RES-PEER : REstructuring Social sector PEER workers intervention

The project contributes to the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable individuals who have experienced exclusion, precariousness, or migration and have become peer workers in social actio...

The project contributes to the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable individuals who have experienced exclusion, precariousness, or migration and have become peer workers in social action. It achieves this by defining a shared framework for the role of peer workers, enhancing their skills through tailored training programs, recognizing their unique experiential knowledge (informal learning), and preparing teams to better welcome and integrate them.

The project begins with an initial phase of exploring best practices: study visits, expert hearings across the three countries and beyond, and the development of a European framework for peer workers in social action (intervention frameworks, competencies, and training needs). Following this, one tailored training program per country is developed, along with an e-learning module for teams. A final seminar is organized to widely disseminate the project's results.

Unlike the healthcare sector, peer workers in social action operate within a fragmented framework, with no clear status, missions, or equal access to training. This project tackles their inclusion challenges by fostering a European-wide reflection on diverse practices. It also develops training and re-engagement programs for peer workers, valuing their unique expertise (experiential knowledge) while supporting the organizations that integrate them.