Introduction

Peer support services have expanded to a wide 

variety of behavioral health environments and 

within a range of program models. In addition 

to providing recovery support services designed 

to engage, activate, and support people with 

behavioral health conditions and their family 

members, peer workers are emerging as important 

members of treatment teams. Organizations that 

include peer workers and provide peer support 

services want to know how to best supervise peer 

workers and integrate them into their workforce. 

Because peer support services represent a 

relatively new service within behavioral health 

services, there may be too few supervisors who 

understand the peer role well enough to supervise 

peer workers. This group of resources helps 

supervisors understand how to supervise peer 

workers in behavioral health services. 

Audience

This group of resources is primarily for practitioners who are supervising 

peer workers. 

Components

This group of resources consists of the following components: 

▪ Slide Deck with Trainer Notes: A PowerPoint presentation with 

trainer notes is the main component of these resources. The 48-slide 

deck presents an overview of peer worker supervision. Each slide 

has notes for the trainer delivering the presentation. 

▪ Supervisor Self-Assessment: This one-page self-assessment tool 

enables supervisors to evaluate their own knowledge and skills 

related to supervising peer workers in behavioral health settings.

▪ Supervision Resource List: This one-page list contains critical 

resources for future learning about the supervision of peer workers 

in behavioral health.

Supervision of 

Peer Workers

Learning Goals

1. Describe the essential 

functions of supervision

2. Understand the principles 

and practices of peer support

3. Explore a recovery-oriented 

approach to the supervision 

of peer workers

4. Learn two critical 

supervision skills

5. Access additional resources 

to improve competency in 

peer worker supervision
2

Using the Supervision of 

Peer Workers

BRSS TACS created these materials to assist 

practitioners who supervise peer workers. Trainers 

can use the Supervision of Peer Workers as part 

of their own curriculum or students can use these 

tools in their own self-directed study. 

Trainer-Led Instruction: 

An experienced trainer can present the slide deck 

using the trainer notes in a 2-hour training (or 

two 1-hour trainings) for the basic instruction. 

Trainers can expand the training by including time 

to practice the skills of “giving feedback” and “giving 

strengths-based affirmations.” The trainer may also 

assign the readings included in the resource list and 

facilitate discussions about the information learned.

Self-Directed Study: 

Students can study the PowerPoint presentation and resources independently or in small 

groups of practitioners without a lead trainer. This self-directed approach enables practitioners to learn the information 

on their own schedule, at their own pace. Students can use the lessons learned in self-directed study to practice their 

supervision skills. 

Use the Supervisor of Peer Workers Self-Assessment tool as a pre- and post-test for both the trainer-led and selfdirected study and as an ongoing assessment of supervisors’ progress in learning the knowledge and skills required for the 

supervision of peer workers.

 Want more information?

BRSS TACS has conducted virtual trainings on topics related to the supervision of peer workers. Here are links to 

recording trainings available online:

▪ Recovery LIVE! Strategies for Supervising Peer Support Workers 

(April 2017, 58 min) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v49QD-UaQK4&list=PLBXgZMI_zqfSRZVtxRBWg7cDja_qy2eM&index=5

▪ Integrating Peers into the Workforce: Supervision and Organizational Culture 

(March 2016, 85 min) 

https://c4innovates.adobeconnect.com/_a966410469/

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This document was supported by contract number HHAA2832012000351/HHSS28342002T from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA). The views, opinions, and content of the document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of SAMHSA 

or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).