Colleague Care – Implementing a staff peer support program

Objectives: In line with the widespread acknowledgement of the harms which can be caused to healthcare staff through their role in adverse events and unexpected patient outcomes, so is there now acceptance of the role of staff peer support programs to support these ‘second victims’ in a non-clinical way. Here, we share reproduceable steps that any service might take in creating their own staff peer support program.

Methods: We outline the establishment of a program in a NSW health-service encompassing several hospitals and services, from initiation of the program, customising it to our local needs, engaging the broader health service, launching the program, and the ongoing maintenance required.

Results: Dedicated resourcing and strong executive support have been essential to launch and maintain the program. Reaching all staff in a large organisation and building trust in the program’s confidentiality have been the main challenges.

Conclusions: Staff peer support programs, whilst early in their evidence, offer a way to provide practical, non-clinical support to staff harmed through adverse events in healthcare. Here, we offer methodology and learnings for all services to consider when implementing a localised program.

© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2024.