NHS England Liaison and Diversion Peer Support
This review looks at Liaison and Diversion peer support pathfinder sites in Birmingham & Solihull and Wiltshire. It evaluates peer support from the point of view of service users and peer supporters and analyses the social value return on investment. It also includes recommendations for the future.
Much of what we found was positive. All the service users described a positive impact on their lives, including more stable living conditions, better financial circumstances and headway with other services. They felt the peer supporters understood and respected them and showed commitment and persistence in keeping them in contact with the service.
The Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA) conducted as part of the research suggested a positive social value return on every £1 invested, with a central estimate of £2.28.
There was also evidence that the peer supporters, both paid and volunteers, benefited positively from the role they played in the service. Paid workers were moving on to new employment and volunteers spoke of stability in their lives and ambitions for the future.
Our research also highlighted issues, however. The biggest of these was the sustainability of models that rely so heavily on the networks and ‘social capital’ of the paid workers.
As a result, we recommend a hybrid model that combines the best elements of these two models. This would have sustainability at its heart. It would include paid staff and volunteers and ensure that there is opportunity and planned progression for all of them.
