Merton Peer Support Service

Contact details

Location

Please note this is a community based service without a set location -People using the service are able to choose how they access support and whether that is in person, online via video chat, or on the phone. It should be noted though that this does not extend to meeting people in their homes. Together staff will meet people in the community in Merton in public places such as libraries or coffee shops and those meetings will be specifically to provide one to one support.

Email: merton-referrals@together-uk.org
Opening times: Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm

Services offered:

Community support
1-2-1 Peer Support
Group Peer Support

Merton Peer Support Service provides peer support offering emotional support and promotes access to information and practical advice for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is working in partnership with Together for Mental Wellbeing and Off the Record to deliver the Merton Peer Support Service for people living in the Merton borough.  The Merton Peer Support service will form a part of the Integrated Recovery Hub (IRH) to support with the delivery of increased timely access to a wider range of holistic mental health and wellbeing interventions. The service will work closely with service users, the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and partner organisations to facilitate access to and deliver appropriate peer support when such needs are identified.

The key aim of the service is to deliver 1-2-1 and group peer support to people experiencing emotional distress and who would benefit from and want to engage with peer support interventions to aid their recovery goals and longer-term wellbeing. A key component is that these staff use their own direct lived experience of mental health difficulties to support other people. They will work collaboratively with people within their service, focusing on the person’s strengths and personal resources to offer educational, emotional and practical support towards goals that are defined by the person.

The service will provide 1-2-1 and group peer support. Peer Support activity might include:

1-2-1 Peer Support

  • Meeting with a Peer Support Worker, talking through emotional challenges, sharing coping mechanisms and potentially creating a holistic wellbeing plan to take beyond the scope of mental health services and/or into a sustained caring role.
  • We provide up to 12 sessions of weekly or bi-weekly 1-2-1 peer support either in the community, online or via phone. Those are regular planned sessions and will be offered by the Peer Support Worker

Group Peer Support

  • A variety of peer and social support groups, workshops and activities are available that provide a safe environment to support improvements in emotional and physical wellbeing, tackle isolation, enhanced caring roles where appropriate and increase the outcomes of the peer support service.
  • Group peer support is delivered by Peer Support Volunteers which will consist of either general Peer Support groups with a pre agreed topic, at regular consistent day/time and will be held for up to 6 weeks.
  • In addition, the service will offer Self-Management Peer Support Groups. These groups are led by Peer Supporters who are both participants of the group as well as facilitators of the group. The group support each other through developing peer relationships and sharing experiences on managing wellbeing.

 

The peer support service offers a blended approach to delivery, according to the person’s individual needs, the service user could benefit from the following:

  • A person-centred, strength-based approach that is responsive to what the individual themselves identifies will support their recovery
  • Service flexibility, including consideration of weekend or early evening support when needed.
  • A time-limited, outcome-focused 1-2-1 intervention to support personal outcomes so people can live their lives as independently as possible.
  • Appropriate length of group-based support to address intended specific outcomes.
  • Access to local services to promote community inclusion and connectedness, enabling sustainable recovery and support.
  • Practical support to help people access the right services and support based on needs, preferences, and the options available.

Making a referral

The team at SWLStG will identify referrals and the referral form can be sent to merton-referrals@together-uk.org.

In partnership with:

About Off the Record

Off the Record is an award-winning children and young people’s mental health charity working across the boroughs of Croydon, Merton and Sutton. Our vision is ‘showing up for children and young people’s mental health in south west London’. Information about all of work is on our website Off the Record Youth Counselling (talkofftherecord.org).

In addition to our open-access services, we are pleased to be partners with SWLSTG and other voluntary sector partners, in both Merton and Sutton, in the mental health transformation programme delivering peer support for young people aged 18-25.