On the Professional Relationship between Peers and Users and the Effects of Peer Work on Users’ Quality of Life and Participation

Peer work within the meaning of “support by equals” (Utschakowski et al. 2016: 16) has a long tradition in Social Work.

Lately, there have been increasing developments towards the professionalization and institutionalization of peer work, for example through specific training measures. International studies have shown that peer work has a positive effect on users (see Barker/Maguire 2017: 610, Felten et. al. 1995). In addition to an impact on users’ lifeworlds, a strengthening of user participation has also been observed.

The project explores the relationships between peers and users in various areas of Social Work activity. By way of examples, it examines the potential of peer work for increasing participation, thus promoting the further development of Social Work in this regard. The research adopts a participatory approach by attempting to involve both peer workers and users as co-researchers. The goal is to achieve a joint product for practice and teaching.