Creating Impactful Peer Worker Co-production Roles

The increasing global prevalence of mental health needs demands more effective and socially inclusive services. Unfortunately, current responses to these needs have proven inadequate. The current health policy agenda advocates for close collaboration with service users and citizens to ensure that public services meet the needs of the people they serve. This not only increases the responsibility of service organizations but also boosts their innovation capabilities through user interactions.

Nonetheless, forming influential co-production roles for citizens and service users is challenging and necessitates further development. In the mental health sector, this issue is being addressed by employing individuals who have personal experience with mental health or substance use issues and have utilized these services to work alongside professionals. These roles go by various names, including ‘experts by experience’, ‘consumer providers’, and ‘peer workers’, with the term peer workers used consistently throughout this thesis.

The project has two objectives: firstly, to comprehend how peer workers can participate substantially in co-creating effective, socially inclusive mental health and substance use services, and secondly, to generate knowledge that helps craft more significant roles for them.

The roles of peer workers and their level of involvement

The thesis consists of three studies, each embracing a qualitative exploratory approach. It delves into the roles of peer workers, their level of involvement, and their interactions and relationships with collaborative partners. All three studies have been developed and analyzed within a theoretical framework emphasizing co-creation to stimulate innovation in public service organizations. Understanding the difference between co-production and co-creation is crucial for comparing peer workers’ partnerships across various contexts and case studies. Co-production refers to their engagement in collaboration during service delivery, whereas co-creation happens when peer workers participate in the planning or design of new or enhanced service solutions, which they later help implement or provide.

Management’s view on the roles of peer workers

The second study investigates management’s view on the roles of peer workers and their assessment of their significance. In this study, managers identify peer workers as a productive strategy to devise a more inclusive and efficient service. They elect to involve peer workers in a variety of collaborative processes within their organizations, including at strategic levels - to plan, prioritize, design, and assess services. Managers value peer workers for their service user knowledge and ability to bridge gaps. Despite acknowledging the difficulties of establishing co-creation practices with peer workers, managers prioritize their participation as co-creation partners, directing significant attention to ensure their effective involvement.

The position of peer workers is fluid

The third empirical study explores the role of peer workers within service organizations and the mechanisms through which they influence service delivery and development. The findings suggest that peer workers fill various roles, from initiating and designing services to implementing solutions. Their influence can be felt in the workplace culture and service co-production, often challenging traditional service arrangements. Peer workers, while serving on the frontline, frequently recognize areas for service improvement and directly engage managers to initiate changes. The position of peer workers is fluid. They can be low in the service hierarchy but still be perceived as knowledgeable service users, granting them expert status.

New insights about utilizing peer workers roles and contributions

The thesis enhances the mental health and substance use field by offering pertinent insights about effectively utilizing peer workers roles and contributions. It can guide service organizations aiming to employ peer workers in collaborative roles, thus optimizing their skills and expertise to improve, develop, and innovate their services. This knowledge can further inspire other fields and services that want to create effective and responsible co-production roles.

Trial Lecture

M004 -K2, HVL, Bergen Campus.

27th September 2024

Kl 10:00

Title for Trial lecture:- to be announced later.

Public Defence

M004 -K2, HVL, Bergen Campus.

27th September 2024

Kl 12:20

Title for Dissertation: Creating Impactful Citizens Co-production Roles. A qualitative study of Peer Workers in Norwegian Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Defence Committee

Committee Leader:- Professor Kjetil Grimastad Lundberg, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, (HVL).

1^st opponent:-  Professor Ann-Karin Tennås Holmen, University of Stavanger, Norway.

2^nd opponent: - Dr. Malene Østergaard Terp, Aalborg University Hospital.

Supervisors

Main supervisor:- Professor Ottar Ness, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, (NTNU), Norway.

Co- Supervisor:-  Associate Professor Rita Agdal, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, (HVL).

Co-Supervisor:- Professor Jacob Torfing, Roskilde University, Denmark.

Defence Leader

Professor Stig Erik Jakobsen

Vice-Dean for Research

Zoom Link

https://hvl.zoom.us/j/63762069036?pwd=RZ3MQFfB6CJumhx5VWMj9YAFWOsHyj.1

Meeting ID: 637 6206 9036

Passcode: 440542