Peer support for social care in prison: development of guidance and a logic model informed by mixed studies review...

Prison peer support schemes can offer social care for people who require help with activities such as self-care, fetching meals, getting around safely, taking part in meaningful activities, and/or forming or maintaining relationships. Little is known about how best to deliver and monitor prison peer support schemes. Peer supporters do not always receive appropriate training or supervision, leaving them and the support recipient vulnerable to exploitation and/or distress or harm. We conducted a mixed studies review to co-develop guidance on peer support schemes for social care in prison and developed an initial programme theory and logic model. We synthesised findings/evidence from stakeholder workshops, six of our previous projects on social care in/on release from prison, and an umbrella review of the literature. The co-developed guidance provides structure for some aspects of the peer support process while allowing for flexibility. We make recommendations about recruitment, training, roles, support plans, and supervision of and support for peer supporters themselves. Better structured/formalised processes which espouse a peer-led approach would empower peer supporters to optimise their capacity to be the "eyes and ears on the ground" and to become recognised, respected and valued as integral to the running of the prison. In turn, this could provide individuals with a sense of purpose, self-efficacy, and self-confidence. The correct balance between risk-management and allowing some flexibility within the peer support role needs to be determined. Our guidance will be implemented and evaluated in at least one prison and disseminated across England and Wales.