Service changes 2024 to 2025
Peer Connections 1:1 Peer Mentoring Service
We have made a number of changes to how our services are delivered, including redefined eligibility criteria, and wanted to share these with you.
We are now offering Peer Connections Mentoring support to people 18+ years old, living in Somerset and with a diagnosed or undiagnosed Serious Mental Illness (SMI) – Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Bipolar or a Personality Disorder.
These individuals may be looking for support with depression or anxiety, need motivation, or want to talk with someone else who understands and “gets it”. To qualify, they must have one of the above conditions alongside this support need.
Referrals/introductions can be made via the OMH locality teams or directly by using our introduction form. Please send it to PeerConnections@rethink.org, and a member of our team will get back to you.
We respect our exceptional Peer Mentor volunteer team and value the support that they offer to others. We are not currently recruiting further Peer Mentor volunteers, but we are committed to maintaining a team of ten and will start recruitment again when necessary.
SMI Community & Outreach Service:
We provide 1:1 support via our Physical Health & Wellbeing Navigator for people 18+ living in Somerset with Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Bipolar or a Personality Disorder.
We recently successfully recruited to increase our Physical Health & Wellbeing Navigator team and are currently onboarding and inducting new members. We can provide support via phone, online, or face-to-face in most localities across Somerset.
The Physical Health Check phoneline has completed the pilot period and is no longer in operation—however, the central email account is still available at PHCSomerset@rethink.org.
Difference between Peer Mentor Volunteer support and 1:1 Physical Health & Wellbeing Navigator support:
Peer Mentor Volunteer support involves conversations with a volunteer from Peer Connections. The volunteers share similar experiences of mental health challenges and provide friendly, non-prescriptive, and empathetic support. They also share personal recovery stories, ideas for self-help, and encouragement/motivation.
1:1 Navigator Support still has a peer focus but involves meeting with an employed Community & Outreach Service staff member.
Navigators work with clients before, during, and after the SMI Physical Health Check, offering tailored, person-centred support. This may include exploring barriers to engaging with clinical staff and services, concerns about the SMI Physical Health Check itself, attending appointments with the client, or helping them access services to improve their physical health.
How we manage the demands and provide the best support for those who request our service:
We will accept referrals/transfers for individuals who meet the criteria of having an SMI or Personality Disorder. We will contact the individual and “triage” them according to their needs, complexity, and goal or desired support outcome.
Working this way, we offer clients 6-8 contacts with Peer Mentor Volunteer support or 8-10 contacts with 1:1 Navigator support. They will be added to our waiting list accordingly. The referrer will be informed and kept updated as best as possible.
If you are unsure whether a client you wish to refer/transfer meets the support criteria, you are welcome to contact us for a friendly discussion.
Drop us an email at peerconnections@rethink.org or PHCSomerset@rethink.org, and a member of the team will get back to you.