About this course

There is now widespread acknowledgement in healthcare literature of the distress which can be experienced by healthcare workers who are involved in an adverse event or unexpected patient outcome.

The Sydney Local Health District Colleague Care Program is our staff peer support program that aims to support staff who are impacted by an adverse event (SAC1-2), a formal patient complaint, professional complaint or professional body matter, a coronial investigation/inquest, or a civil claim against the local health district.

Staff peer-support programs are well supported by international evidence. These programs are not about ‘treating’ the impacted worker, but rather supporting them in managing their distress, reassuring them that such events can unfortunately occur in health, and helping them to find practical ways through this.

This course provides the required training for staff who would like to become part of the Peer Responder Program.

Sydney Local Health District staff can find out more about the Colleague Care Program on our SharePoint site.

Who should attend?

All staff who would like to be able to provide support to colleagues. Peer responders are generally experienced and trusted colleagues who have received specific training to help them best support their colleagues at times of distress. They will often have lived experience of similar adverse events or unexpected patient outcomes.

What will you learn?

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand the evidence for peer responder roles and the types of events that can impact staff
2. Understand the role of a peer responder including legal and confidentiality aspects, and know when to escalate concerns
3. Understand psychological safety aspects for peer responders
4. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be a peer responder
5. Model effective peer responder support through scenario practice

Apply now