National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors

The document reflects the 12 core values to support peers between a peer and a supervisor. The purpose of the expanding upon previous work the NPG did was peer was to provide guidelines for supervisors to educate supervisors about core peer support values as applied in supervisory relationships. The NPG-S (“S” for supervisor/specialist) describe the supervisor’s role and offer practical tips about how supervisors can help peer support specialists remain true to the values outlined in the original NPG. The guidelines do not address general topics in supervision beyond the values of peer support. While some tips in the NPG-S apply to all staff, their purpose is to educate (or remind) supervisors and peer support specialists of peer support values.

Key findings related to emerging/promising principles for engaging PWLLE:

• Peer support is voluntary
• Peer supporters are hopeful
• Peer supporters are open minded
• Peer supporters are empathetic
• Peer supporters are respectful
• Peer supporters facilitate change
• Peer supporters are honest and direct
• Peer support is mutual and reciprocal
• Peer support is equally shared power
• Peer support is strengths-focused
• Peer support is transparent
• Peer support is person-driven

Key findings related to emerging/promising practices for engaging PWLLE:

Ideally, all peer support specialists are supervised by people who have lived experience with recovery and peer support. However, with the rapid growth and continuing evolution of peer support in behavioral health care, integrated care, and related non-peer-run workplace settings, the number of experienced and interested peer support practitioners credentialed for funder-required supervisor eligibility is limited. Both lived experience and role-specific training are required to practice as a peer support specialist. Traditional academic education is not a substitute for the training and life experience of a peer support specialist who practices from the perspective of having lived experience.