peer-led services for people released from prison

Version 3 2024-06-19, 23:38
Version 2 2024-06-03, 02:54
Version 1 2024-02-09, 03:59
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-19, 23:38 authored by Heather Palis, Pam Young, Mo Korchinski, Shawn Wood, Jessica Xavier, Nelson Luk, Simrat Mahil, Sofia Bartlett, Helen BrownHelen Brown, Amy Salmon, Tonia Nicholls, Amanda Slaunwhite
Abstract Background There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of peer-led services in supporting community reintegration for people released from prison. This study aims to document the guiding principle of a peer-led service for people released from prison, from the perspective of peer mentors. Methods Data were collected using focus groups (N = 10; 2 groups with 5 participants each) and one-on-one interviews (N = 5) including a total of 13 people, representing all UTGSS staff at the time of the study. An inductive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the data. Initial coding was done by using “in-vivo” codes (i.e. applying codes to terms used by participants). This informed the direction of the next stage of analysis, which focused on identifying categories that synthesized the codes and data across transcripts. In this stage, broad themes and sub-themes were developed. Findings Six themes were constructed to reflect the guiding principles of UTGSS staff. This includes four central themes: 1) Offering hope; 2) Building respectful relationships; 3) Providing consistent support; 4) Meeting people where they are at. Two connected themes are also reported: 1) Relying on shared experience, which participants reported serves as the foundation for practicing these guiding principles and 2) Bridging connections to services, which reflects the outcome of practicing these guiding principles. Conclusion The principles identified in this study can be used by UTGSS staff as a guide for checking-in on progress with clients and may be considered as a model for reflection on practice by staff providing similar peer-led services. These principles should not be applied in a prescriptive way, as relationship building is at the centre of peer support, and different applications will be required depending on clients’ goals and the range of supports available within their community.

History

Journal

BMC Public Health

Volume

24

Article number

84

Pagination

1-14

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1471-2458

eISSN

1471-2458

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

1

Publisher

BMC