Being a pioneer: mental health service users' experiences of peer brokerage

In recent years in the UK, services introduced personalisation, allowing mental health service users to be in charge of the budgets given to them by social care. Peer brokerage is based on advice regarding the best use of personal budgets.
The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of mental health service users being trained and working as peer brokers, and any role of those experiences in their recovery and identity.
Six peer brokers were interviewed and the data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Five main themes were identified in the interviews: changing and growing; rewarding and challenging aspects of the role; client-centred approach to peer brokerage; importance of peer-relationships; and the pioneering nature of the role. Participants emphasised that this is a new idea in mental health services requiring commitment and determination in facing obstacles.
The study concluded that similarly to previous research on the experiences of peer workers, participants spoke of challenging and rewarding aspects, including learning and benefits from helping others. New themes highlighted by this study show the importance of support from other peers and a humanistic approach to helping others. More UK-based studies are needed to understand peer workers’ experiences and their partnership with services.