Inclusion of peer worker into mental health service team

The objective of the thesis is description of a new position of a peer consultant in the area of the mental health care from the view of a working team into which he enters. Furthermore, the thesis wants to submit a report about the form of this role abroad and about specific factors during his implementation into the team. The collection of data of qualitative research was realized among 12 social workers and 4 peers in three working teams three times within one year. The research methods that were used: interview according to guideline, nonparticipant structured observation of team meetings and time axis. Data from interviews were processed by inductive method inspired by grounded theory (open, axial and selective coding). The research question was focused on the process, positives and difficulties during integration of the peer worker into the working team. Research proved that the main obstacles in the successful integration of a peer were insufficient and quick preparation of a team on the peer position; absence of the social workers during the recruitment; bad technical equipment; lack of clients suitable for peer and personal discrepancy between a peer and the rest of a working team. On the contrary, the factors that acted favourably were workshops of the team with more experienced..